10 of the Best Hatchbacks for the Money

2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Sport hero

Hatchbacks had their moment in the sun in the 1980s and ’90s, but they’ve fallen from favor as buyers lean more toward crossover vehicles today. That’s a shame, because the hatchback is really an ideal runaround vehicle – especially in crowded cities and suburbs.

Hatchbacks have the same low-slung stance as sedans and coupes, but with the airy cabin feel and cargo capacity of a crossover vehicle. You get car-like handling, great outward visibility, and, in a pinch, you can fold down the rear seat to fit that thrift-store dresser in the back for the trip home. With a wide variety of hatchbacks vying for your hard-earned dollars, we’ve scoured the lots to find the 10 best hatchbacks for the money.

2018 Chevrolet Cruze

The first-generation Chevrolet Cruze debuted in the 2011 model year in the U.S. as a compact sedan replacement for the outgoing Cobalt. A second-generation sedan followed in 2016, and a hatchback joined the lineup for 2017.

The Cruze Hatchback has a hidden advantage over every competitor in its class: You can order it with a diesel engine. Starting at $26,395, the 2018 Cruze Diesel Hatch comes with the LT (mid-level) trim package, a 1.6-liter turbocharged diesel four-cylinder engine that produces 137 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque, and front-wheel drive. The Cruze is the most-affordable diesel hatchback on the market, and the EPA estimates that it can achieve 29 mpg in the city, 48 mpg on the highway, and 35 mpg combined with a six-speed manual transmission.

2018 Ford Fiesta ST

The hot hatch was Generation X’s muscle car. Small, maneuverable, and jammed with high-performance four-cylinder engines, heavily modified hot hatches starred in Gymkhana videos and teenage fantasies. One of the most popular and best factory hot hatches clings to survival: the 2018 Ford Fiesta ST.

Starting at $21,285, the Fiesta ST comes with a direct-injected, turbocharged 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine (197 hp/202 lb-ft of torque), a six-speed manual transmission, and front-wheel drive. Sport-tuned suspension and four-wheel disc brakes work with a stabilizer bar and standard torque vectoring control to manage understeer and deliver sharp, predictable handling. It’s a hatchback for people who love to drive, and one of the 10 best for the money.

Photo by Ford

2018 Honda Civic

The Civic is the car that put Honda on the map in the United States. It has evolved over 10 generations since 1972 from a dirt-cheap econobox into a grown-up family of vehicles, one variant of which is a sophisticated compact hatchback.

Starting at $20,150, the 2018 Civic LX hatchback comes with a 1.5-liter turbocharged, direct-injected inline four-cylinder engine featuring 174-hp/167 lb-ft of torque, a six-speed manual transmission (add $800 for a CVT automatic), and front-wheel drive. It provides great EPA fuel economy ratings – up to 31 mpg in the city, 40 mpg on the highway, and 34 mpg combined in its thriftiest variant – and a substantial array of standard and available safety features. Far from the cheap compromise of the past, the Civic is now one of the best hatchbacks for the money.

Photo by Honda

2018 Hyundai Elantra GT

Hyundai has always packed its cars with value, and in the past decade, it has vastly improved the quality of its vehicles as well. The Elantra GT, fully redesigned for the 2018 model year, continues the trend. Starting at $19,350, the 2018 Elantra GT is a compact five-door hatchback with a 161-hp 2.0-liter naturally aspirated (non-turbo), direct-injected inline four-cylinder engine, and a six-speed manual transmission (add $1,000 for a six-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic).

Four-wheel disc brakes are standard, as are 17-inch alloy wheels. Full LED headlights and taillights are available. An audio system with an 8-inch high-resolution touchscreen, a rearview camera with dynamic parking guidelines, Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are all standard. Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty puts the Elantra GT over the top as one of the best hatchbacks for the money.

Photo by Hyundai

2018 Kia Rio

The Kia Rio used to be a new car of last resort – cheap transportation for entry-level buyers who couldn’t afford to be choosy. That has changed, as Kia has ramped up its quality, value, design, and technology to qualify as one of the best hatchbacks for the money. The 2018 Rio five-door starts at $14,200, and it’s one of the best-looking subcompact hatchbacks in its class. A new version of the Kia shark-nose grille connects expressive headlights to give Rio an expressive face, and sleek body lines help lend this hatchback an assertive stance.

A zippy 1.6-liter direct-injected engine with continuously variable valve timing and a six-speed manual transmission (add $1,090 for a six-speed automatic) delivers just enough fun-to-drive to keep Rio ahead of the pack.

Photo by Kia

2018 Mazda3 Touring

A true driver’s car, the 2018 Mazda3 Touring embodies Mazda’s KODO design language, capturing a sense of motion even while standing still. Its 2.5-liter SKYACTIV-G four-cylinder engine is tuned to produce 184 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque, and it uses a six-speed manual transmission (add $1,050 for a six-speed automatic) to turn the front wheels. (The base Sport model has a smaller but still peppy engine.)

The Mazda3 also comes standard with G-Vectoring Control. This sophisticated system adjusts power delivery to shift the car’s weight to the front wheels on turn-in and cornering, a subtle yet effective way to improve handling and steering feel. This innovative system is a great added value and helps make Mazda3 one of the best hatchbacks for the money.

Photo by Mazda

2018 Nissan Versa Note

It’s hard to argue with the value proposition of the 2018 Nissan Versa Note. Starting at just $15,600, the Note is a five-door hatchback with seating for five, a proven 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and an equipment list that belies its low base price.

The Versa Note is the hatchback for buyers seeking simple, basic transportation with everything you need, and nothing extra to jack up the price. It’s a perfect first vehicle for a new driver, or an around-town runabout that can squeeze into a tight parking spot at the train station to make your commute easy and economical. Even if you check all the boxes and select the top trim-level Note SR, you’ll still only find a starting price of $18,100.

2018 Subaru Impreza

If you live in the northern third of the United States where snow and rain must be conquered, you probably crave all-wheel drive in your hatchback. The 2018 Subaru Impreza 2.0i five-door is the lowest-priced hatchback on the market with standard all-wheel drive, starting at $18,995. And it’s not just all-wheel drive – it’s Subaru’s renowned Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, a proven system that has kept Northerners from sliding into snow banks for years.

Powered by a 2.0-liter horizontally opposed Boxer engine, the Impreza is a sure-footed companion for all-weather driving, using either the standard five-speed manual transmission or optional ($1,000) CVT. A four-wheel independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and electric power-assisted steering deliver superior handling and stopping power.

2018 Toyota Yaris 3-Door

The saying “Less is more” certainly applies to the 2018 Toyota Yaris 3-door. Starting at $15,635 with a five-speed manual transmission ($16,385 with a four-speed automatic), the Yaris is a tiny hatchback with a big heart. Equipped with standard Toyota’s Safety Sense C suite of advanced accident avoidance technology and nine airbags, the Yaris is a minicar packed with Toyota safety, quality, and dependability.

Despite its diminutive stature, the Yaris is easy to enter and exit in three-door form, and surprisingly roomy in the front seat. Thanks to its small dimensions, short front and rear overhangs, and tight steering radius, the Yaris may be the easiest hatchback on the market to park and maneuver through narrow spaces and traffic – perfect for city driving and small garages.

Photo by Toyota

2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI

When it comes to hot hatches, the Golf GTI is legendary. The 2018 Golf GTI continues the tradition, and at a bargain starting price of $26,415, it is one of the best performance hatchbacks for the money. Pushing value over the top is VW’s “People First Warranty,” a transferrable six-year/72,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty that is one of the best standard factory warranties available.

The GTI comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine (220-hp/258 lb-ft of torque), front-wheel drive, and drive-mode selection to adjust how the car responds to the road. A sport suspension, a torque-sensing limited-slip differential, and high-performance front and rear disc brakes assure that the fun never stops, and available adaptive chassis control system allows you to dial in the ride to match your driving style.

Photo by Volkswagen