Three times three: these three-door cars are still for sale new in 2023

The three-door was once not only very normal, but even just the starting point in the compact class. We are not only talking about the real little ones, such as the Suzuki Alto and – slightly larger – the Volkswagen Polo, but also about large models such as Golfs, Kadetts, Escorts and Corollas. In this context, we would like to remind you that there were three-door versions of even larger cars for a long time, for example the Volkswagen Passat. In the second half of the last century, whole tribes of people got into a car with a large tailgate, but without rear doors, without blinking an eye, even with children. The lack of a private door almost always means that no window can be opened, because the suffering in this usually air-conditioned era only increased.

Volkswagen Passat three-door (second generation).

As is often the case with comfort-enhancing things, the hatchback with rear doors has become the norm over the years. The disappearance of the three-door took a while, but it got off to a good start around the turn of the century. That started in the compact middle class. The last Golf that was available as a three-door was the Golf VII, but in the end only in basic trim or as a sporty GTI. The three-door Focus was scrapped in 2010, Mazda left this concept for what it was when the first 3 were introduced. At Opel and Renault, the disappearance of the three-door body took a detour, which was enthusiastically attributed coupé-like characteristics by the marketing department. The last Mégane ‘Coupé’ was a three-door hatchback with a somewhat sportier line than the five-door, and therefore a direct competitor of the Opel Astra GTC. Kia tried something similar with the Pro_Ceed and Seat with the Leon SC, which was an exception for that brand after several Leon generations with only five-door carriages. It was all to no avail: even with these brands we now only find hatchbacks with rear doors.

Three-door with a coupé sauce: the Opel Astra GTC

In the B segment, the disappearance of the three-door hatchback took a little longer, but most of it was gone before 2020. The three-door Volkswagen Polo disappeared in 2017, the three-door Peugeot 208 in 2018. The three-door Ford Fiesta lasted until 2022, although Ford has now scrapped that entire model as compensation. Here, too, it was clear to see that if the three-door hatchback survived, it would be in the form of a sporty or retro gadget. In that context, we mention the first DS 3, the first Audi A1 and the almost forgotten Hyundai i20 Coupé.

Anyone who steps into a new three-door hatchback in 2023 is certainly not doing so to save costs. The three remaining cars in this category are all three models from the ‘gadget’ category. In addition to the current and upcoming Mini, it concerns the Fiat / Abarth 500 and a car that may come to mind less quickly: the Toyota GR Yaris. Only the bizarrely fast and rare topper of the Yaris series is a three-door, which hardly shares parts with lesser Yaris. It is still on the price list, but costs a minimum of €63,495. Strictly speaking, Fiat and Abarth are two different models, not even because of those brand names, but because Fiat still carries the ‘old’ 500 next to the electric 500e. For your and our convenience, we group both cars under one model, but we must note that such a 500e is really different from a 500 Hybrid.

Mini Cooper.

Abarth 500e.

Toyota Yaris GR.

Three-door, no hatchback

We define a three-door hatchback as a car with a large tailgate and no rear doors, but there are more models that fit that description. Off-road vehicles, to be precise, which is why we’re happy to give the (outgoing) Toyota Land Cruiser, the Suzuki Jimny and the Land Rover Defender 90 an honorable mention. This also applies to the Smart ForTwo. With its split tailgate and very short body, it just doesn’t count as a real three-door hatchback in our opinion. If you disagree, don’t be too angry: production will stop in 2024 anyway.