Golf GTI

Make
Volkswagen
Segment
Hatchback

We love the idea of a three-door hatchback – it gives off a sporty two-door coupe vibe, while still retaining the practicality of a hatchback. Sadly, the popularity of two-door coupes has been waning in favor of SUVs and practical three-door hatchbacks have suffered as a result. Volkswagen has already killed off three-door versions of the Golf GTI and Golf R, so only five-door models remain on sale. Now Autocar reports that VW's Spanish brand Seat has just killed off the three-door versions of the Leon and Mii.

Autocar is currently awaiting a sales breakdown from Seat for the Leon and Mii to see the ratio of three-door sales to five-door sales, but Seat says that demand for three-door models has been far lower than it has for five-doors. VW has recently announced the end of several other three-door hatchbacks including the Beetle, Polo, Scirocco, and Up, as well as the Audi A3. Even in Europe where hatchbacks are popular, VW now only sells three three-door hatchbacks: the Audi A1, the Volkswagen Golf, and Skoda Citigo - none of which will continue into the next generation.

The evidence is clear: three-door hatchbacks may not be long for this world. In the US, there are only five three-door hatchbacks remaining on sale. These include the Fiat 500, Mini Cooper, Smart ForTwo, Toyota Yaris, and Volkswagen Beetle – you can also count the Hyundai Veloster which technically has an asymmetrical rear door. With so few three-door hatchbacks remaining, it only seems like a matter of time before the body style dies off completely in the US.