One of the segments that look forgotten in the car industry in the past few years is the hatchback section. More and more car manufacturers are trying to enter the SUV market, the sedan market or the market for small, compact and urban city vehicles.
With that being said, this year, during the Frankfurt Motor Show we saw several cars that are trying to reestablish themselves into the hatchback section. Among the best of those are the 2015 Opel Astra, the 2016 Renault Megane and the 2016 Toyota Prius. Here is what they offer.
2015 Opel Astra
Debuting under the name Vauxhall Astra, the 2015 Astra has a completely new design that features new front grille, LED headlamps and a more dynamic and sportier body in general. The beauty is in those LED lamps that adapt to the traffic condition and situation. The lamps use cameras to adjust the beam, depending on the situation or whether your car faces pedestrians or other vehicles. The tail lamps have also undergone a redesign, with the rear resembling the shape of the Jaguar XJ.
Under the hood, the 2015 Opel Astra debuts several new engines, including the new 1.4 naturally aspired engine which is the entry level, as well as three petrol engines (1.0, 1.4 and 1.6). The diesel power trains start with a new 1.6 engine with three power outputs starting with 108hp and returning up to 158hp. There is no word of a powerful 2.0 diesel engine.
Inside, you will find much more legroom, despite the shrinking in size of the 2015 Astra. Some of the premium technology goodies make an entry into the Astra, including the OnStar road assistance by Vauxhall, as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The new Astra can also serve as a mobile data hotspot for up to seven smartphones.
2016 Toyota Prius
The biggest improvement for the 2016 Toyota Prius is in the area of efficiency. Toyota has bumped the mileage of the 2016 Prius by 10% and the car now delivers EPA rating of 55mpg. If that isn’t enough to entice you, the 2016 Toyota Prius is set on a new platform by the company, shedding weight, while adding room in the interior. As for the exterior, the facelift of the Prius includes several dynamic lines and new front end. Colors are also a huge part of the new Prius, with the color palette expanding.
2016 Renault Megane
For Renault, it was all about being bold with the design of the 2016 Megane. Starting from the new front end design that is a bit curvier than what we’ve grown accustomed to, the 2016 Renault Megane also features new C-shaped LED headlamps and rising waistline. Much of the design is inspired by the new Clio, including the rear, but with distinctive tail lamps. Both the rear and the front end of the vehicle are now wider, while the height has been reduced by 25mm. The new dimensions give the 2016 Megane sportier and more dynamic and purposeful look. Competing with the ones of Audi A3, Opel Astra, Ford Focus and Seat Leon should now be easy for the 2016 Renault Megane.
There is no info about the new engines, but we expect tweaks for the petrol and DCI engine. One thing is certain though, Renault will also offer a turbocharged petrol engine with a power of up to 300 ponies in the future. Sport Tourer and Coupe could also join the lineup in 2016.
