TOTD: Should the 2015 Subaru WRX Offer a Hatchback?

Dear Subaru, I hope you come through with the hatch as I am a current 2011 wrx hatch owner and I love it so very much.  Keep in mind mazda is coming out with a mazdaspeed3 with awd and 300hp for probably around 30grand, so if you don't wanna lose sales to them then give us the new hatch with the wrx s4 engine 295 and manual/cvt.  You have this and next year to make it happen.  Also, please give us a forester sti with the same fa20 295  engine and the brz with the same engine.  its a perfect engine for cars in the mid 30 grand range.  I would own all of these cars if they existed.  I am a true Subaru guy and would love to remain a loyal customer for generations to come.

Yes, yes, absolutely yes.

I will never understand the US market aversion to hatchbacks.  Elsewhere in the world, they are much more popular than sedans.  The hatchback form is more useful, handles better (balance), etc.  Looks are certainly a subjective matter, but why give up the many advantages of a hatchback for looks alone?  Form should always follow function.

If Subaru does not build a hatchback STI soon, I will be looking at the Golf R, the Audi RS3, etc.

Yes they should. I'm waiting for an STI hatch.

The body style and suspension is a bit of an improvement, but to add a couple hundred more pounds to the frame and not make drastic improvements on engine HP and efficiency has me questioning Subaru's direction of putting all their efforts and $ into a sedan-only design.  If that were the case, I would have expected more improvement in MPG along with an increase of HP by at least 15 - 30 HP.  I was looking to purchase either the Forester XT or WRX, but one without a 6 spd manual transmission and the other now without a hatchback, I may just keep my Toyota for much longer.  Throw us a bone Subaru, I'm a huge fan, but there aren't a lot of interesting options, please!

I had the cash in hand ready to buy a 2015 WRX hatchback. No hatchback = no Subaru. Going to try out a Speed3 and a Ford ST now. If BMW had a 1-series hatchback offered in the US, I would have been looking at that first.

If they stretch the headroom in the back two feet further and have the glass open with the trunk they'll almost have the "hatch ... back".  The trend to give more and more headroom to the back seat with all auto manufacturers really detracts from the look of the car.  When I start carpooling with kangaroos with proper news anchor postures I'll make sure and thank them.

As someone who is going to be in the market in the next year for a WRX I'm very disappointed with the lack of a hatch.  For me the WRX was the all around car and without the hatch it loses a great deal of practical use.  I wanted the WRX because it could do everything.  There isn't a chance I'd buy the WRX without a hatch.  I live in one of the snowiest areas of the country and I'd rather throw winter tires on a Mustang and get my wife an SUV.  I think the idea of the WRX as my car that could do everything was lost with the hatch.

Yes, I was debating on waiting for this new model to come out or pull the trigger on the current model and now I know to get the current model because I need the added space of the hatch. 

I'm liking the new WRX, the more enthusiast focused handling/suspension, finally direct injection :), 6spd, all this is good, but not having a wagon or hatch version is missing a major WRX demographic.  Hasn't it become very clear that WRX fans want both?!  Really both.  The Levorg concept would work for me, or hatch variant.  The hatch / wagon just adds so much more versatility - I like a sports car that can haul!  

The sedan is quite nice, but would lack for sports oriented trips..  

A WRX Wagon or Hatch - I'm in!  A Sedan I'm on the fence, though It looks like a smart one for people who prefer a sedan.

Given that there are no spy shots of WRX hatchbacks anywhere, I think Subaru has decided to let the hatchback sit this generation out--or at least until the next refresh in 3 years.  Well, at least the Golf R is still in play and is better than ever.

I really hope Subaru is merely delaying the arrival of a hatchback variant of the WRX/WRX STI as I will be in the market for one sometime in the next year.  The sedan isn't terrible, but I need/love the practicality of the hatchback and always have. 

Just purchased an Impreza Sport (5-door) for my wife a few weeks ago. While at the dealer, I test drove the WRX and fell in love. I knew I found my next car, and they were soon to announce the 2015 WRX. Seeing I won't be in the market for a new car until 2015, I was happy, until I heard there will be no 5-door hatch. Not only is it one of the iconic stapes that made the WRX a WRX in my opinion, I also need to use it everyday: I have kids, family, dogs, I shop, I move things daily. I have a civic now and won't ever buy a 4-door again.

Either I will see if I can swing getting a 2014 5-door WRX in the coming year (doubt it, my Honda is running just fine, and I wasn't planning on replacing it in 2014) or I won't be buying a Subaru. Sad, but it's certainly a deal breaker for me...

Considering all but 2 WRX's in my area are hatchbacks I think Subaru screwed themselves out of a large customer base. Because realistically if you wanted a Rally inspired sedan you should get an Evo, or if you're cheap a Ralliart. Sure they aren't perfect but they are sharper to drive, the only reason the WRX sells as well as it does is because of the hatchback's practicality. I know Subaru had a choice to make either sedan or hatchback and frankly... they chose wrong. Please give me my hatchback... back.

Whether Subaru should or shouldn't, they wont. Subaru's storied WRC days are over and a solid business case cannot be made to justify a hatchback. It's a bitter pill to swallow for many of the faithful, I know, but it's the new reality. Subaru's morphing into a mainstream auto manufacturer here in North America, and with the change comes a new paradigm. Explosive growth in sales in the USA means parent company Fuji Heavy and SOA won't be changing course anytime soon, if ever. As for me friends, I plan to drive my 2003 WRX Sport Wagon until the wheels fall off (and then I'll glue them back on).

@Ellingham 2002 WRX Sport Wagon owner here  :)

The Subaru Rep at the LA Auto Show 'said' that Subaru is heading back into World Rallying - hopefully that will bode well for at least an Sti wagon or hatch at some point.

I'm getting my motor glued back together at the moment.  176k miles w/o using oil - then one cylinder dead..  not sure why as yet..  

Uh, no.  There's enough low-selling, corny wagons on the road.

Im not a hatchback person. But I think the front of this car would look better with a back that is a hatchback.

Yes.  I ski/Mtn Bike, have dogs etc.  For me a hatch works best.  For what it is worth, I sell Subarus and there is a pretty good buzz among the dealerships and our customers-all parties are disappointed about no hatch.  If they don't make a hatch WRX at least put a more potent engine in the Crosstrek!

No debate. Yes!

Two things I will never buy again: A sedan and an automatic (well... the wife drives an automatic SUV right now, so I've technically never driven one). For the same price, why would I buy a sedan when I can have a hatchback??? Posing? I don't buy cars for others to look at. I don't give a sh$t about what others think of MY car. I want a powerful, agile car that's also practical. If Subaru doesn't offer one, they're off the list next time I'm looking for one. That's all.

I bought a Focus ST hatchback last year... and that's only because Ford was too stupid to sell the station wagon version over here. LOL

So yes, better late than never Subaru... think of adding a hatchback WRX for the 2016 line-up. I should be on the market for one just around that time (everyone knows Fords are not keepers past the warranty period). ;)

@WoRkZ My Ford Ranger has been out of warranty for 20 years and is still going strong at 230,000 miles (and will be a lot stronger with a future 3.7 swap). Other than the sometimes abominable Sync system, your Focus should be good for at least 10 years and at least 150-200,000 miles provided you wait until it warms up before applying full boost and allow the engine to cool down after hard runs.

yes!

The hatchback should be offered...sometimes a small sedan doesn't offer enough utility...sadly Subaru for 2014 doesn't offer the Impreza Wgn with the 5sp manual with 17ln wheels/tires,moonroof and heated seats; now only with CVT, whats with that? 

I'm not interested in hatchbacks or wagons. 

Evidently I'm alone here, but I think hatchbacks and wagons look stupid.  Yes, they offer more utility, but I've always hated the way they look.  But seeing as the WRX isn't the kind of car I'd ever consider buying (hatch or sedan), it doesn't really matter to me.

@Skywarped

You're not alone by far.  Stationwagons and crapbacks do look goofy.  I never understood why they would offer a "sport" version in  a stationwagon vs the Sedean (Focus, 3)...baffles me.

How about a 3dr hatch.

Yes, please. Sedan's butt looks ugly

Yes they should.

Yes. You'd be surprised at how many bug eyed and blob eyed WRX hatchbacks are still around, being driven by older people. It'll offer more to those that want a hatchback for the versatility, but want a bit more go with their driving, and don't want a Forester XT. Seems rather narrow of a field, but it's there.

And whatever happened to "Hot hatches"?

Considering that Ford even bothered to release one let alone two very good ones you'd think the hot hatch market would be doing pretty well right now.

They should offer an "ugly car discount"....hatchback or sedan

Yes.  They are insane to not offer it.  The sedan looks awful next to the wagon.  If they offer a wagon, this is an interesting option despite the down grade stylistically from the current generation.

NO. Keep it as mature as possible. SOA needs to ditch the spoiled brat trust fund babies. Let them have their Evo, need to make WRX more sophisticated. Especially since they don't have a legit Legacy performance model. Or...bring back the LGT and Spec B.

@TheWeatherWarrior  wtf crawled up your ass and died? Who says that a sedan is less mature than a hatch; is it because it's less practical?

@RPIbaldum@TheWeatherWarriorread what I said. the sedan is MORE mature than the hatchback. Reading comprehension my friend.

@TheWeatherWarrior @RPIbaldum ah, I had a typo. My point holds and your attitude reinforces it

Yes.  I commend Subaru for offering the automatic transmission again, and I call on them to make a hatchback.  They should do something different and make it a 3 door hatchback like they sold in the 80's and 90's. Make the 5 door hatch/ mini wagon on the Legacy platform, a Legacy GT wagon.

YES. I was exited about the new model coming out...a possiblilty to replace my mazda3 with an AWD SRX hatch.....but then i saw there will be no hatch variant..Can't understand why Suby would scratch the hatch, it would have been a fun car with versitility. Bad Call right there by Subaru.Disappointed 

@Marcin Kaczmarski Subaru is famous for making bad calls  ;)  Often they listen though, hope they get a giant ear full on the NEED for a wagon or hatch!  My wife has a mazda 3 sport - very good car!

Duh. A hatch would attract more people to to vehicle. Looking at the WRX's/STi's out on the streets, id have to say 80% of them are hatchbacks. 

Yes, especially since the philosophy of dumping all of the R&D money into one body style instead of having to split it across two still resulted in a car that looks like a tarted up econo box.

@soonerlobo In the end isnt that what the WRX always was? Just a turboed impreza with some suspension and brake mods? 

Agreed, but what's frustrating is that their justification for not having a hatch, per Christian Seabaugh's "Don't Panic" article was:

"As for the lack of a hatchback variant, Subaru has a good reason for that too. Subaru had a choice when developing the 2015 WRX: either split their budget in half to develop a hatch and sedan, or commit that entire budget to one body style. Subaru obviously did the latter, committing to the sedan because it offers more sales growth potential than the hatch. The result is a WRX that not only looks distinctly like a WRX, but is unique from the Impreza from the greenhouse down."

What resulted doesn't look"unique" enough to me to justify the cost saving measure.

Can someone explain why it's being called a 2015 WRX when it's released to market early 2014?

Any vehicle released after 1/1/2014 can be called a 2015

God no!

yes. 

For some reason when I look at the front of these cars, particularly while they're on with the LED running lights on I see a striking resemblance to the 2005-2009 Legacy. I own a 2005 Legacy GT and cant help seeing glimpses of my car in that front end. Considering I bought my car because it was a Wagon and my second choice was a 2006 WRX wagon, I would say yes it is a mistake, I think vehicles can look better as wagons, are more versatile and at the very least, not offering one is going to turn potential buyers like me who love wagons with turbo's and AWD away. Guess I'll just buy a Forester XT instead....

@Erik BergeI know that conventional wisdom says Americans don't like hatches and wagons, but I wish Subaru had been more committed to wagons as it was one thing that made them a unique alternative to the competition. I maintain that Subaru needs to have at least two AWD wagons going at any time, no matter the segments (compact and hot hatch, midsize and hot hatch, etc.). I know there are plenty of people who value both of those things in a vehicle, even if most of them live in Vermont.

@Erik Berge Wait, you have a LGT Wagon!?!? Does it have a manual?

@OfMyOwnAccord @Erik Berge Well I live in Seattle is there are a TON of Subaru's here. Patircularly Outback's and Foresters. Yes OfMyOwnAccord I own an 05 Legacy GT Wagon Limited with a Manual. Love the thing, plan on keeping it till it dies, which wont be for a long time!