Thirty years ago, the blending of bodystyles in the automobile industry was unheard of. Vehicle segments were easily (and strictly) defined. There are superminis, coupes, compact saloons, mid-size saloons and large saloons. The term “sport utility vehicle” hadn’t been invented yet. The “SUVs” back then were strictly off-roaders that had rugged ladder frames ‒ you didn’t buy them unless you lived in the mountains and had to traverse unpaved roads.
Today, we regularly see SUVs with “coupe-like” elements. Apart from the traditional two-door coupe, we also have four-door coupes, which are still saloons, albeit with more compact interiors. Hatchbacks can be turned into crossovers by raising their ride height. Heck, even saloons are being turned into “crossovers” by increasing their ground clearance.
There’s even a two/three-door coupe-cum-hatchback, which has a single door on the driver’s side and two doors on the opposite side. It makes me wonder if the designers had a big argument that came to an impasse, and this was the “compromise”.
Sometimes, I wish carmakers would go back to having easily defined bodystyles. But as someone once told me, if manufacturers only made the kind of cars that enthusiasts wanted, they’d all be out of business.
