Sedan fuel economy with fold-flat cargo space. Hatchbacks from 704 dealers.
Hatchbacks give you 20-25 cubic feet of cargo behind the rear seats - double what a sedan trunk holds. Fold the rear seats flat and you're looking at 40-55 cubic feet, enough for a small piece of furniture or a bike without a rack. The Honda Civic Hatchback, Mazda3 Hatchback, and Toyota Corolla Hatchback are the most common on 704 lots. The Volkswagen Golf and Subaru Impreza (standard AWD) show up less frequently but are worth watching for.
Hatchbacks also tend to be underpriced relative to their usefulness. A Civic Hatchback costs about the same as the Civic sedan at the same age and miles but carries significantly more cargo. Mazda3 hatchbacks are the pick of the group for driving enjoyment - stiffer chassis, better steering feel. If you need AWD, the Subaru Impreza is the only hatchback in this segment that includes it standard, which saves you the $2K+ AWD upcharge other brands charge.