To better understand their history, we must understand what a hatchback is. So, every small car is not a hatchback, just like every big car is not a 4×4. A hatchback can be defined as a 3-door or 5-door car with a back door that swings open. Very unlike coupes, often confused with hatchbacks.
The need for hatchbacks developed worldwide in the early 1940s as people needed a vehicle that was both economical and offered ample room and storage space. The first few cars that stirred the hatchback market in the 70s were the Renault Gordini and the VW Golf GTI. The GTI has now become an icon with VW churning out newer versions every few years, all based on the essence of the original.
In Pakistan, the hatchback market was truly revolutionized when Suzuki started their operations in the early 1980s along with other car manufacturers like Toyota and later, Honda. Suzuki hoped to capture the hatchback market by introducing the very economical Suzuki FX. The FX was very functional and economical and in no time became very popular, with production running from 1982-1988. One can still see the FX on the streets of Pakistan. An ode to Suzuki’s reliability.
The second and most famous hatchback they introduced was the Suzuki Mehran. Introduced in 1989, the Mehran was meant to be convenient, affordable, and easy to drive. It went on to become one of the longest-running production cars in Pakistan being discontinued in 2019, proving how popular it was. The Mehran was so popular it practically wiped all hatchbacks off the market, everyone who wanted something affordable chose the Suzuki Mehran, eventually leaving no hatchback competition in the market.
Suzuki, in year 2000, introduced the Alto and the Cultus, both different versions of the classic hatchback-type cars that Pakistanis had grown to love. Both these models have modern variants with modern features, design, and colors. The popularity of the new variants assures us that the hatchback market is only going to get better.
In recent years, Pakistan also saw an influx of Japanese used imported hatchbacks which were instantly quite popular and then came new entrants such as KIA, adding to the hatchback segment with its Picanto. The introduction of these cars has stirred the hatchback market in Pakistan once again. There are rumors of more and more hot-hatchbacks entering the local market. Maybe, we could see the new MG5 on the streets soon, or maybe even the 4th generation Suzuki Swift.
In any case, things are looking upbeat for this hatchback segment and hatchback users will have much better options. Sources tell us that the new Suzuki swift, for example, could really shake the hatchback space as it will be the most feature-studded, stylish and the first of “hot-hatchbacks” locally produced. So, are we looking at a premium hatch back! Let’s see how the next chapter in the hatchback story plays out in Pakistan.
