Top 10 Forgotten Hatchbacks
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on May 12th 2009 at 11:57AM 
The annals of U.S. automobile history may be littered with the occasional hatchback success story, but for every Volkswagen Golf or Toyota Prius, there are dozens of failed three- and five-door hatches that, for whatever reason, fizzled out shortly after hitting the American market. In fact, this particular Top 10 list could easily have been fleshed out into a Top 20 if we had the patience, but cars like the Toyota FX, Plymouth Laser, and Nissan NX failed to meet our tough standards for relative obscurity, and thus they will have to be reserved for future lists.
That said, follow along with us as we take a guided tour of some of the most obscure hatchbacks from the last three decades. Don't sweat it if you don't recall a few of the forgotten machines on our list – most of us – with at least one glaring exception *cough, Paukert, cough* – had to delve deep into our rapidly fading memory banks just to remember the names of these unloved glassbacks.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Beat-it-nerd 12:07PM (5/12/2009)
Forgotten is right.....Every brand on that list with the exception of Subaru, is either a "going concern" or no longer producing vehicles in the US.
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Harley Cook 12:29PM (5/12/2009)
I'll take an Audi A3 anyday, who cares what is built in the U.S.?
James 12:44PM (5/12/2009)
Somehow I ave a soft spot for the old RWD 2dr Chevy Vega hatch...ditto for the Kammback.
G.D. 12:45PM (5/12/2009)
I wonder what the selection criteria was. I mean, if you want to talk forgotten, what about the Renault Fuego? Or the extra special Rover 3500 with the Buick 3.5 liter V8? How about a Merkur XR4Ti?
I think you guys missed the boat on this one.
BoxerFanatic 12:51PM (5/12/2009)
And Subaru being the hold out, makes no coupes, let alone hatchback coupes.
If only they did... Something like 2005-2009 Legacy GT, smaller than '10 Legacy, but better finished and better looking than 2008+ Impreza (which is adapted slightly from BL/BP Legacy)
SVX sleekness of design, base-model with Impreza frugality, and sized and priced between the two, adjusted for inflation to current day... and with three-door practicality, and turbo Subaru performance... and upgradeable all the way to STI-levels of equipment and performance.
It should get a better name than Impreza or GL, but it would actually be pretty close on point to a GL-10 updated 20 years to be modern for today, with SVX and GC Impreza coupe traits melded back in...
If they were to do that, and it is at least as good looking as my BL Legacy sedan, I would be beating down their door to trade up for a new AWD 3-door sport coupe.
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And if only GM would make things as interesting as the Monte and GP Aero-coupes again. The GP looks more interesting, with F-body rear glass and hatchback, where it seems that Monte had fixed glass more like the Impala/Caprice based coupe, and a short trunk lid.
Sea Urchin 1:14PM (5/12/2009)
I love the apology list
http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/846/dishonorable-mention-the-10-most-embarrassing-award-winners-in-automotive-history/
PJ 3:20PM (5/12/2009)
Boxer, at least we had the Justy for a few years. Three-cylinder and CVT in 1989!
I'd also add to the list:
- 1983 AMC Eagle hatchback - final spawn of Pacer/Gremlin, and
- 1984 Nissan 200SX Turbo hatchback - RWD, 2700 lbs, and 120 hp--only 20 hp less than a contemporary V8 Mustang! Preceded the S13 Silvia.
golly 9:40PM (5/12/2009)
@ James, ditto. The Vega didn't make the top 10 forgotten list because it was UNFORGETTABLE! LOL. I owned a 74 GT from new and kept it running for 19 1/2 years!
I guess the Pinto was unforgettable too as it didn't make the top 10 either.
Tourian 12:10PM (5/12/2009)
Great list. I had definitely "forgotten" about a lot of those, and a few didn't even know existed. I've seen several EXP's, but never knew Mercury had a version. I know someone with one of those Pontaic Grand Prixs. And that old Cordia makes me want to watch Cannonball Run again with Jackie Chan driving one.
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iamhoff 1:31PM (5/12/2009)
I actually had an '84 EXP. Back in '82 when they were introduced, the EXP had a different hatch and taillight cluster than what is shown on the LN7. The hatch wasn't a complete bubble, and looked more like the old Fox-body Mustang fastback. As it was my first actual car (and it replaced my old '78 Jeep Cherokee), I thought it drove decently (1.6L HO with a 5 speed), but looking back, it was pretty much a dog. Still, I have a soft spot for them.
Johari 12:11PM (5/12/2009)
Isuzu Impulse. Discuss.
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Chris.Paukert 12:15PM (5/12/2009)
A solid (and gorgeously styled) pick, but I'm kind of partial to the I-Mark... ;)
Bill 12:16PM (5/12/2009)
Loved it. Design almost timeless.
The caption forgot to mention that the EXP was actually cancelled at one point, then reappeared a year or so later with a slight redesign.
I thought the article might have mentioned the Chrysler LeBaron GTS/Dodge Lancer. We had a GTS as a family car, and I had a bit of fun with it, although compared to this list its not all that obscure.
Bloke 12:32PM (5/12/2009)
Impulse? US version of the Piazza, which was itself originally a concept car.
John 12:38PM (5/12/2009)
I loved, LOVED the original Impulse - not the gross second generation clone of the Geo Storm. That first, Giugiaro-designed one was stunning with such a sleek, slightly sinister and balanced look. It doesn't look that dated even today.
A friend in hs had one and we all drooled over the interior with the pod controls, and for whatever reason were fascinated with the single wiper. So very exotic! I remember the ad campaign showed the car mostly in shadow with dramatic copy.
Yes I remember an article about the "rebirth" of the Ford EXP. Apparently some line workers (who probably should have been focusing on quality control) put the newer Escort nose on an old EXP body they had sitting around and convinced management to look at it. So they brought it back without the frog face, but the results were as lousy as the first attempt. The LN7 died early, but the idea of its bubble glass hatch was grafted onto the larger Capri until it got canned as well.
dinnercoat 12:49PM (5/12/2009)
Read my mind Johari. =P
I first saw one on a drive to work years ago, at an intersection, and promptly researched it online. Very interesting and appealing car.
Epyx 1:02PM (5/12/2009)
"Handling By Lotus"
BigEd 3:03PM (5/12/2009)
"2.0 Turbo Intercooler" lettering on the sides of the hood.
Loved that car! Timeless Giugiaro design and that spacecraft dash with the coolest looking buttons I've ever seen! RWD with turbo fun --- weeeeeeee!!!
Seriously, looking back now ... I should have never sold my Isuzu Impulse!
OK, need a minute alone now ...
cdwrx 5:10PM (5/12/2009)
Rebadged as a Geo Storm in its second iteration.
Eric77TA 12:15PM (5/12/2009)
The Aerocoupe isn't a hatchback. It just has an itty bitty trunklid behind a huge back window.
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