What Are Sportback Cars & Are They Right For You?

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You’ll come across all sorts of terminology when shopping for cars, but one term that’s only recently been coined is sportback. More and more companies like describing their cars in this manner - but what are sportback cars, and are they right for you? Let’s find out! 

The Sportback Car Definition

You’ve definitely seen lots of cars described as hatchbacks before, and that’s a really common term that’s been around for ages. Simply put, a hatchback car is one with a specific type of boot. Instead of just a small part of the boot opening, the whole bit opens up at the back of the car. A lot of family cars come in the hatchback style because the boot makes it easier to load things in and take stuff out. 

A sportback takes some elements of hatchback cars and makes them, well, sportier. 

Most hatchbacks feature the trademark roof but are quite small and boxy - think Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio, Hyundai i10 and so on. Sportbacks are longer with more curves and built lower to the ground with an emphasis on performance. In essence, you get some of the practicality of a hatchback with added sporty elements. 

Best Sportback Cars

The sportback term was coined by Audi, so it’s no surprise that most of the best cars in this category are from the German brand. The Audi RSQ3 Sportback is likely the most well-known, and it’s widely considered the ultimate car in this category. You get everything you want and need from a sportback - speed, performance, luxury and practicality. 

Other great choices include: 

• A5 Sportback

• A7 Sportback

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Similar Cars To Sportbacks

As mentioned, Audi came up with the sportback term, so most cars with that name fall under their umbrella. However, some people might refer to a sportback as a general term for other cars that have similar names, such as: 

• Fastback

• Gran Coupe

These vehicles are basically the exact same in terms of purpose and design, only they use a slightly different term. 

Is A Sportback Right For You?

That depends on what you want out of a car. Do you need a small city car to take short trips in and nothing else? If so, a sportback won’t be right for you. However, if you want a car that’s big enough to fit your family in and handles long trips with ease, then a sportback makes loads of sense. 

It’s an especially great choice if you value performance as a key factor when buying a car. You want your vehicle to have great fuel economy yet be fast enough to handle motorway driving with ease. You don’t care too much about going from 0-60 in under 5 seconds, but having that extra bit of power and speed means a lot to you. In that case, sportback cars are probably the best you will find. 

In conclusion, a sportback or fastback is a car with a hatchback roof and sporty styling, usually resembling a saloon or coupe. They’re incredibly practical and can be awesome family cars for people who want their kids to feel safe and comfortable, yet still want some sports performance under their feet.