Americans haven't exactly embraced the hatchback over the years, but that hasn't stopped numerous mainstream automakers from offering all manner of them for the U.S. market. It's not hard to understand why: the extra door gives them the edge in versatility over their sedan counterparts.
In addition, hatches sometimes look a little better than their sedan siblings, and seldom come with a higher price tag. With many families looking to downsize from larger utes into an affordable alternative, a four-door hatch can be an enticing option -- especially with a price tag starting at less than $20,000.
Although the vehicles on the pages to follow won't necessarily be lined up against each other in a Motor Trend comparison test, we've found many consumers shop by price, sometimes looking at wildly different vehicle types. So while some might opt for a stripper Honda Insight hybrid, others may instead pounce on the deals offered on a heavily incentivized hatch like the Kia Spectra5, or circle like vultures around the pickings from the struggling domestic automakers.
Be sure to let us know in the comments section which of these affordable five-doors listed you'd choose (one thing to note, although they qualify from a price perspective, we've left the three non-traditional Box cars -- Nissan Cube, Scion xB and Kia Soul -- off this hatch list). If you're already driving one, let us know what your experience has been with it.
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