What is the difference between a liftback and a hatchback? What is the difference between them? Liftback body type: what is it? What is liftback

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Ask any person who is even a little familiar with cars what "hatchback" means, and he will easily give you the answer. But not everyone knows that this type of body also has varieties, as well as what is the difference between a liftback and a hatchback. Let's identify the difference between a hatchback and a liftback together.

What is a hatchback?

This is a type of recently gaining popularity of a car body, which is a so-called "rear hatch" with a short overhang and a fifth door (although there are three-door options).

The trunk of such cars is spacious enough, which allows a large family to feel much more comfortable and free on trips than in classic sedans.

What is a liftback and what are its distinguishing features?

The liftback is a body that looks like a sedan (a car with such a body is quite common, it has 4 doors + a trunk, which is separated from the passenger compartment). However, in this case, the trunk lid in it opens in the same way as the body of a hatchback, i.e. together with a panoramic rear window.

You may have thought that this sedan / hatchback mixture is something new, since it is not on everyone's lips. But history suggests otherwise. Who would have thought, and yet in the Soviet Union, in seemingly distant 1973, the masters of their craft produced the Moskvich Combi - a car that personifies the liftback classics.

And do not be surprised if your liftback is called a hatchback, because the difference between them is not determined either by amateurs in the auto industry, or by dealers and specialists (unless, of course, we are talking about any documentation or a thorough inspection), except for one "but": a car in the back of a liftback, which has a similar configuration as a car with a hatchback or a sedan body, it will cost you, albeit insignificantly, but cheaper.

If you want to know about other types of car body, go to

The technical characteristics of a car are not only about engine size, power, suspension and transmission. This data also includes the body type. Today, not every car owner will be able to distinguish, for example, a crossover from an SUV, or a sedan from a station wagon. And, even more so, to answer the question of how many body types there are. In general, there are more than twenty of them, and one of the least known, but gradually gaining popularity, is the liftback. The meaning of the word, body description, distinctive features and other useful information will be presented in this article.

Hatchback + sedan = liftback

Some people confuse this type of body with a sedan, others with a hatchback. In fact, it is very easy to distinguish between them.

The liftback is a kind of hatchback, as strange as it may sound. But it is not for nothing that it is called a unique body type, since it combines the practicality and presentability of a sedan with the spaciousness and excellent aerodynamics of a hatchback. That is, the liftback has a fifth door with glass (trunk), but the body shape is streamlined.

What is a liftback? Terminology and body description

The word has an English origin (liftback) and literally translates as "lifting rear". Visually, the liftback is more like, as a rule, a five-door two-volume car, in which the luggage compartment is structurally combined with the interior and hardly stands out as a third volume.

The first liftback in the world can be safely considered the Moskvich Combi, produced by AvtoVAZ in 1973. Famous to this day, the IZH-2125 model for 9 years remained the only hatchback in the domestic and world market. But in those years the word "liftback" was alien to the Russian ear, so the history of this type of body does not begin with the "Moskvich Combi". The term itself is considered relatively young and began to be used as a definition of a separate group of cars not so long ago.

liftback from other body types

In terms of body structure, it is clear what a liftback is. It will not be difficult to distinguish it from other varieties if you take a close look at the rear of the car. Unlike the sedan, it has a full-fledged fifth door, and not a trunk lid. It differs from the hatchback in a more streamlined body shape, that is, the rear is not "chopped off". It will be impossible to confuse a liftback with a minivan due to the larger size of the latter. It differs from the station wagon in length - in the liftback, the rear overhang is much shorter due to the smaller size of the luggage compartment.

Advantages and disadvantages of a car in a liftback body

The similarities and differences between a liftback and a hatchback and a sedan make cars of this body type the most popular and attractive. They are chosen by car owners from all over the world. From the sedan, the liftback has adopted a presentable appearance, as well as a streamlined body shape, which make it an ideal option for movement in a metropolis, since the aerodynamic capabilities of the car are significantly increased. From the hatchback he got a roomy luggage compartment, which gives it the ability to transport bulky items. The liftback is great for those who like to go on picnics and travel around the cities, because the trunk will hold everything that is needed on the road.

The main disadvantage of this type of body, as in the hatchback, is the penetration of foreign odors from the luggage compartment and a longer warm-up of the passenger compartment. The elongated body, like the sedan, becomes the reason for the worst maneuverability. Nevertheless, many owners argue that the liftback body is a unique variety and the best that auto designers could come up with.

The best representatives of the liftback in the global automotive market, pricing policy

The price of liftbacks varies depending on the manufacturer, equipment and technical characteristics of the vehicle. For example, let's compare two models from Skoda - Superb and Rapid. The updated "Rapid" costs about 600-850 thousand rubles. And the minimum price for Superb in 2017 is 1,300,000.

Our dear Lada Granta is also gaining popularity. If earlier it was produced as a sedan and station wagon, today you can see a liftback with quite decent technical characteristics. The price for "Grant" starts at 400,000 rubles and can reach 700,000. Many believe that such a liftback is much better aesthetically and technically than a sedan and station wagon of the same model.

Other prominent representatives of the liftback:

Skoda Octavia;
Hyundai Elantra;
Renault Laguna;
Audi A7;
Mazda 6;
Audi A5;
Opel Insignia;
Ford Mondeo.

Liftback, like its "father" hatchback, has recently been gaining popularity, becoming one of the most demanded body types in the automotive market. And this is not surprising, because cars are great for driving around the city and for driving out of it. Now, knowing what a liftback is, it is much easier to understand why the choice is made in its favor. This is an ideal option for those who value not only aesthetic appeal, but also the ability to transport bulky goods.

Most car enthusiasts are used to sedans and station wagons. Later, a hatchback becomes a widespread version of the body - the first domestic hatchbacks were the VAZ "Nines" and "Eights". The body of the car "Moskvich Izh Combi" will be more correctly called a liftback, and the VAZ in the body of this type has recently begun to produce "Lada Grants". Perhaps, "Granta Liftback" got this name due to the fact that hatchbacks in the model range of the enterprise are already represented in other families ("Kalina", "Priora"). We will look at how exactly the liftback differs from the hatchback, as well as from the fastback, which is actually a sedan.

What is liftback

The most interesting thing is that the liftback is a kind of hatchback: the trunk lid is here combined with the rear window and is called the "fifth door". But if you look at the liftback from the side, the car can be confused with a sedan - the rear ledge resembles a luggage compartment, covered with a narrow metal strip (VAZ-21099). Actually, the Skoda Fabia is a hatchback, while the Skoda Rapid is offered to the buyer in a liftback body. From the image in the photo, you can understand what exactly is the main difference. Until recently, the domestic auto industry did not use the term "liftback", although cars in such a body were previously produced (Izh-2125 Combi).

There are three body types that are two-box: hatchback, liftback and station wagon. They all differ only subjectively. The protrusion on the rear door can be reduced, and we get a hatchback from the liftback. And to get a station wagon, you need to lengthen the rear overhang. In station wagons with increased cross-country ability, a semi-frame body structure can be used, but this does not change the essence - there are always two isolated volumes, as well as a rear "odd" door. Other two-volume bodies, except for the three listed, cannot exist (a curious exception is the Start minibus).

Variations on a sedan theme

Four doors, one luggage compartment and one engine compartment - it would seem that this scheme is the most rational. This is how you can characterize the car body, which was named "sedan". In fact, sedans come in both four-door and two-door. The last of these options differs from the coupe body in the following way: in the sedan, the rear seats are at a considerable distance from the front ones, not like inside the coupe. The roof of a coupe is usually sloping at the back, and the sofa has to be placed very close to the front seats. Typical examples of a two-door sedan: BMW 3 Series, Zaporozhets ZAZ-968.

The body of the sedan class itself is in any case three-volume. Let's say the side silhouette of such a body resembles a hatchback, as shown in the figure. Then, we see in front of us nothing more than a fastback. In total, it turns out that a fastback is a sedan in which the rear window and trunk lid do not form an angle (they are on the same plane). A typical fastback sedan is the GAZ M-20 Pobeda.

In the 1970s, two-door fastback sedans became classics in the American auto industry. Such a body can be made stronger than a similar four-door sedan, therefore the so-called muscle cars are mostly assembled in a two-door body. Such cars are often called the word "coupe", which is completely wrong from a formal point of view. Erroneous names (for example, "Ford Granada Coupe") have taken root very well in reality.

Mercedes, unlike the American auto industry, has never produced two-door sedans or fastbacks. Here the gradation of models looks like this: four-door sedans, then coupes and roadsters. Actually, even the B-class appeared in the Mercedes arsenal not so long ago, and in terms of their driving performance, these cars are inferior to the A-class cars. Probably, a two-door fastback sedan, released under the Mercedes or BMW brand, would look interesting. But a sports car in the mind of a European is a coupe, and a family car, in turn, should be endowed with four doors.

Two-door sedan originally from the USSR

There are technologies, using which, the B-pillars are not easy to manufacture. In such cases, the following options are preferred: coupe, two-door sedan, three-door hatchback or liftback. For the structure to be durable, the body must be three-volume (sedan, coupe). If we are talking about a mass car, a sedan with two doors remains a suitable option.

The project of the Zarya car, which appeared in 1966, was developed by the specialists of the auto repair base in Severodonetsk. The body of this machine, made of fiberglass, was mounted on a metal frame. Unfortunately, it was not possible to implement the project to the end, that is, to reach significant production volumes. The technology for the production of fiberglass parts turned out to be too time consuming. But the car shown in the photo, and other "plastic cars" developed in the USSR at different times, were just two-door sedans. Which is 100% consistent with the ideology discussed above.

Every driver has an idea of what a hatchback, sedan or station wagon looks like. This is not news, as these body types are considered the most popular. However, even the smartest car enthusiasts sometimes don't know the exact definition of a Liftback body. Liftback: what is it? Let's explain the main differences, advantages and disadvantages.

A liftback is a certain type of body, which is several times more practical than a sedan, has a roomy trunk and folding rear seats, which makes it possible to load larger things. It has a streamlined shape, which has a positive effect on aerodynamics.

Liftback and hatchback concept

Any motorist is familiar with the concept of "hatchback", but not many people know that this type has varieties. Consider what a liftback and a hatchback are, and also compare these two types that are similar to each other.

The hatchback is a popular type of car body. The shape resembles a "rear hatch" (this is the literal translation of the word Hatchback) with a small overhang and a fifth door, although sometimes there are three-door options. These cars have a roomy trunk, so you can feel freer and more comfortable on trips than in conventional sedans.
The liftback looks like a sedan. It has four doors and a trunk, separated from the passenger compartment only by the backs of the rear row seats. This closes the boot lid and opens with the glass.

At first glance, it may seem that the mixture of these two varieties is something new and improved, because few people have heard of it. However, back in the Soviet Union in 1973, the Moskvich Combi car in a streamlined body was developed.

Distinctive features

Literally this concept is translated as "lifting part of the trunk". This is one of the varieties of the familiar hatchback. This species has the following distinctive features:

In this case, it should be noted that these are far from all the differences, since manufacturers regard the transition between the two types as an opportunity for comprehensive modernization.

Advantages of liftbacks

The body has numerous advantages that make it popular and practical. Here is some of them:

When the trunk is opened, the entire rear section and glass rises, which makes it possible to transfer bulky goods. This view is quite roomy and comfortable.
The luggage compartment flows smoothly into the passenger compartment. The body shape becomes more streamlined.

As an example

There are a lot of examples of liftback. In the domestic open spaces, the most famous instance is Lada Granta.

For our roads, liftback and hatchback are of interest and popularity due to the possibility of using them not only in urban environments. These varieties are much more convenient than the sedan in terms of their dimensions and design features.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that liftback cars have the same equipment as hatchbacks and sedans, but they will cost you, albeit insignificantly, but cheaper.

Over the past decade, the domestic market has been filled with a huge number of cars that are not always amenable to confident classification. Understanding the products of the modern automotive industry can be difficult for a non-specialist. Therefore, we have prepared an article for our readers, an overview of two popular types of passenger car bodies: liftback and hatchback.

So, what is the difference between a liftback and a hatchback and what are their advantages over the usual sedans? For what purposes were these bodies designed? We answer the most frequently asked questions in this post.

In conditions of dense city traffic, increased requirements are imposed on the car - it must combine comfort and maneuverability.

Sedans, which in the 20th century almost completely ruled the roads of megacities, do not always satisfy the needs of modern drivers. In particular, because of their length, it can be inconvenient to park along the road and move in heavy traffic from lane to lane.

The solution was found due to a radical change in the configuration of the car:

the luggage section has been combined with the passenger compartment;
the rear overhang is significantly shortened;
Front-wheel drive with a transverse engine became standard.

New cars acquired the name hatchback ( English hatch = hatch) thanks to an innovative design with a tailgate through which the luggage compartment was accessed. Today cars of this type are produced in both 5-door and 3-door configurations, and are popular among Russian motorists.

Separately, it is worth noting that such models are much better than a sedan for novice drivers, since it is easier to get used to the dimensions on them. If you choose your first car, then this is your choice.

Unfortunately, hatchbacks have some drawbacks that owners need to take into account - in the event of an accident, the contents of the trunk can "fly" into the passenger compartment and injure passengers sitting in the rear seats. A special net covering the cargo compartment will help prevent accidents. Also, keep in mind that unpleasant smells from luggage can also lead to serious discomfort during long journeys.

Liftback - "transformer" car

Liftback (literal translation from English - "rising back") is a passenger car that resembles a sedan in shape and is a cross between a hatchback and a sedan.

The rear overhang in this version is not vertical, but is a sloping slope that smoothly turns into a protruding trunk. In many liftbacks, two options for opening the rear door are implemented - in whole or only in the protruding part.

Such cars are most popular in the American market - it is for it that the giants of the automotive industry most often produce liftback variations of famous sedans, which, in case of commercial success, "migrate" to European and Russian retail centers.

The main differences between a liftback and a hatchback

Both classes described above are modifications of a passenger car, similar in characteristics and driving performance to sedans from the same model range.

The differences between a liftback and a hatchback are as follows:

Rear overhang shape that makes the liftback look like a sedan;
Door opening mechanism - liftbacks can have 2 alternative access methods;
The liftback can be either two- or three-volume (which makes it even more similar to a sedan), while hatchbacks are only two-volume.

It is worth noting that individual manufacturers are not limited to this list, and regard the transition from a hatchback to a liftback as an opportunity for a comprehensive modernization of the series.

As an example, consider the Lada Granta liftback - along with the new body shape, the car received an upgraded brake system and chassis. These changes are not strictly tied to the body, and over time, the domestic giant promises to transfer innovations to the rest of the series.

For the domestic consumer, both hatchbacks and liftbacks are of interest as cars for urban conditions, which are much more convenient than a sedan due to their dimensions and design solutions.