2009 hatchback / wagon

2009 compact Hatchback & Wagon design ratings

   ​Although the days of the wagon may seem to be over, there still seems to be some demand for them.  As for a hatch, the market is still on an upward trend.  Wagons and Hatch’s have always been a favourite for tuners looking for some extra room, or the couple, just starting to have a family.  Although the contenders in this segment may not be the biggest piece of the market, they still have their followers.  

    Most companies like to use a wagon or hatch, as a way to entice some extra market share within the small, medium or full size car markets.  It also acts as a way to lure consumers into showrooms, with the advantage of having cars with the most interior room and truck space.  Considering a hatch is just a sedan with some extra sheet metal, most consumers are still drawn to them.
            This years AutoLooks A+ award was a hard one, considering that both of the top two contenders came from the same platform.  It was a hard choice, but in the end the winner was chosen over one little flaw in the other.  The headlights were just too big on the #2 car so this year we had to name the 2009 Toyota Matrix over the 2009 Pontiac Vibe, for the A+ award.  The Matrix’s headlights where just more mean compared to the huge, but still mean ones on the Vibe.  The Matrix also looked leaner then the chubby Vibe.  Although it came down to a fight of the platforms, the A+ winner still seems to be a winner in all ways.
            As for the Rusty, it was not as hard to name.  Although it too came down to two similar contenders, it was still a lot easier.  And for 2009 the Rusty goes to the Toyota Auris.  It just seems odd to give the best and worst award to the same company.  And considering the other poor contender was another Toyota product.  The Auris won due to its oddly shaped front end.  From far away it looks like the wrong headlights were installed, and that the grille is not finished.  The car seems to give off a kind of walrus feel to it, odd and fat.

​Everett J.

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Wagon-Hatch Contenders:
 
A+         2009 Toyota             Matrix
2nd       2009 Pontiac            Vibe
3rd        2009 Volkswagen    Jetta Sportwagen
4th        2009 Fiat                  New Croma
5th         2009 Scion               xB
Rusty     2009 Toyota             Auris