An article about three-door cars - features of such models, the reasons why they are losing popularity. At the end of the article - a video about three-door SUVs.

The content of the article:

First Volkswagen, then Kia and Opel, and now the Range Rover are moving away from 3-door models due to their extremely low demand among consumers around the world. Why are motorists cool to these cars? What is the future of the "three-door"?

It should be noted right away that the Russians, unlike the Europeans, have never particularly liked three-door models. And therefore, they all the more willingly followed new trends and moved en masse to crossovers and SUVs, without pity leaving even the most popular three-door cars in the past - Kia Ceed and Volkswagen Golf.

European and Russian experts associate such a drop in demand not only with fashion trends in the automotive world, but also with significant price nuances. Three-doors are often positioned by manufacturers as sports models, and therefore have a higher cost compared to five-door cars. However, there is a paradox here:

• lovers of really aggressive, fast driving prefer powerful sports cars, which typical three-doors are not;
• the dimensions of the three-door and the interior decoration of the passenger compartment in almost all models are similar to the full-fledged five-door versions, but they provide less comfort to rear passengers, especially during boarding.

Thus, such machines to some extent cause confusion with their impracticality when comparing their capabilities with the price tag. Sedans and hatchbacks are the best value for money that makes them so popular with drivers.

Although three-doors should be given their due - they held out on the market for a long time. The maximum demand for them was observed in 2009 and mainly among European consumers, where almost 2.5 million were sold, or 17% of the market share of such models. But the drivers quickly "played enough" and already from next year a gradual but steady decline began - to 6% in 2017, which is less than a million units sold.

Experts say that one of the main reasons for this situation is the financial crisis that erupted in Europe from 2009 to 2013. Consumers, spending their finances more rationally, switched their attention from bright design to efficiency and functionality, which three-door cars just cannot boast of.

By the way, there were times when models with two or three doors were produced just in order to reduce the cost of the car. There was such a practice among our compatriots, who, back in the days of the Soviet Union, acquired for themselves reliable and universal transport for life, which turned out to be VAZ-2108, VAZ-2121 or Tavria. Then the three-door body type was considered the absolute norm and a symbol of budget and utility.

But the era of crossovers came, all as one made in a five-door version, which finally hit the segment of less practical body types. If there is a Land Rover or a Jeep in a three-door version, then it not only causes bewilderment, but also negative from its cost for "exclusivity". Rare specimens are in demand among fans of trophy extreme, as the shortened version, thanks to its optimized geometric overhangs, gains greater cross-country ability, maneuverability and lightness.

But if once, in the 90s, every second dreamed of a three-door Mitsubishi Pajero or Chevrolet Tahoe as a symbol of freedom, speed and wild times, then for several years frame SUVs have been presented exclusively in full-fledged versions, and nothing portends their return. "Younger" brothers to the markets.

The three-door models that continued to exist, as a rule, had a relatively stable demand due to the fact that they were simply not produced in a different body, like, for example, the Fiat 500 or Volkswagen Beetle, Opel Adam or Ford Ka. But these representatives cannot be called mass cars, since due to their focus on young motorists and active driving, they occupy the niche category. Often, they are paired with a manufacturer of convertibles of catchy design and bright colors, thereby making the owner of such an instance noticeable on the road among sedans of the same type.

Given the initially low interest of Russian motorists in three-door cars, now it is almost impossible to find them in the domestic car market. Moreover, with fairly stable sales of Peugeot 107 and 208, Opel Astra and Corsa, as well as Suzuki Swift, the most popular three-door was and remains the usual domestic "eight", later known as Lada Samara 113.

Experts explain such features of the Russian car market by preferences for more practical or representative cars than conditionally sports, but such unclaimed copies in the secondary market. Dealers quite reasonably place their bets on the invariably demanded hatchbacks, sedans and crossovers, and it does not matter which assembly - domestic or imported.

The so-called niche models simply bring a certain variety to the market, but without the expectation of impressive profits and sales. Therefore, if in Europe now three-doors are still presented quite massively, then in Russia you can only find premium brands - Smart, Mini, DS 3.

Together with the entire Opel brand, one of the most successful models, the Opel Astra GTC, left the market, which was actively purchased by young drivers. Citroen representatives also speak about the DS 3 model, whose target audience age does not exceed 40 years.

Thus, we can conclude that despite the premium quality of this type of car, they are preferred by young, active peoplefor whom exclusivity, sportiness and the ability to stand out on the road are important. In addition, due to the absence of rear doors, the structure has increased rigidity, which is especially important for safety while driving. In addition, the owners noted the excellent sound insulation of such compact models compared to similar, but five-door copies.

So, you can count on a low but stable demand among this contingent of car owners... In the context of Russia, dealers will only have to wait until the next generation of drivers grows up, whose needs are satisfied by the three-door. But later the owners will face the difficulties of selling their vehicle, since many people need a car for family, not individual use.

The domestic car market should only be called developing - futuristic sports cars, hybrid cars and even not outstanding, but expensive three-way cars will not soon become popular here. Our compatriots from year to year choose sedans, hatchbacks and SUVs, on which you can go even fishing, even to the country.

In addition, according to statistics, Russian families still have one car each, and therefore family, five-door, budget cars are the undisputed leaders. And taking into account the current requirements for the mandatory equipping of the vehicle with the ERA-GLONASS system with the appropriate certification, it becomes all the more clear why unprofitable three-door models are leaving the market.

The assessment of specialists is also not on the side of this type of body - they see their future only in the premium segment, which puts style and individuality first.

Even Mini, whose models have consistently remained the most popular among the entire range of the manufacturer, began to recede into the background. Given the latest trends and preferences, it becomes clear that the Countryman will have much more success, already attracting attention with the largest dimensions for the Mini brand.

Following the competitor, Range Rover is discontinuing the three-door Evoque in favor of a five-door model and a convertible. Get rid of compact cars and Volkswagen (represented by Polo and the once mega-popular Golf), Kia (Ceed), Opel (Astra), Renault (Clio), Nissan (Micra). Perhaps compact models will have a second youth, but for now they have to give up their place in the automotive market.

Video about three-door SUVs:

Three-door SUVs are especially popular among lovers of trophy-extreme.

These cars are a completely independent model or a shortened version of the five-door jeep. Thanks to the short base and optimized geometric overhangs, their flotation is significantly increased with a lighter structure.

But in everyday life, such SUVs are not in great demand due to the small interior, therefore they are bought only by fans of extreme tripsfans of models like the Ford Raptor and Land Rover Discovery.

In this regard, almost all SUV manufacturers have abandoned the production of cars with such a body, so the bulk of the proposals come from the secondary market, where you can buy a 3-door SUV in excellent condition with a range of up to 100 thousand km.

Classics of the genre. Since 1996, it has been produced in both 5 and 3-door versions. The fourth generation J150, which began production in 2009, offers a three-door version, equipped with permanent all-wheel drive, in-line 3.0 turbodiesel, developing 190 hp. from. and reaching 420 Nm of torque, as well as a 6-speed manual transmission or 5-speed. automatic.

The official release of the version was discontinued in 2014 - after restyling, all Prado J150 models are produced exclusively in a 5-door version.

But there are enough offers on the used car market - you can find a car in good condition about 1.5 per million rubles... The price depends on the mileage and a number of other factors.

Mitsubishi pajero

Another "classic" model of a three-door frame SUV. Today on the assembly line is the fifth generation, consisting exclusively of 5-door versions. But in the fourth, short-wheelbase Pajero made up a considerable part and, given that its production was discontinued in 2012, there are a lot of offers on the market.

These SUVs in our country were offered with 4WD (leading rear axle and plug-in front), manual and automatic transmission, and a wide range of power units:

• atmospheric diesel engines with a volume of 3.2 liters and 190 liters. from;
• turbodiesels 2.5 l (115 hp) and 3.2 l (165, 170 and 200 hp);
• gasoline V6 units of 3.0 l (178 hp) and 3.8 l (250 hp).

Now Mitsubishi Pajero with mileage up to 100,000 km in Russia can be purchased within 1.3–1.5 million rubles. in a good condition. The cost of a car depends on the mileage, year of manufacture, type and volume of the engine, transmission.

Despite the fact that since 2005, the Grand Vitara has lost the ladder frame and received a monocoque body, going into the category of crossovers, the first generation was full-fledged SUVs. By the way, among fans of extreme sports, the shortened version was very popular - with power units similar to the conventional version, it was slightly shorter and lighter, which ensured better cross-country ability and engine throttle response.

The Grand Vitara was equipped with economical in-line gasoline engines with a volume of 1.6 liters (94 and 107 hp), 2.0 liters (128 and 140 hp) and 2.5 liters (160 hp), as well as 2.0 liter turbo diesels at 90 liters. ... from. It had a permanent rear-wheel drive with a connected front axle, a mechanical 5-speed transmission with a transfer case or a 4-speed. automatic and powerful suspension.

These inexpensive and unpretentious SUVs are still popular in the secondary sector - a 2005 car with a 1.6 petrol engine and a manual transmission can be bought for 400-600 thousand rubles

Perhaps one of the few compact SUVs that is an independent three-door model, and not a shortened version of the 5-door body. These cars have been produced since 1970 and enjoy well-deserved popularity for their reliability, simplicity, high cross-country ability and low price. In terms of dimensions, the Suzuki Jimny is comparable to the Niva Taiga, but it is better equipped and more comfortable. By the way, he is one of the few three-door jeeps that are still produced.

Suzuki Jimny is offered in the only configuration with rear-wheel drive (front-wheel drive is connected as needed), a 1.3-liter, 85-liter gasoline inline engine. from. and continuous bridges. But on the used car market, you can also buy a version with a 1.5 liter turbodiesel with a capacity of 65/86 liters. from. or a gasoline 80-horsepower 1.3 liter engine.

The price of the new Jimny is 1.1 million rubles. - but the "kid" is worth the money. Used car, depending on the mileage and release date, it will cost much less - from 300 thousand rubles and higher.

Jeep Wrangler

Well, in the end, one cannot fail to mention the domestic classics - the three-door Niva. The SUV is currently produced in two versions - Lada 4 × 4 and Lada Urban... By the way, this is one of the few domestic cars readily purchased abroad - its low cost and excellent cross-country ability make it possible to successfully compete with more expensive jeeps from leading manufacturers.

The car is equipped with a 1.7 liter gasoline engine with a 5-speed manual. transmission and transfer case, capable of developing a power of 83 liters. from. and a moment of 129 Nm. The Urban version is distinguished by the installation of options, a more modern front end, a number of minor changes and the price - if the basic version of Lada 4 × 4 costs from 483 thousand rubles.then Urban will cost 546 thousand rubles. But if you need the most budgetary option for fishing and hunting trips, there are a lot of offers in the secondary market in the price segment from 100 thousand rubles.

Passenger cars are represented by a wide range of models, differing in price, purpose, comfort class and other parameters. The characteristics of the car and the requirements for it leave a serious imprint on the types of car bodies. The body of the machine determines its appearance and acts as the main supporting structure, therefore, depending on the requirements, the appearance of the part also changes.

In some model lines, the main supporting structure is the chassis and frame.

The body is the main detail that determines:

• appearance;
• volume (for both passengers and cargo);
• the number of passengers;
• aerodynamic performance.

The detail largely determines the further layout, and therefore the behavior of the car on the road. Therefore, the most common classification of passenger cars by body type.

There are 3 main types of passenger car bodies:

1. one-volume.
2. two-volume.
3. three-volume.

The number of volumes of a part are isolated blocks.

Three-volume

They are characterized by a separate engine compartment and luggage compartment. The advantage is easy access to parts, which made the design classic. However, it offers little room for modification. Popular types of three-volume models are as follows:

• convertible, roadster, brogam and targa.

Sedan

Distinctive features of the body structure of a sedan passenger car are a clearly protruding luggage and engine compartment, 4 doors and 2 rows of seats. The roof height of the entire cabin is the same. There is no lift door behind the car. This layout is convenient for passenger transportation, which made it popular. Many manufacturers divide the sedan into subclasses. One of these is the class of the elongated machine (marking L). Usually elongated parts are found in business class sedans. These include town cars - sedans with an increased roof height.

There are also two-door sedans. A distinctive feature of the car is the presence of two rows of seats, for example - "Zaporozhets".

Coupe

Feature - two elongated doors. Usually the car body is equipped with two seats, but in some cases the rear part is equipped with two additional passenger seats. Unlike the two-door sedan, these seats are awkward and not designed for long journeys. The shape of the roof of the coupe is always sloping, with a slope backward, which improves the aerodynamic characteristics of the car.

Cars of this type belong to the sports class, therefore, they are mainly presented in a high price category. They are equipped with a high power engine, reinforced suspension and low ground clearance for improved driving performance. These cars are very elegant, which also adds to their prestige.

Open top car

These cars are especially popular in countries with hot climates. A car without a roof is an original and prestigious solution. These classes also include convertible top models. These types of devices include:

• landau;
• phaeton;
• roadster;
• brougham.

The convertible body is a classic type of cars without a roof or with a folding device. Designed on the basis of "Coupe", less often - "Sedan", has a frame structure of this type. Most often, this class of cars is equipped with a soft folding roof.

Phaeton body class is a car with a soft folding roof. The difference from the convertible is the complete absence of a frame structure above the cabin. Due to this, the side door windows in such machines are removable. Phaetons are the most open cars. Classic phaetons are roofless government cars with three rows of seats intended primarily for parades. Currently, roofless versions are not available on an extended wheelbase.

The word "phaeton" in the automotive industry also focuses on the luxury of the car and the increased space inside the car. Thus, Volkswagen Phaeton, launched in 2002, is a classic sedan in terms of body type.

The roadster body is open, on a shortened base with two doors. Such cars are also distinguished by collapsible side windows or their complete absence, a soft roof. A roofless roadster is called a spider. Historically, roadsters, in addition to the main comfortable seats, were equipped with an additional folding one, popularly called "mother-in-law's place". Modern roadsters are often represented by sports cars, including the Lada Revolution.

A type of roadster equipped with a rigid arch behind the seats is called a targa. Cars also have removable side windows and do not have side frame structures, but more often they are equipped with a rigid removable or folding roof.

Pickup

Pickup cars are three-volume. The main feature of the models is an open trunk. They are designed not only for driving, but also for transporting large volumes of goods.

Initially, pickup trucks were distributed in North America among farmers and ordinary people, later spread throughout Europe and around the world. A modern pickup truck is a comfortable car based on an SUV. There are both two-door and four-door cars with a comfortable cab.

The features of pickups are:

• high power;
• high cross-country ability;
• large engine displacement;
• spacious, comfortable cabin.

Limousine

This type of car is designed for the executive class and has an increased level of comfort, the body type is created on the basis of the sedan concept. The design of the limousine is a passenger car on an extended base with a mandatory partition between the driver and passengers. Equipped with 2 or even 3 rows of seats, 4 doors. It is the rigid partition that distinguishes this class from the elongated sedan.

Classic limousines were created on the basis of a sedan, however, now there are cars based on SUVs. Limousines are quite rare, which makes them even more spectacular.

Two-volume

Bodies of this type are distinguished by a separate, separate engine and passenger compartment. The cargo part of the car is merged into one space with the passenger. This allows an increase in the cargo area or interior without increasing the length of the wheelbase. Finding the passenger and cargo parts of the car in the same space gives the car designers more room to maneuver. Popular types of two-volume models include:

• hatchback;
• crossover;

Station wagon

The station wagon is a utility vehicle. This type of car got its name due to its multipurpose use. Combi cars have 3 or 5 doors, 2 rows of seats with a large volume. In most models, the rear seats fold down, increasing the trunk to an enormous size. At the beginning of the new century, station wagons are the market leaders, overtaking sedans in sales.

One of the subtypes of the station wagon is the shooting break body. These are two-door premium cars with a straight roof, developed on the basis of sports cars.

Hatchback

The hatchback body type resembles a station wagon, but has a sloping roof. These cars are often called fastbacks. Hatchbacks are often designed as light vehicles with a large boot. They are great for urban conditions, perfectly cope with the transportation of passengers and goods. They are made in the form of three- or five-door cars. Examples of domestic hatchbacks are VAZ-2108 and VAZ-2109.

Liftback

The liftback body is the middle option between a hatchback and a sedan. In appearance, the body resembles a sedan or coupe, but structurally more similar to a hatchback. The trunk of such a car is opened with a hatch, leans back with a rear window. Soft partitions are installed between the trunk and rear seats. If necessary, they are removed, after which the machine is ready for transportation of oversized cargo.

SUV

Cars of this class are similar to station wagons, but have a large size and high ground clearance. A distinctive feature is a powerful frame that makes the body more durable. These cars are designed for off-road driving, therefore, they have high cross-country ability. Almost all of them have a powerful engine and four-wheel drive, sometimes with a differential lock. Popularly, SUVs, and sometimes other cars similar in appearance, are called jeeps.

The creators of off-road vehicles have come to the conclusion that reducing the weight of the car can increase its running characteristics. This is how an SUV without a body - a buggy - appeared.

Crossover

This type of body is quite similar to an SUV, but significantly lighter. Cars of this class are a hybrid between a station wagon and an SUV: a variant of a city car adapted for off-road driving. It also has a high ground clearance, but does not have frames and locks. It differs from an SUV in a higher comfort class, while the cross-country ability is an order of magnitude lower.

A variety of crossovers is the SUV class. It is an oversized station wagon with a high seating position, high ground clearance and high ground clearance. These types have a simplified four-wheel drive. SUV (like most crossovers) is a hybrid of a station wagon and an SUV.

Van

This body is fully adapted for the transportation of goods. Vans are a transitional option between cars and trucks. Equipped with an extensive high cargo area with a large rear door, no windows. In some cases, they are performed as a deep modernization of the car body device ("Moskvich" -412 "pie"), but more often as a separate structure. Part of modern vans are single-volume vehicles. Some of them have a specific purpose, such as accommodating special devices, medical equipment, or a refrigerator.

One-volume

Bodies of this type have no protruding parts and represent an all-metal structure. The engine and luggage compartments are merged with the car into one unit. Most buses belong to this class. Among passenger cars, they are represented by the youngest classes:

• compact MPV.

Minivan

The minivan body is a single-volume structure with a length of at least 4.5 meters. This car combines the comfort of a station wagon and the capacity of a van. The generous volume allows for a third row of seats and makes them ideal family cars. By the type of body, the minivan resembles a minibus with the difference that it can accommodate no more than 8 seats.

Compact MPV

The compact van is a smaller version of the minivan. Often accommodates 3 rows of seats. At the same time, it differs in a smaller interior and trunk volume, but it wins in maneuverability.

Microvan

This variety is often referred to as a hatchback. Most of the characteristics of the cars are similar to the one-volume cars of this class. A distinctive feature is the large height of the passenger section, which provides comfort for those in the cabin, which is especially pleasant on long journeys.

Trucks

The body type of a truck is two-volume (KAMAZ) or three-volume (KRAZ). However, this is not a defining feature. The main gradation of bodies is the type of cargo compartment. They are divided into:

• onboard;
• dump trucks;
• scows;
• tilt;
• cisterns;
• platforms;
• bodies for special purposes.

The lines between car classes are gradually blurring. More and more machine models appear on the market, combining the characteristics of certain classes. This makes it possible to create universal cars that meet the needs of drivers and passengers.

Initially, under the name of the coupe, they produced two-door cars with a closed body for 3-4 seats. But gradually the Coupe became, rather, a marketing designation, the task of which is to emphasize the sportiness, charge of the car. Very often, companies release coupe versions based on popular models. Therefore, little remains of the primordial concept. But some brands stubbornly continue to create cars that fully correspond to the historical significance of this class.

Class leaders

There are a lot of auto coupe models, which complicates the choice a little. But our list was created based on the maximum correspondence of the car to its name and relation to the Coupe class. Therefore, we did not include here BMWs of different series with Coupe prefixes, cars from Mercedes, Audi and other brands with the corresponding names.

Our top includes the following brands:

• Mazda;
• Hyundai;
• Nissan;
• Subaru;
• Toyota;
• Chevrolet;
• Ford;
• Porsche.

A really good coupe should combine such criteria as visual appeal, speed, dynamism with simultaneous reliability and safety.

We invite you to find out which coupes we consider the best in their class. Any car shown may end up in your garage. Each of them is incredibly beautiful, but this is only one of the many advantages of machines.

370Z

Car from Nissan, which replaced the legendary 350Z. Many were skeptical about the change in names and generations, but in fact the 370Z turned out to be a worthy successor to the coupe with such wild popularity.

The car is incredibly beautiful. It is a sports car in the back of a coupe with a fighting character, which was achieved due to excellent technical characteristics. Under the hood, the Japanese coupe has a 3.7-liter engine with 332 horsepower. It takes only 5 seconds for the car to accelerate from standstill to 100 kilometers per hour.

Genesis coupe

This is a very interesting coupe from Korea from Hyundai. The car has existed since 2009 and continues to delight buyers with a charming appearance, excellent technical characteristics and modern interior equipment.

There is a choice of a pair of turbocharged engines of 2.0 and 3.8 liters. The most powerful version produces 416 horsepower.

The parameters allow the Genesis to be on par with true sports cars. At the same time, Hyundai tried to make the car versatile. Therefore, it is comfortable to ride on it not only on highways at prohibitive speeds, but also in city conditions, it is easy to maneuver through traffic jams and behave well at low revs.

MX5

The legendary car is very compact in size. This coupe has a charming appearance and at the same time makes it clear that impressive technical characteristics are hidden under the hood.

The brainchild of Mazda is perfect for the city, but can compete on the track. With a low weight of the car, its 160 horsepower shows maximum capabilities.

This is not a racing car, but a decent option for those looking for a high-spirited coupe with good looks, high level of safety and modern equipment. The new generation has become a worthy continuation of the legendary predecessor.

BRZ

Under this name, Subaru presented its coupe. This is a joint product with Toyota, an analogue of which also made it to our top.

BRZ was created with an eye on the Asian and European markets. Such a coupe attracts with its appearance, impressive technical characteristics and modern filling.

A 2.0-liter engine is installed on the car, which produces 200 horsepower. Not the most impressive characteristics, but the car will not consume dozens in the city. And on the track, the coupe will compete with other cars.

Z4

Another legend. This time from the German automaker BMW. This is the company's first coupe-class car, but an incredibly successful attempt to conquer new positions.

The car has gone through a generational change and a number of modifications. There are few such cars on Russian roads, which makes them more attractive and exclusive.

The most popular is the version with a 3-liter turbocharged engine, which produces 340 horsepower. A worthy representative of the coupe class.

Boxter

The creation of the German company Porsche, which is one of the best manufacturers of coupe cars. The assortment of the company is impressive, but we decided to stick with the Boxter model.

This is not the most expensive representative of the line, but with a rich history, great looks and excellent technical characteristics.

In Russia, compact coupes from Porsche are not as popular as in the West and in the USA, but true connoisseurs of a coupe body will worthily appreciate this car. Especially if you take the version with a 3.4 liter engine and 310 horsepower. The car accelerates from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 5.2 seconds.

TT

Few people know about a car like the Audi TT. One of the most popular representatives of the coupe class, which has sold thousands of copies around the world since its inception.

Recently, the world saw the third generation of TT, which was presented in Paris in March this year. Engine options will expand over time, but so far the new generation of the coupe comes with a 2.0-liter turbo engine with 220 horsepower.

If there is no money to buy a new version, the aftermarket offers a huge selection of used first and second generation TTs.

GT 86

This is actually a BRZ clone from Toyota, because the car was developed jointly. The audience is more attracted to Toyota. What this is connected with is difficult to say.

The GT 86 is a fairly dynamic coupe with modern fittings and a very attractive appearance. At the same time, the car is not so expensive and feels great in city conditions and tight traffic jams.

In Russia, the model is in great demand in the secondary market. It is not surprising, because you can find an excellent copy of the 2010-2013 sample for literally 1-1.2 million rubles.

If anyone can impose a struggle for leadership in the sports coupe and muscle car category, then only the Mustang from Ford.

The new generation deviated somewhat from the Mustang traditions, which caused a storm of indignation. But if you get to know him better, you will understand that this is the right step on the part of Ford.

The Mustang is fast, modern, fuel efficient and just as cocky. You can get a car with just a 2-liter engine, but get the feeling of at least 3.5 liters under the hood. The Mustang has become high-tech, which has made it the epitome of the modern sports coupe.

It is important to understand that the coupe body has many variations and modifications ... html ”\u003e sports cars. And here it is difficult to find a true leader, because each sub-segment has its own stubborn struggle between competing automakers.

Write in the comments what a coupe is for you, and which car you would classify as a leader. Your opinion is very important to us. Subscribe, invite friends and stay with us.