10 of the Best 5-Door Cars for 2015

There's no denying that 5-door cars offer the kind of practicality that a sedan simply can't match.  That great big hatch at the back of even the smallest 5-door car opens into a world of utility that is complemented by a rear seat that folds forward to provide enough space to haul bulky items that simply wouldn't fit inside a four-door automobile.  Increasingly, hatchbacks are being offered outside of the subcompact space that was once their sole domain, with even a few luxury brands getting into the 5-door car game to satisfy buyers increasing interest in one vehicle that can 'do it all.' 

Let's take a quick look at 10 of the best 5-door cars for 2015 and see how they stack up.

01. 2015 Volkswagen GTI

The 2015 Volkswagen GTI is well-known amongst enthusiasts as the hot hatch of choice for those seeking a daily driver with performance leanings.  Even off of the track, the Volkswagen GTI's ability to combine practicality and comfort in an affordable package is appealing, and one that is made even more so by its 210 horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. 

The nimble Volkswagen GTI has just enough power to be fun without feeling like it's going to overwhelm the front tires, and both 3-door and 5-door versions offer 52.7 cubic feet of total cargo space with the rear row of accommodations out of the picture.  The GTI is very nearly as efficient as the base Golf it shares its all-new platform with, too, checking in at 25-mpg city and 34-mpg highway.

02. 2015 Mazda Mazda3

The 2015 Mazda Mazda3 is another fun-to-drive hatchback that doesn't ask buyers to pay a performance premium like the GTI.  The Mazda Mazda3 leverages the brand's Skyactiv direct-injection technology to pair respectable power with class-leading fuel efficiency, minus the need for turbocharging.  The entry-level Mazda3 5-door features a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that is good for 155 horsepower along with 30-mpg around town and 41-mpg on the highway.  If you want more grunt, then there's also a 2.5-liter mill on offer that ups output to 184 while maintaining a respectable 28-mpg city and 39-mpg highway fuel consumption rating.  Pop the hatch and you'll enjoy 47.1 cubic feet of total storage space (or a little less than half that when carrying a full load of passengers).

Photo by Mazda

03. 2015 Subaru Impreza

The 2015 Subaru Impreza 5-door is unique on this list as it's the only vehicle to offer all-wheel drive as standard equipment.  Also surprising is the Subaru Impreza's ability to remain competitive at the fuel pump despite the traditional efficiency-sapping effects associated with this traction-added advantage: when equipped with its optional continuously-variable automatic transmission, the Impreza delivers 28-mpg in stop and go driving and 37-mpg on the highway.  Power is listed at 148 horses from the Subaru's 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and there's enough room inside the 5-door Impreza with the rear seat folded to carry 52.4 cubic feet of cargo.

04. 2015 Honda Fit

The 2015 Honda Fit is a practical person's dream 5-door subcompact car.  The reason is simple: the Honda Fit comes with what the brand calls 'Magic Seat' technology that allows for the car's second row to fold forward as well as lift up backward to create an ultra-versatile hauling space for as much as 52.7 cubic feet of cargo.  This figure ties that of several larger hatchbacks without requiring the additional exterior footprint.  33-mpg city and 41-mpg on the highway can be expected from the Fit's small-displacement, 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which generates 130 horsepower.

05. 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe

The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is an unusual automobile in the sense that it starts out with the popular 3 Series sedan's platform, widens the track, and then grafts on a hatchback to give it true 5-door status.  In the process it also slopes the roof at the rear, giving the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe a flattering profile but stealing a bit of head space as a result.  No matter - what the car loses in top hat accommodations it more than makes up for with its ability to haul a 45.9 cubic feet of luggage with the rear row folded.  This is significantly more that what one could fit in a 3 Series sedan. 

Under the hood the 4 Series Gran Coupe is all 3 Series, borrowing that model's 240 horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder base model as well as its range-topping 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder unit (good for 300 horses).  Fuel economy for the four-cylinder model shows as 23-mpg city and 32-mpg highway, and optional all-wheel drive can be ordered across the board.

06. 2015 Toyota Yaris

The 2015 Toyota Yaris is a sometimes-overlooked subcompact 5-door that is also available as a 3-door model.  Designed to appeal to those seeking basic transportation. the Toyota Yaris is motivated by a 106 horsepower, 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that returns fuel economy figures of 30-mpg around town and 37-mpg during highway cruising.  Inside, the Yaris is somewhat spartan when it comes to available equipment, but its hard to argue with its affordable pricing or its practical nature: you can put 15.6 cubic feet of cargo behind the five-door's rear seat, and if you fold it down then there's roughly 20 cubes in total to play with.

07. 2015 Chevrolet Sonic

The 2015 Chevrolet Sonic's 5-door edition adopts motorcycle-influenced styling within and without, a trait that is most apparent when examining the car's headlights as well as its unique gauge cluster.  Stuffed with more technology than one might expect given its modest price point, the Chevrolet Sonic 5-door offers the choice between either a 1.8-liter, 138 horsepower four-cylinder engine or a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that matches the larger mill in the horsepower department but grinds out substantially more torque (148 lb-ft in total).  The more robust of the two engines also happens to be the most efficient, as the EPA has rated the 1.4-liter Sonic at 29-mpg in city driving and 40-mpg on the highway, and the car is rated to carry up to 30.9 cubic feet of cargo.

08. 2015 Mazda Mazda2

The 2015 Mazda Mazda2 proves that you don't have to blaze to 60-mph in five seconds or less to have a good time behind the wheel.  Although the Mazda Mazda2's engine output is modest - the 1.5-liter four-cylinder mounted between its fenders generates 100 horsepower - the 5-door hatchback benefits from a lightweight platform and lively suspension tuning that make it entertaining in the handling department.  The Mazda2's cargo capacity is about average for its class (27.8 cubes can be stuffed behind the first two positions) but its fuel mileage rating of 29-mpg in stop and go driving and 35-mpg on the highway is respectable in real world driving.

09. 2015 Ford Focus

If you need something bigger than the Mazda Mazda2, but don't want to leave your smile at home on the drive to work in the morning, then consider the 2015 Ford Focus 5-door.  The Ford Focus embodies many of the same handling characteristics of the subcompact Mazda, but in compact form, and it also comes with the availability of features such as an automated parking system and the MyFord Touch vehicle interface.  A 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine is standard with the Focus, and it's good for 160 horsepower along with fuel economy of 28-mpg city and 40-mpg highway.  You can haul 44.8 cubic feet of gear with the Ford as long as you don’t need the backseat for human cargo.

10. 2015 Chevrolet Volt

The 2015 Chevrolet Volt is another option that most buyers might not immediately think of when discussing 5-door cars, but this plug-in hybrid is in fact a hatchback.  The unusual 2+2 seating arrangement in the Chevrolet Volt is due to the placement of the battery along the center of the floor, but you can still fold down the seatback to expand on the trunk's 10.6 cubic feet of storage space.  The Volt is motivated by an electric motor that is good for 149 horsepower, and the vehicle's battery can be charged by either plugging it in or via the car's small gas-powered generator.  There's about 38 miles of battery-only operation per charge available with the Volt, and a total 380 mile range on a full tank of fuel.

Photo by Megan Green