The technical characteristics of a car are not only engine size, power, suspension and transmission. This data also includes 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, moreover, 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. Meaning of the word, description of the body, distinctive features and another helpful information will be presented in this article.

Hatchback + sedan = liftback

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

A liftback is a type of hatchback, no matter how strange it may sound. But it is not for nothing that it is called a unique body type, as 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 is of English origin (liftback) and literally translates as “rising rear end" Visually, the liftback is more similar to a typically five-door, two-volume car, in which the luggage compartment is structurally integrated with the interior and is faintly distinguished as a third volume.

The first liftback in the world can be safely considered the Moskvich Combi, released by AvtoVAZ in 1973. Famous to this day, the IZH-2125 model remained the only hatchback on the domestic and world markets for 9 years. But in those years the word “liftback” was alien to the Russian ear, so the story of this type body does not start with 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 design, it is clear what a liftback is. It will not be difficult to distinguish it from other varieties if you carefully look at the back of the car. Unlike the sedan, it has a full lifting fifth door, and not a trunk lid. It differs from the hatchback in its more streamlined body shape, that is, the rear part is not “chopped off”. It will be impossible to confuse a liftback with a minivan for the following reason: bigger size 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 liftback car

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

The main disadvantage of this type of body, as in a hatchback, is the penetration of foreign odors from luggage compartment and longer heating of the interior. Extended body, like the sedan, causes worse maneuverability. Nevertheless, many owners claim that the liftback body is a unique variety and the best that car 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, configuration and technical characteristics of the car. For example, let's compare two models from Skoda company- Superb and Rapid. The updated “Rapid” costs approximately 600-850 thousand rubles. And the minimum price for a 2017 Superb is 1,300,000.

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

Other bright representatives liftback:

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

The liftback, like its “father” the hatchback, has recently been gaining popularity, becoming one of the most popular body types on the market. automotive market. And this is not surprising, because the cars are great for driving around the city and for traveling outside 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 large cargo.

Most car enthusiasts are accustomed to the fact that there are sedans and station wagons. Later, the hatchback became a common body option - the first domestic hatchbacks were VAZ Nines and Eights. The body of the Moskvich Izh Combi car would more correctly be called a liftback, and VAZ recently began producing Lada Grants in this type of body. Perhaps “Granta Liftback” received such a name due to the fact that hatchbacks in the company’s model range are already represented in other families (“Kalina”, “Priora”). We'll look at how exactly a liftback differs from a hatchback, as well as from a fastback, which is actually a sedan.

What is a liftback

The most interesting thing is that the liftback is a type of hatchback: the trunk lid is 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 protrusion resembles a luggage compartment covered by a narrow metal strip (VAZ-21099). Actually, Skoda Fabia- this is a hatchback, whereas Skoda Rapid is offered to the buyer in a liftback body. From the image in the photo you can understand what exactly the main difference is. A domestic auto industry until recently, the term “liftback” was not used, although cars in this body were previously produced (Izh-2125 Combi).

There are three body types that are two-volume: hatchback, liftback and station wagon. All of them differ only subjectively. Ledge on back door can be reduced, and we will get a hatchback from a liftback. And to get a station wagon, you will need to lengthen the rear overhang. In station wagons all-terrain 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. There cannot be any other two-volume bodies other than the three listed (a curious exception is the Start minibus).

Variations on the sedan theme

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

The sedan class body 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 with rear window and the 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 70s, two-door fastback sedans became American classics. automotive industry. Such a body can be made stronger than a similar four-door sedan, which is why the so-called muscle cars are mostly assembled in a two-door body. Such cars are often referred to as “coupe”, which is completely incorrect from a formal point of view. Erroneous names (for example, “Ford Granada Coupe”) have taken root 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 its own way driving performance these cars are inferior to A-class cars. Probably a two-door fastback sedan produced under Mercedes brand or BMW, it would look interesting. But in the European mind, a sports car is a coupe, and family car, in turn, must be equipped with four doors.

Two-door sedan originally from the USSR

There are technologies that make it difficult to manufacture B-pillars. In such cases, preference is given to the following options: coupe, two-door sedan, three-door hatchback or liftback. In order for the structure to be durable, the body must be three-volume (sedan, coupe). If we are talking about a mass-produced car, suitable option What remains is a sedan with two doors.

The Zarya car project, which appeared in 1966, was developed by specialists from the Severodonetsk auto repair base. The body of this car, 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 producing fiberglass parts turned out to be too labor-intensive. But the car shown in the photo, and others “ plastic cars", developed in the USSR at different times, were just two-door sedans. Which is 100% consistent with the ideology discussed above.

Many people, in the old fashioned way, call the Lada Granta a hatchback, although in advertising and the technical data sheet of the model it says “liftback”. And yet, what is the correct name for the new Lada Granta: liftback or hatchback?

Hatchback(translation from English - “rear hatch”) is called the body passenger car mobile with a door in the rear wall and a shortened rear overhang. In addition, compared to the sedan and station wagon, the hatchback has a smaller trunk volume. The most famous hatchback version is the VAZ 2108.



Liftback("lifting rear") is a type of hatchback, but thanks to the short protrusion on the rear door, the car in the closed position looks very much like a sedan. This is where the main difference lies. Respectively, new Lada Granta – 100% liftback.

Brief technical specifications

Dimensions (L x W x H), mm	4,246 x 1,700 x 1,500
Curb weight, kg	1 160
Ground clearance, mm	185
Trunk volume, l	440 – 760
Volume fuel tank, l	50
Engine	petrol, 1.6 l, 106 l. With. (98 hp)*
Transmission	mechanical, 5-speed; automatic, 4-speed
Drive unit	front
Acceleration 0-100 km/h, pp.	11 (13,7)
Maximum speed, km/h	177 (167)
Average fuel consumption, l/100 km	6,7 (7,6)

About configurations

In the most budget configuration, “ Standard", the car is equipped with a 1.6 liter, 87-horsepower engine, manual transmission transmission, system ISOFIX mountings, central locking, airbag for driver, child lock.

Equipment " Norm The Lada Granta liftback offers two engine options: the first – with a volume of 1.6 liters and a power of 87 hp, the second – also with a volume of 1.6 liters, but with a power of 106 hp. Also included in the package ABS systems and BAS (amplifier emergency braking), on-board computer, electric power steering, electric windows on the front doors and multimedia system.

Hatchback Lada Granta, despite the initial concept of the car “low cost” ( low price), was able to acquire the complete set “ Lux" With interesting characteristics. In the luxury version, a 98 hp engine is available, and most importantly, it can be combined with automatic transmission transmission In addition, the exchange rate stability system becomes available, fog lights, airbag for passengers, heated front seats and climate system. See also the Grants liftback configuration table.

Comparison of Lada Granta liftback and sedan

We decided to find the differences between the two Grants bodies and started with security. The creators carefully approached the issue of revising the body design. Since the hatchback is inferior to the sedan in terms of resistance to lateral loads, it was decided to strengthen the roof, arches and wings, and increase the overall thickness of the floor sheet. If you compare the Lada Granta with the Samara, which the liftback replaced in model range AvtoVAZ, the body became twice as rigid, and accordingly, the model became safer.

Together with Renault-Nissan specialists, a modernized suspension, having gas-filled shock absorbers, thicker stabilizers and stiffer springs. Other trim levels come with the standard sedan suspension.

One of the main distinguishing features of the Lada Granta is its spaciousness for both a liftback and a hatchback. trunk. And although at first glance it is smaller than that of the sedan - 480 versus 440 liters, when folding the rear seats its volume increases by more than one and a half times (760 liters). These figures are significantly higher than those Lada Kalina, the trunk limit of which stops at 670 liters.



Salon Lada Granta Compared to its sedan predecessor, it has remained virtually unchanged. The same console, instrument panel, the same seats. Places on back seat enough for three passengers to feel quite comfortable. The only question is the space above your head. If your height is 190 cm or less, you will be comfortable, but taller passengers will find the car uncomfortable.



Conducting test drives of the Lada Granta liftback, many drivers noted that the combination powerful motor and relatively light weight (1070 kg) provides decent performance for both inexpensive car dynamics. The main thing is not to accelerate the car above 150 km/h, since handling and directional stability at top speeds they are not at all impressive. During a quiet ride, thanks to elastic suspension, optimal for our roads, Lada Granta leaves the most pleasant impression.


Flattering words can also be rewarded brakes, both during emergency and normal braking. But the advertised one sound insulation Causes criticism: when driving dynamically, the cabin is noisy, and you have to speak much louder to have a conversation. Installing additional sound insulation will solve the problem.

Average fuel consumption in the city with a manual transmission it is 7.9 liters per hundred kilometers, while on the highway it is one liter less. “Automatic”, of course, is more voracious: on average 9.6 liters per hundred kilometers in the city and 8.5 on the highway. However, these are quite modest figures.

Summing up result, we can say that, despite certain shortcomings, liftback Lada Granta fully justifies its price and has every chance of becoming a bestseller among economy class models. Finally, video review of the Lada Granta hatchback:

By the way, do you know that in our Club you will find many instructions,

IN last years Cars have begun to actively appear on the domestic market, which cannot always be confidently classified. Beginners are rarely able to analyze current technology, so they often have the question of how a liftback differs from a hatchback and which option is better to choose.

Features of the liftback

Liftbacks are most popular in American market

Liftback is a passenger car, which is almost identical in design to the sedan and combines elements of both the hatchback and the sedan. In this model, the rear overhang is not made in a vertical form, but neatly flows into a protruding trunk. In liftbacks, several methods are often implemented to open the rear door - either completely or exclusively with a protruding element.

The word liftback is derived from the English. lift - to lift, back - back and means “rising back”.

Distinctive features of the hatchback

In the event of an accident, the contents of the trunk may “fly” into the cabin and injure passengers sitting on the rear seats

The hatchback is characterized by the following features:

• the luggage section is combined with the salon;
• the rear overhang has been significantly shortened;
• The main standard is a drive system with a transversely mounted motor.

New cars began to be called hatchbacks, since they are equipped with a rather unusual design with a rear door through which access appears. luggage compartment. Today, hatchbacks are produced in three- and five-door configurations.

The word hatchback is derived from the English. hatch - hatch and back - behind, which literally means “rear hatch”.

What is better to choose

For 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

The two body types described above can be safely classified as passenger cars. If you compare them with each other, the following differences will become noticeable:

• The liftback is almost identical to the sedan, since it also has an extremely long rear overhang.
• The hatchback is equipped with a single-volume body - the trunk and interior seem to be an ode to the whole component.
• The liftback is produced in different versions of the rear door opening.
• Liftbacks can be either two-volume or three-volume.

Hatchbacks are much better suited for novice drivers than sedans, as they are easier to get used to the dimensions.

At visual comparison from the models described above, it will become clear that rear element the hatchback has no protrusions and is almost perpendicular to the ground. But not everyone likes it appearance

hatchback and its respectable dimensions, which is why liftbacks are in particular demand. Thus, these versions are characterized by many differences, so they are selected by users depending on their preferences. Those who are burdened with family and need small car for the city, pay attention to the hatchback. If you want to buy big car

, but the sedan is not suitable due to the size of the luggage compartment, then people cast their gaze towards liftbacks. Over the past decades domestic market

filled with a huge number of cars, not always amenable to confident classification. Understanding the products of the modern automobile industry can be difficult for non-specialists. Therefore, we have prepared for our readers an article-review 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 conventional sedans? For what purposes were these bodies developed? We answer the most frequently asked questions in this post.

In conditions of dense city traffic, increased demands are placed on the car - it must combine comfort and maneuverability. Sedans, which practically reigned supreme on the roads of big cities in the 20th century, do not always meet the needs of modern drivers

. In particular, due to their length, it can be inconvenient to park along the road and move in heavy traffic from lane to lane.

• The solution was found by radically changing the car configuration:
• the rear overhang has been significantly shortened;
• the luggage section was combined with the cabin; the system has become standard with a transverse engine.

New cars acquired the name hatchback ( English hatch = hatch) thanks to an innovative design with a rear door through which access to the luggage compartment was provided. 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 they are easier to get used to the dimensions. If you are choosing your first car, then this is your choice.

Unfortunately, hatchbacks have some disadvantages that owners need to take into account - in the event of an accident, the contents of the trunk can “fly” into the cabin and injure passengers sitting in the rear seats. A special mesh covering the cargo compartment. Also, keep in mind that unpleasant odors from luggage can also lead to serious discomfort during long driving.

Liftback – a “transforming” car

A liftback (literal translation from English is “rising butt”) is a passenger car that is shaped like a sedan 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. Many liftbacks have two options for opening the rear door - entirely or only the protruding part.

Such cars are most popular in the American market - it is for this market that the automotive industry giants most often produce liftback variations. 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 passenger cars, similar in characteristics and driving performance to sedans from the same model range.

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

• Form rear overhang, which makes the liftback look like a sedan;
• Door opening mechanism - on liftbacks there may be 2 alternative ways access;
• The liftback can be either two- or three-volume (which makes it even more similar to a sedan), while hatchbacks come only with two-volume.

It is worth noting that some 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 Lada Granta liftback- together with new form The passenger car body has been modernized braking system And chassis. These changes are not strictly tied to the body, and over time the domestic giant promises to transfer the innovations to the rest of the series.

For domestic consumers, 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.