Chevy Cruze Hatch Headed to the U.S.

General Motors Co. will add a 5-door hatchback version of its next-generation Cruze small car to its 2017-model lineup in the U.S.

The hatchback will have the same wheelbase and face as the all-new Cruze sedan, which bows this spring, but will sport wraparound taillights and a spoiler that is part of the liftgate. The hatchback will have 18.5-cu-ft of cargo room behind the rear seat—and 42-cu-ft with the rear seats folded down.

Power will come from a new turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, which also will be used in the Cruze sedan.

GM notes that the small hatchback segment in the U.S grew 9% last year, and analysts project further expansion in coming years. Sales of the outgoing Cruze sedan plunged 17% in 2015.

The carmaker, which has sold previous versions of the Cruze hatchback for several years in overseas markets, says it was a mistake not to offer the vehicle in the U.S. sooner. It plans to sell the new Cruze sedan and hatchback in 40 global markets.

The new hatch will be publicly unveiled next week at the Detroit auto show, with sales set to launch this autumn. The model will compete against hatchback versions of the Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Mazda3 and Volkswagen Golf.