SEAT Closes the Door on 3-Door Hatchbacks

Volkswagen AG’s SEAT unit is dropping the Leon SC three-door hatchback (pictured) as demand for the body style shrinks.

Earlier this year SEAT also pulled the plug on the tiny Mii three-door hatch. The brand plans to focus instead on far more popular five-door models, company officials tell Autocar.

SEAT isn’t alone. Autocar notes that in the past two years VW Group also has abandoned three-door versions of the Audi A3 and VW Beetle, Polo, Scirocco and Up!

The group’s Skoda Citigo hatchback also is nearing the end of its life. And the next-generation Audi A1 and VW Golf hatchbacks are expected to be offered only in five-door configurations, according to the U.K. enthusiast magazine.

Other carmakers are adopting similar strategies. Land Rover and Opel/Vauxhall have recently discontinued the Range Rover Evoque and GTC, respectively, while Kia is relaunching the Pro Cee’d, originally a three-door hatchback, as a five-door shooting brake model.