Renault 5, Citroën LN, Mini, Fiat 500… In the past, city cars only had three doors. Today, the fashion is, on the contrary, with the 5-door models which monopolize the market. What precipitated their downfall? The argus returns to the story of an endangered species…
Fifty years ago, when it was launched, the Renault 5 was only offered in a three-door silhouette. Not considered essential initially, the 5-door version appeared only 8 years later in 1980. Since 2012, its heiress, the fourth generation Renault Clio has eradicated the 3-door silhouette and focuses only on the 5-door one. An architecture that continues on the contemporary Clio 5 and which has almost spread to the entire segment.
Only three survivors left at three doors
Among the versatile city cars (segment B), today only the Ford Fiesta, Mini Hatch and Toyota Yaris have retained a 3-door variant in addition, of course, to a 5-door body. Because customer tastes have changed dramatically. Indeed until the end of the 1990s, a three-door sedan was synonymous with sportinesswitness the Citroën Saxo VTS, Renault Clio 16S, Peugeot 205 GTI and others.
After the passage of the millennium, and the advent of minivans, 3-door city cars became less popular: they proved to be impractical for young families who no longer wished to contort themselves to install their offspring in the back seat. The figures are clear: in 1991, the share of three-door sedans in the B segment represented 42% of the European market. In 2021, the proportion fell to 2%. The species has almost disappeared!
| Evolution of the European market for 3-door saloons | ||||
| 1991 | 2001 | 2011 | 2021 | |
| European mini-city car market share | 93% | 74% | 40% | 22% |
| European city car market share | 42% | 37% | 19% | 2% |
| Number of models available | 53 | 47 | 39 | 3 |
This is also explained by a much more limited offer in the manufacturers’ catalogs. Indeed, in 1991, there were 53 models available in three doors against three currently. Another notable disappearance, still in the city car segment, is that of small breaks (Peugeot 207 SW, Renault Clio Estate and Skoda Fabia Combi, etc.) did not resist the onslaught of SUVs.
What about compacts?
On the lower floor, that of the mini-city cars (segment A), we observe the same discomfiture for the three doors. Those which totaled 93% of sales in Europe in 1991 will only represent 22% of the shares in 2021. This relative stability is explained by the presence of models that are only available as three doors, such as the Smart Fortwo and Fiat 500. Finally, on the upper level of the compact sedans in the C segment, the three doors have not survived either. The Opel Astra, Peugeot 308, Renault Mégane, Volkswagen Golf etc. systematized the 5-door silhouette to streamline production. On this hotly contested market in Europe, 3-doors are definitely a thing of the past.
Blame it on the urban SUVs?
Who decimated the three-door urban sedans? SUVs? The sporty aspect formerly advocated by three-door city cars has been taken up by leisure vehicles whose S of the acronym SUV stands for “Sport”. 5-door models with a dynamic look and significantly greater versatility that have swept away everything in their path. Mini tried the adventure with the Paceman, a three-door SUV, but it did not meet with great success. Despite its exclusive character, the Paceman has always remained in the shadow of the Countryman. Similarly, the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque did not renew its 3-door body or its convertible derivative on the second generation. And just like city cars, 4×4 adventurers are no longer fans of three doors either, only the Suzuki Jimny resists! But will also adopt a 5-door variant… as an essential complement.
TO READ. Suzuki Jimny (2022). The five-door version becomes clearer
