I'm thinking of buying a car & am looking at inexpensive cars with very good gas mileage which have cargobeds in which you could hang stuff out the back window if needed (like a stationwagon).

I hate it when hatchbacks don't have rear windows that can open separately from the rear door because then if you want to haul something big out the back, you have to keep the actual door open & rope it down so it doesn't bang against the object with every bump in the road.

I've ruled out the ScionXA b/c the rear window doesn't open.

1) What about the Honda Fit's rear window?

2) Anyone know about the Toyota Yaris or Nissan Versa rear windows ?

 

No on the Versa and the Yaris either

 

Do any small hatches have this capability?

I know the CR-V can, but that's an SUV.

 

I think 5th gen (92-95) civic hatches do.

I am not sure any modern hatches have that feature.

IMO I'd rather not have it.

 

the only time i've seen that in a subcompact was in an old civic hatch, but that was where the window opened up and the rest of the hatch opened down, kind of like a pickup taligate. I didnt like it.

 

check out the toyota matrix... i know it's not the same class of car but the hatch glass opens separately

 

Thanks for all the replies. Here is what I've found on the internet & message boards for non-fixed rear window. The Toyota Matrix seems to be the least expensive & has decent gas mileage.....why is it going out of production this year ????? The 1st four listed below aren't too expensive...
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REAR WINDOW OPENS INDEPENDENTLY OF REAR DOOR:
Toyota Matrix MSRP Price Range: $15,410 - $17,720 last production year 30/36
kia sportage MSRP Price Range: $15,900 - $22,895 get extended warranty! 23-mpg /28-mpg
Pontiac Vibe MSRP Price Range: $16,760 last production year 30/36
Hyundai tucson MSRP Price Range: $16,995 - $23,845 23-mpg/28-mpg
Nissan pathfinder MSRP Price Range: $25,600 - $36,000
Jeep Cherokee Laredo MSRP Price Range: $27,990 - $43,015
chevrolet captiva EXPENSIVE
Jaguar X-Type Estate EXPENSIVE
Toyota 4Runner MSRP Price Range: $27,635 - $38,385
mazda tribute MSRP Price Range: $18,900 - $26,270
ford escape MSRP Price Range: $18,580 - $25,330
kia sorrento MSRP Price Range: $19,995 - $26,195
honda element MSRP Price Range: $18,900 - $23,495
honda s2000 MSRP Price Range: $34,250
jeep liberty MSRP Price Range: $21,600 - $26,745
gmc yukon MSRP Price Range: $34,675 - $47,780
toyota fj cruiser MSRP Price Range: $22,110 - $23,700

 

Maybe I'm missing something but the S2000 isn't a hatchback... It doesn't have a back glass, or even a cargo area at all...

The thing about the Fit is though the back glass doesn't open, the way the seats fold down you can carry very long items without needing that. Also, because of the low load floor the rear glass is quite high up on the hatch and sticking something through that opening would create an odd angle.

I don't know what it is you want to carry but out of the options above I would go for the Matrix/Vibe. I looked at those before I got my Fit and came away impressed. On the other hand I ended up buying a Fit because it had greater cargo room, even in a much smaller package.

 

WFH, you're right about the 92-95 Civic hatch opening in a clam shell kind of way--the top goes up and the bottom part flips down like a mini-truck-gate. I had one, but I can't say that I ever found that feature of the hatch to come in handy. If you want to find out more about this age of civic, check out
Civic-EG.com :: Forum for the 92-95 Civic EG + EJ Chassis
I hope you find something that works... especially if it's a Fit ;)
(not that I'm biased or anything)