As above is there any difference in performance/handling and weight between a saloon and hatchback variant of the same vehicle/model. E.g; Mondeo saloon/hatchback, Focus saloon/hatchback. Practicability and customer requirements/demands are obviously the two main factors why vehicle manufactures did saloon and hatchback variants are there anything else other than that? I always remember back in the 1990's BTCC cars where saloon variants, good examples where the MK1 Mondeo's, Cavalier's & of course Sierra's.

 

Iirc saloons are usually stiffer across the rear due to the built in strut brace you get with the body and probably why btcc used them, modern chassis are getting quite stiff now anyway so what the difference is with modern stuff I don't know, I can't see a hatch being any more stiffer than a saloon though due to the extra body that runs across the car, would be better in an accident I'd guess too due to the added strength.

 

I used to run a lot of orions and escorts back in the 90s, the orions always felt more planted on the rear end, the escorts could be quite skittish over bends with little bumps on etc

 

Orions had a rear arb did they not whereas the escort didn't?

 

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