Having come from the other way about (hatch-saloon) thought I'd add my two pence worth , hatch much more comfy to drive and a little more sedated yet refined ,hard to put your finger on but it just is
As an all rounder the hatch is a lot better in terms of practibility and versatility ,much easier with kids and day to day driving in the hatch over the saloon and tbh can get away with a lot more in a hatch than saloon too as much more stealthy
No one bats an eyelid in the hatch were as my saloon sticks out like a sore thumb
In all honesty love my saloon but much preferred the practicality of the hatch and the fact it was so under the radar with idiots and people thinking you want a race at every set of lights
Trust me you'll end up loving the hatch , took mine everywhere inc running my freshly built engine in getting up to the top of moal-famau
In the bad snow
And ya know what apart from my fella nearly in tears (he built motor) my trusty little hatch made it all the way up the top even when some range rovers couldn't lol
Enjoyed wiping smiles of their faces as I flew past them in a blur of wheel spin on my way to the top hahaha whilst they were stuck
Ps motor still going strong now 2.5 years on my fella thinks he's a great engine builder hahaha , I say it's more the way it was ran in
:)