Sales of small cars, such as the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3, have plummeted since their 2013 highpoint when Australians bought 266,000 new small cars, across hatchbacks, sedans and station wagons. That represented 23.4 per cent market share – by far the largest single segment – or almost one in every four new cars sold. But despite the limited options, there are still some cracking hatchbacks, well priced, ably serving the needs of buyers resolute in eschewing the SUV and dual-cab zeitgeist. Here then, is our pick of the best hatchbacks on the market right now, priced from under $40k driveaway. That could be a crucial factor in deciding which hatchback best suits buyers’ needs.