So question here abt hatchs in general

[Jem_hadar]

So I have a question abt hatchbacks, SUVs, crossovers, and vans in general.

Why is it that only they in particular ever come w/ rear wipers? Why do two- and four-door sedans never come with rear windshield wipers?

Whats the reason? im sure its prolly obvious and im just not realizing it...


Ive never driven a sedan for any sig length of time (we've never owned one as a family (always had station wagons, vans or SUVs))

Is it something to do w/ the back end being a flat wall (ie. no trunk hump after the rear windshield) which causes significantly much more dirt to fly up and coat the rear window or something ???

Random question, i know. :wink:

[brainless twit]

I don't know the answer to this but I'm also interested.

My last car was a Chevy HHR and I got pretty spoiled to the rear wiper. Now I'm constantly reaching for it on my Yaris sedan, then remembering it's not there.

[stuffy]

i've noticed way more crap build up on my hatch than on sedans i've had in the past.

[thebarber]

probably money....but also looks

though, interestingly enough...the previous gen mazda6 had a sedan and a 'sport' model....the sport looked like the sedan, but had a hatchback, and subsequently, a wiper....

i had a matrix xrs before the yaris and got spoiled w/ an intermittent rear wiper, lol. but we also have an aveo sedan to compliment our yaris hatch....and ya, on days where its rainy, snowy, etc, in the aveo youve just gotta suck it up if you cant see out the back

[ChinoCharles]

It is actually due to aerodynamic properties on cars with flat backs. Dirt sticks to them easier. This is why a lot of hatchbacks, SUVs and wagons have rear wipers.

[PaidTimeOff]

omg I used to wonder about this all the time when I was driving my old Saturn coupe. But I stopped wondering once I got my hatchback :)

[Altitude]

Charles has a good point, but I think it also has something to do with mounting location. Most trunks on Sedans lead right up to the base of the window and you can't mount the wiper at the base because of the trunk (though I suppose they could leave some room for one. Only place to mount one would be from above and the wiper would likely have to pass through the window.

[thebarber]

ya, likely the vortex created behind the hatchback that throws stuff on the window....not so much the case w/ the back of a sedan...though in winter you notice how gross the trunk and rear bumper get....

[Mead]

last gen EVOs have a rear wiper :iono:

[darthbauer]

So did the last good looking WRX's and the old Skylines.

[tetzyamis]

Mitsubishi 3000GT had rear wiper too.

[b_hickman11]

It is actually due to aerodynamic properties on cars with flat backs. Dirt sticks to them easier. This is why a lot of hatchbacks, SUVs and wagons have rear wipers.

This is correct. In the Sedan, the air flow going over the car will keep water/dirt from collecting on the window. Since the LB's window is closer to 90 degress, the air flow has a less effect on the rain that comes in contact with the window.

[Jem_hadar]

Hey, thanks Chino and hickman for the explanations and info! Really appreciate having this confirmed (figure it was the case) but its nice to have it confirmed you know.


CHEERS mates.