Here in Malaysia, if you’re looking for a Japanese C-segment hatchback, there’s only one option, the Mazda 3 Liftback. The Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic do offer hatchback variants overseas but only the highly potent hot hatch versions are offered here officially like the GR Corolla and upcoming FL5 Civic Type R.

The regular hatchback versions are also available in Japan along with a fourth contender, the Subaru Impreza. Between January and May 2023, the best-selling C-segment hatchback in Japan is the Honda Civic with around 5,300 units sold according to data by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association (JADA).

Unlike in Malaysia, the Japanese-spec Civic is only available as a hatchback and is offered with either a turbocharged 1.5-litre VTEC petrol engine (182 PS/240 Nm) as well as the e:HEV hybrid powertrain that combines a naturally-aspirated (NA) 2.0-litre (141 PS/182 Nm) with an electric motor (184 PS/315 Nm).

Also read: FL1 2021 Honda Civic Hatchback is now in Malaysia, asking for RM 200k - 25 photos on why you might want to pay more for it

JADA doesn’t explicitly divide its figures into specific variants and the sales numbers only show the nameplate in general. For instance, the most popular model in the first 5 months of 2023 is the Toyota Yaris which accounts for sales of the nameplate including the Yaris Cross.

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That goes for its figures for the Corolla, Mazda 3, and Impreza which are offered in Japan as a sedan, hatchback, and in the case of the Corolla, a station wagon as well as the Corolla Cross.

Also read: The Toyota Corolla Cross isn’t the only special Corolla, meet its other unique variants

Japanese automotive publication, Best Car Web, compiled sales data of the Japanese C-segment hatchbacks between Jan-May 2023. A total of 5,200 units of the Toyota Corolla Sport which is what the hatchback variant is called were sold in that period.

The Corolla Sport hatchback is offered with two powertrains in Japan – a 1.8-litre petrol hybrid (Engine output: 98 PS/142 Nm, Electric motor: 95 PS/185 Nm) or a 2.0-litre NA petrol (170 PS/202 Nm).

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The third most popular domestic C-segment hatchback in Japan in the first 5 months of 2023 is the always-beautiful Mazda 3 Liftback. 4,328 units were sold which is far behind the Civic and Corolla’s sales though Mazda’s rival offers the widest range of powertrains.

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In Japan, the Mazda 3 Liftback is available with a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre Skyactiv G petrol unit (111 PS/146 Nm), a 2.0-litre e-Skyactiv G mild hybrid (Combined 163 PS/248 Nm), and a 1.8-litre Skyactiv D turbodiesel engine (130 PS/270 Nm).

Taking the fourth and final spot of the domestic C-segment hatchback segment in Japan in sales for the first 5 months of 2023 is the Subaru Impreza Sport. 2,314 units were sold though these figures were for the outgoing fifth generation which will eventually be replaced in 2024.

In Japan, the outgoing Impreza Sport has been on sale since October 2016 which makes it the longest-running model of the four. Currently, the Impreza Sport is available in Japan with two choices of 2.0-litre engine - a flat-four boxer petrol unit (154 PS/193 Nm) or the e-Boxer mild-hybrid (Combined 159 PS/253 Nm).

Of the four cars mentioned, only the Mazda 3 Liftback is officially available in Malaysia with two powertrain options – a base naturally aspirated 1.5-litre (118 PS/153 Nm) as well as the 2.0-litre NA (162 PS/213 Nm). Prices for the imported-from-Japan (CBU) hatchback are as follows:

• Mazda 3 Liftback 1.5 – RM 149,000
• Mazda 3 Liftback 2.0 High+ - RM 165,000
• Mazda 3 Liftback 2.0 Ignite Edition – RM 174,000

Also read: Review: 2023 Mazda 3 Liftback 1.5 - Is the base variant an overlooked ace?