I drove a Chevette hatchback for around 10 years, my wife had a Safari mini van and we didn't need two bigger vehicles, so I had a choice of vehicles to fit my situational needs. With the hatchback my 7ft 1 piece rods and gear all fit easily into the car. It was roughly a 30 mile drive to work, like I needed a gas guzzler to do that, or an expensive car to leave parked in the parking lot for 12-15 hours a day?
I know longer bend well enough to enter a vehicle on my own, so a cargo van works for me! Load me up!