Complex sentence: Buyers looking for larger cars were increasingly drawn to medium-sized hatchbacks that were virtually unknown in Europe in 1973, but by the end of the decade were gradually replacing saloon s as the mainstay of this sector.
Split into simpler sentences: Buyers looking for larger cars were increasingly drawn to medium-sized hatchbacks. Virtually unknown in Europe in 1973, by the end of the decade they were gradually replacing saloon s as the mainstay of this sector.