Usually the car is chosen based, first of all, on the capabilities of the wallet. As a rule, for about the same money that a car dealer of a particular brand asks for, you can buy a sedan - one and a half times larger than the all-wheel drive car model considered for purchase. Let's make a reservation that we are not talking about the premium segment, where the buyer's criteria for choosing a car are somewhat different. And in more "mundane" segments of the car market, the choice is, for example, between Mazda CX-5 and Mazda6, Volkswagen tiguan and Passat, Kia sportage and Optima.
It is immediately striking that, unlike the sedan, it boasts four-wheel drive and a higher ground clearance. Actually, adherents of crossovers mainly appeal to these advantages of their cars. In their opinion, it is simply impossible to drive through a modern city in winter without these technical attributes. At the same time, it becomes unclear how the owners of millions of mono-drive sedans manage to do this every day.
Actually four-wheel drive in reality, sometimes it only helps those owners who get out into nature, on easy off-road. But even that is rare. The overwhelming majority of owners of modern four-wheel drive cars would not even think to meddle in the off-road, which is too tough for a large ordinary sedan. Because the car is a pity!
And the electronics with its anti-skid, anti-skid and other “anti-…” systems installed on modern “eats up” almost half of the off-road capabilities of these cars. And if, God forbid, the clutch that provides four-wheel drive to our crossover suddenly overheats, then it will turn into an ordinary mono-drive station wagon.
Another advantage of the crossover is the high seating position of the inhabitants of its cabin above the road. The further ahead the driver views the road, the better in terms of safety. But there is also a minus. All other things being equal, sitting in a sedan chair (especially a large one) is much more comfortable than in a.
And the wheelbase of a large sedan is longer than that of the "cross". Thanks to this alone, trips in a sedan, especially over long distances, are an order of magnitude less tiring than in a crossover. In general, space for passengers and the driver in the cabin big sedan much more than in. But in the latter, you can "fill up" the backs of the rear seats and load into the car, for example, a bicycle.
Few people notice, but it's a fact: rear-view cameras, all-round view and all kinds of electronic parking assistants first appeared on SUVs. Simply because it is on them, and not on sedans, that these electronic "assistants" are more in demand, since the situation with visibility and a sense of size in sedans is, for the most part, much better.
The era of crossovers began with the release of automotive markets first generation Toyota RAV4. Those first models will soon be twenty years old. Thus, we can say that the crossovers are about twenty years old. Today, almost every self-respecting car manufacturer has crossovers in its range.
But what to choose: get behind the wheel of a sedan or a hatchback and indulge in the classics, or take a seat behind the wheel of an aggressive crossover? A crossover or a passenger car will show itself with the best side in each case?
It's all the fault of marketers, because they are the ones who decide which class the car will belong to. Twenty years ago, there were not many people with such a profession, and, thanks to this, we had a clear understanding of which car we were driving and what this car was intended for. And phones in those days were used only for calls and sending messages. Do not think that we have something against the profession of "marketer" or against the versatility of cars and their equipment, we are just hinting that for the variety of classes of cars and all kinds of technology we should thank them - marketers. So let's try to find out how many real functions there are in today's crossovers, in comparison with ordinary cars, in order to distinguish them in a separate class.
Initially, the concept was as follows - a fairly spacious carrier, and high ground clearance. It is not a problem to drive on a dirt road, soggy from rain and snow, or to slip through snowdrifts. The crossover is suitable for those who lack the capabilities of an ordinary passenger car and at the same time do not need a large number of functions that serious SUVs have (besides, their fuel consumption is far from economical). Also, getting behind the wheel of a crossover, be prepared to lose handling - if this is not a problem for you, then this is your car.
Unlike passenger cars, crossover cars have an increased mass, and they are also equipped with a more complex transmission - this leads to. High ground clearance leads to roll and sway when cornering. The pros can include increased cross-country ability, even with a poor quality of the roadway, this advantage is a rather solid bonus when traveling on domestic roads, the quality of which leaves much to be desired.
The so-called SUVs will not completely protect you from the arbitrariness of road services, but they will reduce the level of shaking. That is why it remains a mystery to many why crossovers are needed in European countries, despite the fact that the quality of their roadway is quite high. This is probably just a waste, I mean increased consumption fuel. In the conditions of Russia and Ukraine, it seems that crossover manufacturers are paying extra road services so that they do not repair roads. But in Europe, the demand for this class of cars is created exclusively by specialists in the field of advertising.
Of course, having a four-wheel drivetrain gives you a certain amount of confidence, but one shouldn't ignore the fact that many crossovers normally remain with virtually one drive (usually front-wheel drive). Part of the torque is transferred to the second axle on demand, thanks to the multi-plate clutch, at the moment when the drive wheels lose traction with the surface or during rapid acceleration. Manufacturers often install forced clutch blocking on cars of this class in order to knowingly hedge against difficult weather conditions and the quality of the roadway. In this design, you can highlight its disadvantages and advantages. Among the advantages can be added the ability to save fuel, thanks to the presence permanent drive only on one axis. And the disadvantages include the delay in work automatic mode distribution of traction, and this delay is sometimes enough to burrow in wet ground and immobilize the car. Also, do not forget that viscous couplings tend to overheat during prolonged slipping of the car and, because of this, they can turn off completely. In this case, you will have to wait until it cools down. But if you don't get carried away with taking mud baths, then in other cases you can safely rely on automation that will help you on wet surfaces. Although in our market you can find crossovers with the so-called honest regular all-wheel drive - in this case, the division of torque between the rear and front axles is approximately equal, such include representatives of the Subaru clan.
We will not say anything about overcoming all kinds of sidewalks, curbs and other obstacles, since many do not even think about it, although having a crossover will give you a significant advantage in such exercises compared to conventional cars. But conventional cars are more economical in terms of fuel consumption and more maneuverable on normal roads. Anyway, ordinary cars are much cheaper than crossovers. In addition, understand the body types ordinary cars much lighter: a station wagon, a sedan or a hatchback - everything is simple and clear. But in SUVs you still need to be able to figure it out, here we are again confused by marketers who can suggest anything. For example, it will be easy for you to justify that this is not a crossover, but a sports coupe and vice versa.
Manufacturers have a solution even in case you are not a fan of crossovers, but still want to own a car with four-wheel drive. And this decision is very rational. Now started to produce passenger cars with four-wheel drive, and sometimes with increased ground clearance. Manufacturing companies call them by different names: Outback, Scout, Alltrack and others. And rationality is that, without losing in driving performance, one could safely drive along a country road and move normally in. This option will be ideal for a domestic consumer. Today, a large number of dealers can offer you an all-wheel drive hatchback or sedan.
If, in any case, you decide to purchase a crossover, but the budget is limited, then we will try to highlight the points that require attention when buying a crossover class car. Better to give up big wheels equipped with low profile tires. This accessory is needed more for beauty than for increasing functionality. However, for some it may be a decisive factor. On our roads, low-profile tires will not allow you to experience the high level of comfort you expect. Along with the ground clearance, pay attention to the rear and front overhangs (they are responsible for the angle of entry and exit from an obstacle). The shorter the overhangs, the more complete your bumpers will be and the more extensive your off-road capabilities. Be sure to make sure that a forced clutch lock is installed on the car and the stabilization system is turned off. In driving conditions on some types of road surface, these functions are simply necessary, but they are not present on all crossovers. Also, the system of imitation of differential locks between the wheels and the system of assistance during the descent will not interfere.
We wish you good luck with your choice of car!
Before we outline the advantages and disadvantages of one over the other, let's figure out how the sedan differs from the crossover, in general terms.
The sedan is a classic version. Here we have the usual five-seater car with a trunk separated from the passenger compartment. If you look at the generalized statistics, then there are noticeably more sedans on the roads than crossovers. Well-known manufacturers also focus on the classic type of car.
Crossovers (SUVs) are a cross between an SUV and a station wagon. cars are also called SUVs. In theory, a good crossover can drive off-road more or less tolerably, but in fact it is designed for parquet, or rather asphalt. There are several SUV series in the assortment of almost every popular brand.
So, let's try to figure out which is more comfortable - a sedan or a crossover in this or that case. Consider the critical differences between each type of machine, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. All this will influence the choice of class. Let's start with crossovers, and continue with sedans.
Luggage compartment volume
One of the main differences between a sedan and a crossover is spaciousness. SUVs in this case are clearly in a winning position. For example, the volume of the luggage compartment of the 2016 Honda Accord sedan is about 500 liters. While the SUV "Honda CR-V" this figure is almost 600 liters. And if you fold the rear seats, we get 1,700 liters. At the same time, the dimensions of the "Accord" are slightly larger.
If the volume of the luggage compartment is a critical moment for you, then the choice between a crossover or a sedan is quite obvious. Here we have a clear advantage on the side of SUVs.
Four-wheel drive
A good half of Russian regions are characterized by severe winters, as well as freezing rains, hail and snow. The latter turn the roadway into a real roller or off-road. Of course, high quality and expensive winter tires saves the day, but only partially for sedans. While all-wheel drive good crossovers are in this case in a more advantageous position.
In addition, all-wheel drive systems also imply increased ground clearance, which also saves when overcoming snowdrifts and other winter obstacles. If you need a car for winter trips to the country or in the countryside, then the choice between a crossover or a sedan is also obvious.
Landing
Another clear advantage of the SUV over conventional cars is the high seating position. That is, with an increase in clearance, the body itself became higher, and with it the driver's seat. And thanks to the high seating position, the visibility of the crossovers is noticeably increased.
The SUV driver can see several cars ahead, provided that there is a row of sedans in front of him. This adds points to comfort as well as tranquility.
Off road
When asked which sedan better crossover off-road, there is only one answer: none. Conventional cars are not designed for digging mud in forests or navigating flooded roads. Their path is only asphalt.
Of course, you can also find cars on sale, but they will cost much more. In addition, whatever one may say, crossovers will still be the best off-road solution.
Trend
This point is rather dubious from a technical point of view, but still a good half of motorists take it into account. The share of sedans on the market is slowly declining, and experts in this area unanimously declare that this cannot be avoided, so there is little point in resisting the trend.
All over the world there is a real boom in SUVs, and manufacturers take advantage of this, not only making a profit from the cars sold, but also improving them in technical terms. The development of SUV cars is simply impossible without sacrificing sedans. And many brands are forced to reduce investment in this class. passenger cars, shifting interests towards SUVs.
Moreover, the cost of crossovers and sedans is almost equal. And if a couple of years ago prices for SUVs were clearly higher, now, thanks to the abundance of offers, the difference is beginning to fade.
Fuel economy
Despite the introduction of innovative technologies in the technical part of crossovers, they have not been able to overtake sedans in terms of fuel economy. Attempts to hybridize engines also failed. In this regard, the advantage to this day remains with the sedans.
The critical difference between a crossover and a sedan for this moment lies in the aerodynamic qualities of both cars. The former have greater wind capacity and increased air resistance. This also includes the weight of the vehicle. Crossovers are noticeably heavier than conventional passenger cars, which means they consume more fuel.
Looking at the rise in prices at gas stations, one can understand that the advantage here is clearly on the side of sedans. So in urban realities it is much more practical to turn your gaze towards them, bypassing heavy SUV-class cars.
Salon
The crossovers have good visibility due to the high seating position, but judging by the polls of car owners, they consider the usual sedan interior more comfortable and comfortable. The fact is that in SUVs, the chairs are located at a slightly different angle, and there is more rigidity in them.
While in sedans the seating of the driver and passengers is more comfortable, which means that on such a car it is possible to overcome a noticeably greater distance along the highway, without stopping for a warm-up and other "smoke breaks". Plus, sedans have wider seat adjustment options than crossovers.
Platform
Despite the growing popularity of SUVs, the level of satisfaction with their owners is not growing. And if another brand new sedan from a venerable brand can boast of high levels of ergonomics, comfort, reliability and other things, then, alas, this cannot be said about the SUV class.
Many owners often complain about four-wheel drive vehicles and celebrate frequent problems with quality and reliability. Almost all modern SUVs are designed on the basis of a passenger platform. It would seem that there should be no delays. But in reality, there are problems.
Some, so to speak, not particularly agile manufacturers, in pursuit of profit, simply take the sedan platform and increase the body without regard to aerodynamics and others. technical nuances... Naturally, with such approaches, miscalculations and shortcomings emerge after the launch of the conveyor.
In such cases, the suspension, which is designed for the passenger class, and the body of an SUV was hung on it, suffers greatly. From this, it wears out faster and becomes unusable. And at the same time, the owner is forced to go broke on expensive repairs much more often than if it was an ordinary sedan on its usual platform.
Yes, venerable brands do not allow themselves such blunders, but also the cost lineup here is clearly higher. A striking example will be our "Lada" from the domestic AvtoVAZ of the "Cross" and XRAY series. Yes, we have a typical SUV: a massive body, a spacious trunk with a passenger compartment and good cross-country ability. But no matter what the manufacturer says and no matter what the manufacturer convinces us, the car is designed on the sedan platform and has a number of shortcomings. In the future, AvtoVAZ promises to fix and complete everything, but nevertheless the fact is obvious.
So, unlike brand new crossovers, ordinary cars are more reliable and time-tested. The platform, which has been in use for almost a hundred years, has been repeatedly refined, improved and improved in all respects. The same cannot be said for the backbone of crossovers. Despite the massiveness, the latter are still at an early stage of development.
When buying a sedan, you can be sure that no extra surprises await you, so to speak. While with a crossover, this is very difficult to guarantee. In addition, the cost of spare parts for SUV-class cars is much higher.
Visibility
Crossovers have better road visibility, that is, what is in front of the car. But other sites are, alas, in the blind spots. Sedans are all right with this. It was thanks to crossovers that parking sensors and other devices appeared to compensate for the shortcomings of SUV-class cars.
It would seem that there is nothing wrong with that. And yet there is one but. On a crossover without electronic assistants, it is much more difficult to park and ply in a heavy traffic. And on a regular sedan it is easy. So without unnecessary need to buy a SUV for a big city is not worth it. Well, or you need to be ready to properly equip it with all kinds of auxiliary systems.
Exterior
Whatever crossover fans say about their appearance, sedans still have noticeably more potential for body design. Well-known brands offer their consumers such "beauties" on a passenger platform that can turn anyone's head.
Of course, modern cars SUV-class can not be called ugly, but they are all somehow one-sided and similar to each other like two drops of water. So here sedans are in a prime position.
The introduction of the body as a load-bearing part of a passenger car made it possible to significantly expand the number of body types. But among all the variety of body types, there are the most popular among motorists. The sedan is the leader among the types of load-bearing part, but recently it has been competing with a hatchback body. Each of them has its own differences, as well as positive and negative aspects. We will try to figure out what are the features of the sedan and hatchback bodies, as well as what their advantages and disadvantages are.
Sedan
Classic hatchback and sedan
The main difference between the sedan is the three-volume layout, in which the structure is divided into three parts - the engine compartment, the passenger compartment and luggage compartment... These parts are separated from each other by partitions, which makes each body volume separate from the other. As for the number of doorways, this type of door body can have either two or four.
As the automotive industry developed, different versions sedans with certain features in the body structure. The main types of sedan bodies are:
- classical;
- hardtop;
Video: Which is better, a sedan or a hatchback?
The difference between the classic sedan is about the same dimensions engine and luggage compartments. Over time, in order to reduce the parameters of a car, which the "classics" usually had significant, the length of the luggage compartment began to be reduced, while increasing its height to compensate for the useful volume. Ultimately, this led to the formation of a wedge-shaped body shape that all modern sedans now have. There are a lot of representatives of classic sedans, since this type of body is the most popular. Examples in the domestic automotive industry are all "classic" VAZ models (except for the VAZ-2102 and 2104 station wagons), VAZ-21099, 2110, 2115, all Volga models.
Of foreign cars, sedan representatives are Toyota corolla, Mitsubishi lancer, BMW 5th, 7th series. In general, sedan cars are produced by almost all car manufacturers.
Mercedes-Benz CL-class hardtop
A feature of the "hardtop" body was the absence of the central pillars of the salon compartment. If in the classic version the front and rear doors were separated by a pillar that stretched from the floor to the roof, then it was removed from the hardtop. In this case, usually the doors did not have glass frames, or they were retractable along with the glass into the door. Cars with a “sedan-hardtop” body did not find much popularity, and now they are practically not produced. A striking representative of cars in this body is the Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac de Ville Hardtop.
It is noteworthy that two-door versions of "hardtops" are still found, but most of them are classified as "coupes".
The body of the "fastback" differed from the "classics" and "hardtop" by the third compartment very weakly expressed in the silhouette of the car - the trunk. This was achieved thanks to a very smooth transition from the roof of the car to the rear. In this case, the luggage compartment, although it was separate, but outwardly it was, as it were, integrated into the interior. The representative of the car with this body is GAZ Pobeda.
In the modern automotive industry, there is another type of body - "liftback", which is a transitional model between a sedan and a hatchback. Its main difference lies in the fact that outwardly there is a pronounced luggage compartment, but the body itself is two-volume and the luggage compartment is located inside the cabin. From modern cars, produced in the body of the liftback can be noted Skoda Superb.
Of the positive qualities of cars in the sedan body, it is noted:
- a more presentable and solid look of the car;
- the presence of a separate trunk;
- faster heating of the passenger compartment in winter due to the small volume;
- better safety for passengers in a rear impact (the trunk acts as a buffer).
But there are also disadvantages, of which the most obvious are:
- the worst maneuverability of a car due to its large dimensions;
- complicated parking due to the worst feeling of the dimensions of the car;
- limited volume of the luggage compartment;
- less strength of the body due to the large rear overhang.
Video: Lesson 2 - car types, hatchback, sedan, station wagon, body types, SUV, crossover, SUV
Hatchback
Let's move on to hatchbacks. Its main distinguishing feature comes down to a two-volume layout, that is, there is only an engine compartment and a salon. Moreover, the latter combines both a place for passengers and a luggage compartment. If the sedan uses a special lid to access the trunk, then the hatchback is equipped with an additional tailgate. At the same time, it is generally accepted that hatchbacks include only cars with a sloping rear door. But there are also versions with a vertical position back door(VAZ "Oka", Daewoo matiz). Due to the presence of an additional door in the structure, the total number of hatchback cars is unpaired (3 or 5 doors).
This layout of the body made it possible to reduce the rear overhang and, as a result, the dimensions of the car itself. Moreover, it is the overhang that allows you to visually determine what type of body the body belongs to. For example, one of the main differences between a hatchback and a station wagon is the size of the rear overhang.
A variation of the hatchback is the liftback. The main difference between a liftback and a hatchback is the same overhang length, the first has a slightly larger overhang. Additionally, on some liftbacks, the luggage compartment may be slightly pronounced, which visually gives such a car the appearance of a sedan, but with a shortened trunk. And here the back door is the main difference from the sedan. For liftbacks, it is integral and includes rear glass... An example of such a liftback is ZAZ "Slavuta", in which the rear of the car visually has a trunk, but it is closed with a stepped rear door. In the already mentioned Skoda Superb, on some generations, a two-section tailgate is used - you can open only the part of the door that covers the trunk, or you can completely raise the door, along with the glass.
The advantages of hatchbacks are:
- the presence of sports notes in appearance;
- easy access to the trunk due to the large size of the rear door;
- the ability to transport oversized cargo (after folding the back row of the seat, which allows you to use part of the cabin as a luggage compartment);
- improved maneuverability of the car due to its smaller overall dimensions.
But the disadvantages of this type of body are also enough:
- increased noise in the cabin (a shelf separating the luggage compartment from the passenger compartment, a massive rear door, the cargo itself, since it, in fact, is located in the cabin and is separated only by a backrest) rear seat and shelf);
- when opening the rear door to the cargo compartment, air from the outside enters the passenger compartment (especially this drawback manifests itself in winter);
- the need for more time to warm up the cabin due to its increased size).
Representatives of hatchbacks are Toyota Yaris, Seat Leon, Nissan Micra, etc.
As you can see, each of the considered body types passenger cars possesses its own positive qualities, so negative properties. When purchasing a car, everyone decides for himself which car suits him best.
Today in the world there are many modifications of passenger car bodies. Each of them has its own name, but many cannot distinguish an SUV from a crossover, and a station wagon from a hatchback, and even more so to distinguish a crossover from a hatchback.
Crossover
Initially, the crossover appeared in North America and was intended to become a replacement for the usual SUV... Yes, the crossover has similarities to the SUV, but this is only at first glance.
The crossover and SUV are similar in body structure. And also the crossover, like the SUV, has an increased ground clearance, plastic trim wheel rims, vehicle sills and much more.
But the main difference that can be noticed when buying is drive car... Everyone knows that an SUV has four-wheel drive, and a crossover, unfortunately, has basically only front-wheel drive... In this case, alterations of crossovers occur, in which they have four-wheel drive.
The next feature of the crossover is transmission... The transmission of crossovers is simplified so much that its price drops several times, and therefore is not the most reliable element of the car. By the way, off-road, crossover owners run the risk of being left without a tidy sum of money. The point is that the crossover's drivetrain is not designed for durable off-paved road use.
Also, the crossover and SUV have minor differences in the bodies... The body of the crossover is made like a regular passenger car, and the SUV has a frame structure. And, finally, the most important difference between a crossover and an SUV is the engine displacement. Engines with a volume of up to 2.5 liters are installed on crossovers, and engines are installed on SUVs with a volume of 3 liters or more.
The crossover is like an SUV fuel consumption... The minimum fuel consumption of a crossover is about 8 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers (it all depends on the type of engine and car model). At the same time, the volume of fuel on the highway does not decrease significantly, in contrast to the hatchback. The average cost of a crossover is about 5-7 thousand dollars for secondary market and from 9 thousand dollars from the salon.
Hatchback
A hatchback is a type of body in which the car has shortened rear overhang... The hatchback can be called the most famous car in the post-Soviet space - Lada 2108. The hatchback has similar features to the station wagon and sedan. But the difference between these cars is in length. The station wagon will be the longest, followed by the sedan and only then the hatchback.
Also, the hatchback can be either a five-door or a three-door, the station wagon and the sedan are presented in a purely five-door form.
Hatchback consumes about 4-6 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers(it all depends on the type of engine and car model). The hatchback engine displacement is on average 1.8 liters, but there are models with engine displacement that can reach about 2–2.2 liters.
Also, the body of the hatchback stands out for its aerodynamic data, which allows the car to move on the road much better than similar cars, but in other body variations.
Today, many automakers have decided to abandon the production of sedan cars, so more and more more cars come out in a hatchback body, but it's too early to say that a hatchback body is already a classic.
The average cost of a hatchback in the secondary market is about 3-4 thousand dollars, new hatchback will cost about 6-7 thousand dollars.
What is the difference between a hatchback and a crossover?
So, let's summarize the differences between the hatchback and the crossover. At first, crossover is very similar to SUV, which gives the car a special status, but in no case should you count on using the crossover in off-road conditions. The hatchback, on the other hand, is the golden mean between the station wagon and the sedan. The hatchback has a slightly cropped body, but the volumetric trunk, as well as the convenience of passengers, is a noticeable plus when choosing a car in a hatchback body.
Secondly, the notable difference is fuel consumption... The crossover consumes significantly more fuel than the hatchback. The hatchback was originally created as an economical family car and today it keeps its brand. So, a hatchback consumes about 4-6 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers, when the minimum fuel consumption of a crossover is about 8 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers.
Thirdly, trouble spot crossover is transmission, which requires considerable investments from the owners, while the hatchback does not have any particular problems with driving performance.
Fourthly, the creators of the hatchback took better care of the convenience of passengers. The creators of the crossover tried to create an urban-type car similar to an SUV, which is why the crossover is often called a SUV.
And, finally, the body itself. If the hatchback inherited the body from its predecessors, then the creators of the crossover have reduced the cost by degrading the quality of the body, which can be traced in a car like Renault Duster.
What do crossover and hatchback have in common?
If there are differences, then there must be similarities between the crossover and the hatchback. One of them is plastic... The inner lining of both vehicles is made of inexpensive plastic, which also wears out quickly. Also, both cars in any configuration will come with velor interior... A leather interior for cars like a modification is not provided. A simple and user-friendly control panel is another common feature of these cars. And, finally, undemandingness to the quality of fuel is the main feature of these cars.
After analyzing all the information received, you can choose a more suitable car for yourself.
