Motorists, of course, choose a vehicle for themselves, focusing on their own preferences, and yet we should not forget that some cars are better than others in certain parameters. Take at least a couple like a hatchback and a crossover. Both of these are incredibly popular in the market. Unfortunately for the big guy, when it comes to a car for every day, the arguments are not in his favor.
1. Price
All other things being equal, the hatchback will beat the crossover in all respects. Needless to say, the question of money in buying a car for many people remains one of the priorities? If the cars are essentially the same, then why overpay.
2. Dynamics
The crossover will always be heavier than the hatchback, and therefore, even with the same technical characteristics, the dynamics of the "baby" is still better. What does this mean? Yes, the fact that the hatchback accelerates much faster.
3. Consumption
And again to the question of money. Against the crossover, its curb weight and aerodynamic qualities speaks. It just so happened that the hatchback's consumption will always be less. And which of the drivers wants to burn fuel, as if floating on the battleship Potemkin?
4. Security
Driving practice, accident results and test results all indicate that most hatchbacks are much safer than crossovers. This is because the hatchback has a lower center of gravity, which increases the chances of a successful outcome.
5. Washing
Yes, yes, again about money. The day-to-day costs of a hatchback are much lower. Even at the car wash, crossovers come at a higher rate, and this, you know, hits the pocket.
6. Rubber
A set of winter tires will cost less for a hatchback than for a crossover. All because of the dimension. After all, the hatchback uses the most common passenger car tires, and they do not cost the drivers dearly.
7. Convenience
Many drivers will agree that hatchbacks are generally more comfortable than crossovers. With comparable roominess, the hatchback trunk is lower, and it is much easier to load them (summer residents know!). These cars have less noise due to better aerodynamics, and they also have a smoother ride, which is always pleasant for the driver.
Continuing the theme and who is cooler.
One of the most important criteria for choosing a car is the body type. The number of types of car bodies has almost doubled over the past 15-20 years. Manufacturers are increasingly trying to combine several body types in one car at once. It is becoming more and more difficult to distinguish one option from another, but we will do it anyway.
Let's understand the classification of car body types
To begin with, we will divide all body types into 3 groups: three-volume, two-volume and one-volume.
Three-volume
Three-volume body has a protruding hood and trunk. Three-volume systems are among the least versatile bodies due to the limited ability to transform the interior and trunk. This group includes sedans, coupes, convertibles and pickups.
Sedan, coupe.
The main difference between a coupe and a sedan is the two-door body. The coupe (from the French "couper" - cut off) is usually built on the basis of a sedan and has a sporty bias (lower body, powerful engines). The coupe does not always have a pronounced three-box body and in shape often resembles a three-door hatchback. But the hatchback always gives out a vertically located tailgate, which in the coupe they try to make it as horizontal as possible.
Convertible, coupe-convertible, roadster.
Convertible is a coupe with a "soft" tarpaulin roof that folds behind the rear seats and rises if necessary
But the soft top did not allow the car to be used all year round, so in the late 90s a new version of the open body began to gain popularity - the coupe-convertible. At first glance, this is an ordinary coupe, but once you press the right button, the hard metal roof rises and neatly folds into the trunk, turning the coupe into a convertible.
A two-seater convertible (no second row of seats) is called a roadster.
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Roadster Porsche Boxster Roadster Audi TTS
Pickup.
 Mitsubishi L200 Pickup |
A pickup truck is a body with an open cargo area, separated from the passenger compartment by a rigid partition. Simply put, this is a miniature copy of a regular truck. Most often this body is confused with a van. In order not to be mistaken, it is enough to remember that Pick-up in English means, among other things, “picking up”, “picking up”, that is, throwing it into the body in a quick way ... Most pickups are built on the same platform with SUVs and have a good cross-country ability. Both in our country and throughout Europe, pickups are not very popular, but in the USA they are crazy about them.
Two-volume
On a two-volume body there is no protruding trunk, and its lid opens only with the glass and is considered another door.
Two-volume bodies include hatchbacks, station wagons, as well as crossovers and SUVs created on their basis. Two-volume bodies stand out the most roomy luggage racks(station wagons) and compact size (hatchbacks - "hatchback", you can translate English as "rear door"). At the same time, both station wagons and hatchbacks have a folding rear seat, which allows you to significantly increase the volume of the luggage compartment and in the characteristics always indicate its minimum (i.e., with the seats folded out) and maximum (with the seats folded down) value.
Hatchback, station wagon.
Hatchback Skoda Fabia New and station wagon Skoda Fabia new combi
The main difference between a hatchback and a station wagon is the size (length) of the trunk.
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Liftback Skoda Octavia New |
In addition to the usual hatchback, there is also a liftback - a hatchback with an almost three-volume body. In the liftback, the trunk lid has a small protrusion and resembles a sedan, but it opens along with the rear window.
Hatchbacks are very popular in Europe, but here they are only gaining popularity, and that is mainly due to liftbacks (because of the similarity to sedans).
The main advantage of the hatchback is its compactness and maneuverability, but the station wagon always wins in terms of trunk volume.
SUV.
The crossover, although it tries to look like an SUV, cannot boast and impressive and very often inferior to an SUV in height. Sometimes they are called "SUVs", probably with a hint that such an "SUV" is suitable for driving on parquet floors, and not really off-road ...
 Crossover Nissan Qashqai |
In addition, more and more crossovers are created on the basis of hatchbacks and differ from them only by increased ground clearance and large wheels.
Recently, the popularity of crossovers around the world has grown dramatically. Despite the fact that the first crossovers appeared relatively recently (mid-90s), almost every manufacturer already has such a body in its lineup or plans to add it in the near future.
Monocabs
One-volume the body does not have a far protruding hood and trunk - the engine and luggage compartment are practically in the cabin. Mono bodies pride themselves on the sheer number of options for transforming their spacious interiors.
The "one-volume" includes the "youngest" body types: minivans, compact vans, micro-vans - that is, almost all buses of any size. These body options can be distinguished by the size of the car and the number of rows of seats.
Minivan.
The compact van in size is located between the micro van and the minivan, the length is from 4.2 to 4.5 meters. However, some compact vans may have a third row of seats. The first "compacts" were released in the mid-90s. In fact, this is a slightly reduced (compact) version of the minivan.
Microvan
 Microvan Nissan Note |
A microvan is simply an enlarged (in height) hatchback with more spacious salon... There is no third row of seats in the micro van. The length does not exceed 4.2 meters. The first microvans appeared only 5-7 years ago, but they are already rapidly gaining popularity in Europe and even on our roads they can be found more and more often.
The differences are less and less
Gradually, the difference between types becomes less and less noticeable. That there is only the Skoda Superb sedan hatchback (the trunk lid opens with and without glass) or the almost one-volume Honda Civic hatchback.
.The number of car body types has almost doubled over the past 15 years. Manufacturers are increasingly trying to combine several body types in one car at once. It is becoming more and more difficult to distinguish one option from another, but we will do it anyway.
To begin with, we will divide all body types into 3 groups: three-volume, two-volume and one-volume.
Conservatives
The three-volume body has a protruding hood and trunk. Three-volume systems are among the least versatile bodies due to the limited ability to transform the interior and trunk. This group includes sedans, coupes, convertibles and pickups.
Sedan, coupe
The brightest representative of the three-box body is the sedan, which is present in the lineup of almost all manufacturers. The sedan is considered the most conservative (classic) and prestigious body type. The sedan is very popular on our roads, where "prestige is everything", and cars are divided into sedans and non-sedans.
Convertible is a coupe with a "soft" tarpaulin roof that folds behind the rear seats and rises if necessary
But the soft top did not allow the car to be used all year round, so in the late 90s a new version of the open body began to gain popularity - the coupe-convertible. At first glance, this is an ordinary coupe, but once you press the right button, the hard metal roof rises and neatly folds into the trunk, turning the coupe into a convertible.
A two-seater convertible (without a second row of seats) is called a roadster (for example).
Pickup
A pickup truck is a body with an open cargo area, separated from the passenger compartment by a rigid partition. Simply put, this is a miniature copy of a regular truck. Most pickups are built on the same platform as SUVs and have good cross-country ability. Both in our country and throughout Europe, pickups are not very popular, but in the USA they are crazy about them.
Liberals
The two-volume body does not have a protruding trunk, and its lid opens only with the glass and is considered another door.
Two-volume bodies include hatchbacks, station wagons, as well as crossovers and SUVs created on their basis. Two-volume bodies are distinguished by the most spacious luggage racks (station wagons) and compact sizes (hatchbacks).
Hatchback, station wagon
Before we identify 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 variant. 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 one case or another. Let's 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 good all-wheel drive crossovers are in a better position in this case.
In addition, the systems all-wheel drive 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 its 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 but off-road, the answer is one: none. Ordinary cars are not designed for digging mud in the forest 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 investments in this class of passenger cars, shifting their 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 the crossovers, they have not been able to overtake sedans in terms of fuel economy. Attempts to hybridize engines have also been unsuccessful. 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 in their direction, 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 seats 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 more 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 note 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 other 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 about 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. In sedans, this is all right. 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 winning position.
In the sedan, the body is two-volume, that is, the trunk of the car is structurally separated from the passenger compartment. The trunk volume is 430 liters. In winter, when it opens cold air does not get into the salon, which also warms up faster. The rear window gets less dirty than the hatchback (which has a tailgate glass washer). In the event of a rear impact during an accident, the cabin is not depressurized. The driver and passengers do not get unpleasant odors (for example, a spare can of gasoline) from the luggage compartment.
Trunk
In a hatchback, the body is one-volume, since the trunk is not separated from the passenger compartment. Its cover is an additional door. This facilitates loading and unloading operations and makes it possible to get inside the car in case, say, freezing of the locks of other doors in winter. On the other hand, opening it quickly cools the air inside the car. Because luggage compartment does not have sufficient sound insulation, the overall noise level inside the car increases. This is also facilitated by the knock of the rear shelf, which appears when it is not firmly secured.
Despite the fact that the useful volume of the trunk in this case (here it is only 360 liters) is much lower than that of the sedan, with the rear seats folded, its volume almost doubles - up to 705 liters. The rear seats, depending on the size of the load, can be folded either completely or partially. It becomes possible to transport bulky goods: baby carriages, refrigerators, skis, garden tools, etc., which makes it practical in many cases.
Now consider: Priora sedan or hatchback, which is better for other characteristics.
Dimensions and other parameters
Let's compare some of the sizes of these modifications.
The length of the car in the sedan modification is 4350 mm, the curb height is 1420 mm with a wheel track of 1410 mm for the front wheels and 1380 mm for the rear.
Cars with this type of body are equipped with more soft suspension and has good balance (weight distribution) along the axes.
It is no coincidence that the word "hatchback" means "shortened" in English. The length of the Lada Priora car in this body is 4210 mm with a height of 1435 mm. The hatchback's shortened rear overhang makes it easy to park and operate. The good aerodynamic shape also contributes to this. At the same time, cars in both modifications have the same ground clearance (135 mm under the exhaust system and 170 mm under power unit), overall width (1680 mm, excluding rear-view mirrors) and wheel track width of the rear and front wheels, weight characteristics. Fuel consumption differs slightly.
Of the differences, I would also like to note the differences in the installation of child seats (UF or U).
Price
Prices for cars with different body shapes in the same configuration differ only slightly, although the hatchback is still slightly cheaper due to its shorter length.
This is where the differences between sedan and hatchback modifications for cars of this model end.
I never liked sedans, but ironically, three of my four cars were sedans. And only one was perfect - Renault Kangoo... Nevertheless, the sedan body type is very popular; on the roads it is he who you see most often. For some reason, people buy such cars, so I decided to delve into the question and figure out: "Why?"
But first, I'll tell you why I like hatches and station wagons more. It's simple - they are more practical! Try to shove a bicycle into the trunk of a sedan - it is unlikely that it will work even with the second row seats folded. And two will fit into a hatch of the same class, if the seats are folded. The sedan will not fit a refrigerator, an old TV, and practically nothing bulky in general, because the opening is much smaller than in a hatch. What can we say about station wagons? That is why I asked the question: “Why is the sedan body produced at all? Does it have any advantages over the Hatch? " And the first answer was born immediately:
Long items can be transported
Sedans are longer: if the rear seats fold down, then long items can be transported with a closed trunk, while in a hatch you will have to carry with the fifth door open.
Rear window does not get dirty
Hatchies and station wagons drive muddy bottoms after any rain. The rear wiper helps, but visibility is still reduced, and it looks bad. Sedans are not even equipped with a rear wiper, the glass practically does not get dirty. It becomes dirty when it is not clear what color the car is. In practice, almost never.
The interior is not cooled in winter
This is the most significant disadvantage for me. Imagine a bitter frost. You just warmed up in the cabin and then you realize that you need to get something out / put in the trunk. It's such an unpleasant feeling when you realize that all the heating progress will instantly disappear. This disadvantage is especially relevant when there are children in the cabin. I remember how everyone suffered during the shooting, because the cameras had to be taken out often, and it was freezing outside, sometimes down to -27. In the sedan, the passenger compartment is separated from the trunk, so there is no such problem.
The shelf does not rattle
Even in rather expensive hatchbacks, the trunk shelf makes itself felt, it makes noise. And if you remove it, the noise insulation in the cabin deteriorates. Here the following advantage appears -
Things in the trunk do not rattle
In hatches it is better to hear what is in the trunk. Yes, content can be pinned, but it’s not an option for everything. There will still be times when there will be a rumble in the cabin from tools, nails, cans and bottles thrown into the trunk. In a sedan, the contents of the trunk do not bother you in any way.
No stench from the contents of the trunk
Well, everyone at least once forgot to throw out the trash and threw it in the trunk? I had such a thing that I was returning to a well-pickled Kangoo after a picnic. In Hatch, the division of the trunk and the passenger compartment is only formal, all odors easily spread throughout the interior. The sedan does not have this problem either.
On the trunk, you can expand the clearing
Well, why, I've seen this many times. Try this with a hatchback!
Large trunk in daily use
The volume of the trunk in the sedan is greater than in the hatchback in cars comparative class... For example, in KIA Rio sedan the volume of the trunk is as much as 500 liters, and in the hatchback - 389. Therefore, in most daily tasks, the sedan will be more convenient.
More attractive
It was this excuse that confused me most of all, because it was presented as prestige. The sedan type is more prestigious and the like. I need practicality, not far-fetched prestige, but in fact, there is some truth here. If we are talking about cars up to the C-class, then sedans very often look more complete, while the same models in the hatchback body seem to be some stumps. Look at the Aveo or at Kia rio: in the sedan body, the models seem to be more complete. Sedans are indeed a little longer (15-20 cm), and the body shape emphasizes this even more.
- , 29 Aug 2014
If we talk about which modification of the car - a sedan or a hatchback - is better, then the main difference is the difference in functionality. A sedan is a model of a car whose trunk is located outside, separate from the passenger compartment. In a hatchback, on the contrary - the trunk is combined with the interior, so the hatchback is always slightly shorter than the sedan. And cheaper than a sedan than a sedan. Let's talk about what other differences there are between these two modifications, in addition to appearance and price. And are they there?
In short, we can say about the sedan that it is a comfortable and not very practical car. Traditionally, the saloon of the sedan is equipped more expensively, has more "bells and whistles" in comparison with the hatchback, since it was originally created for a wealthy and business audience, which is quite demanding and fastidious - hence the higher cost. This is a car for work, for business trips, and for city holidays, of course.
The sedan has a smoother ride, due to the fact that it does not have a large carrying capacity, it was not conceived for this. For a soft ride in the sedan's suspension, special devices are used. Cargo in the trunk can be placed long or wide in shape, but the height of the cargo space will be limited by the height of the trunk.
In a hatchback, the space in the trunk in height is limited only by the height of the roof of the car, and if you fold the rear seats, the volume of the trunk becomes much larger than that of a sedan. That is, a hatchback can carry enough oversized cargo. This car has a higher payload and a stiffer suspension, which is why it is very popular in Europe with those who like to travel behind the wheel.
But from the neighborhood with objects immersed in the salon, inconvenience can arise. These are noises, vibrations and a possible smell from the cargo - all this will be in the cabin. Thus, a hatchback is a less expensive and less comfortable car than a sedan, but more practical.
Which car is more solid - a sedan or a hatchback? If earlier it was believed that a sedan has a more respectable appearance than a hatchback of the same brand, then modern generations of hatchbacks have made such a comparison meaningless. They look no less solid than sedans. And in terms of safety, both modifications are approximately equal.
Five advantages of crossovers and sedans: The battle continues.
Probably, there is no such sedan owner who would not look at the crossover. Indeed, the SUV market has experienced an incredible boom in recent years. observed all over the world. This is due to the fact that, in the opinion of many people, SUVs are more versatile and practical than conventional sedans and station wagons. As a result, many drivers began to refuse passenger cars in favor of crossovers and SUVs. But this boom doesn't really say that SUVs have conquered the global auto market unconditionally.
The fact is that, in fact, they also have pros and cons, like passenger sedans. So the question of which car is better is still far from resolved. If you have not yet decided what to buy, a crossover or a sedan, we suggest you find out five reasons why the best choice is to buy an SUV and five reasons why you should still buy a sedan.
Crossover - Large cargo area
Crossovers from the very beginning of their appearance have always been more roomy than sedans. For example, the boot volume is 495 liters. But the Honda CR-V crossover has an astonishing 589 liters of cargo space.
If the rear seats are folded down, the cargo space will be 1,669 liters. And this is taking into account the fact that the Honda Accord sedan is larger than a crossover in its overall dimensions.
So if trunk size is important to you, then by far the best choice for you is a crossover. This is one of the main advantages of any crossover.
Crossover - 4WD / AWD all-wheel drive system
Most of us live in a region where in winter the weather gives us everyday surprises in the form of freezing rain, snow, hail, etc., turning our roads into a winter rally track, into a skating rink or winter off-road. Naturally, every driver knows that any car needs high-quality winter tires for reliable grip.
But non-four-wheel drive Cars in winter they noticeably lose to all-wheel drive even with the most expensive winter tires with studded tires. But of course, crossovers and SUVs have even more advantages in winter.
The fact is that in addition to transmitting torque to all four wheels, as a rule, crossovers have increased ground clearance, which is important on snowy roads, streets and lanes. This allows drivers not to experience difficulties in winter, even on country roads outside the city. So, if you need to go to the country house or to the village in winter, then you better buy an all-weather one, since it significantly benefits from a passenger sedan in cross-country ability.
Crossover - High Rise
One of the reasons why crossovers have become popular all over the world is the high seating position. The fact is, thanks to the height of the crossovers, the seats in the car are high, which provides the driver and passengers with a higher seating position than in any passenger sedan. The high seating position provides the driver with better visibility on the road.
For example, the driver of a crossover has visibility several cars ahead. As a result, driving the crossover is more comfortable and safer, since the driver can see in advance what is happening in front of other cars.
Thanks to this, drivers and passengers feel more comfortable and calm in crossovers. And this is the main thing for any manufacturer that the products meet the maximum criteria for comfort. Indeed, in the modern world, this is the most important thing for car owners.
Crossover - Off Road
Many sedan owners dream of driving off-road and country roads. In most cases, this is not possible. Unfortunately, cars are not designed for off-road use. Naturally, if you are a fan of digging mud in the forest or want to drive through flooded sections of the road without fear of getting stuck, then for you the best choice the car must of course be SUV vehicles.
Yes, of course, you can buy a passenger rally car, but the best solution is still a crossover or a full-fledged SUV.
Crossover - Be in trend
If you follow fashion not only in the world of consumer goods, but also want to be in trend in the auto world, then of course you should buy a crossover or SUV, since these days this is really their market. It must be admitted that the share of sedans in the car market will decline. And this cannot be avoided. Almost all car companies cannot ignore the boom in the crossover and SUV market observed around the world. Therefore, as long as there is an opportunity to maximize profits in the SUV market, they will produce and design new off-road models.
Unfortunately, the development of crossovers is not possible without prejudice to sedans. Naturally, many car brands are forced to reduce investment in the development of new passenger cars in the sedan body, shifting their interest towards crossovers.
It is noteworthy that this affected even powerful passenger sedans, the alternative to which actually did not exist until recently in the world car market. But now many automakers have begun to produce powerful ones, which, in terms of technical characteristics, are now not inferior to passenger sedans.
And this trend will only continue. So in the coming years, we will see even more powerful crossovers and SUVs with specifications previously only found in charged sedans.
So, if you are looking for a powerful car model, then now you do not need to necessarily purchase a passenger car. There are already many powerful crossovers and SUVs on the market these days, which not only are not inferior to the performance of sedans, but also have a number of advantages over passenger cars, which we wrote about above.
Sedan - Fuel Economy
Despite the fact that crossovers have come a long way from uneconomical vehicles to technologies that help save fuel, they still have not been able to take the advantage of passenger sedans. It is noteworthy that even hybrid crossovers failed to do this. All the same, it is much more economical.
The whole point, of course, is the "windage" of cars of the SUV class, which leads to an increased aerodynamic resistance of the air. It must be admitted that this figure is significantly higher for sedans. Plus, of course, it's the weight of the body , which is naturally larger in crossovers. As a result, cars are much more economical than crossovers and SUVs.
So if fuel economy is the main thing for you when choosing a car and you do not need versatility and practicality in a vehicle, then it is worth buying a sedan, since it is the undisputed leader over SUVs.
Sedan - Comfortable interior
We have already said that crossovers and SUVs have a high seating position for the driver and passengers, which gives a sense of calm, which provides an increased level of comfort. But this is if we proceed from the side of psychology. In practice, in terms of convenience and comfort, sedan and station wagon cars noticeably bypass their all-wheel drive competitors.
The fact is that due to the vertical landing of the crossover seats, the passengers of the car can become very tired during long trips. In addition, in many SUVs, the seats are hard enough, which is clearly not in favor of maximum comfort. In the sedan, the seats are installed in a slightly different way, with different angles, which give more options for adjusting the car seats for maximum comfort while driving.
As a result, the driver and passengers feel more comfortable when traveling in a passenger car. It should be noted that even during long journeys, the driver and passengers of sedans get tired less than in SUV cars.
Sedan - Proven Reliable Platform
Unfortunately, with the growing popularity of crossovers, the level of satisfaction with SUVs is not growing. What is the reason? After all, people buy, counting on an advantage over cars.
But oddly enough, when interviewing crossover owners, many of them often complain about the obvious frequent problems with all-wheel drive vehicles related to their quality and reliability. Why are many crossovers not as reliable as passenger cars? After all, most modern SUVs are based on platforms of passenger models.
It is very difficult to answer this question unequivocally. There are, of course, many reasons why crossovers often frustrate their owners. For example, the main enemy of any crossover is new platform, on the basis of which this or that model is produced. Indeed, in the pursuit of profit, many companies rush to design, develop, etc. As a result, this leads to frequent miscalculations and imperfections.
In addition, due to the fact that many SUVs and crossovers are based on passenger cars, they do not actually receive any upgrades to the suspension, which ultimately leads to its rapid deterioration. This is due to the fact that in many crossover models, the suspension structure cannot withstand the weight of the car over time, which is significantly greater than that of passenger cars.
Sometimes car companies, trying to create a reliable crossover and using the platform of station wagons or sedans, slightly modernize the architecture in the hope that the new model will be of high quality. At times, automakers are good at creating stunning crossover models that are reliable and of high quality. But more often it is the other way around.
Unlike crossovers, sedans are more reliable and time-tested. After all, many passenger cars are produced on the basis of old classic platforms, which over time have been refined to perfection and the actual ideal. Agree that more than 100 years was enough time for modern passenger cars to become almost ideal, in contrast to crossovers, which, in principle, despite being massive, are still at the beginning of their development path.
So, by purchasing a sedan, you will know in advance what you will receive. When, as a purchase of a crossover, it is, in principle, the acquisition of a "pig in a poke". So if you do decide to purchase an SUV, be prepared for any surprise. But the fact that you will spend on an SUV significantly more money on maintenance is unambiguous. Get ready. The cost of spare components, the cost of repairs and scheduled maintenance for crossovers is significantly higher than passenger sedans.
If you are not willing to pay extra for a crossover, then the sedan should be the best choice for you.
Sedan - Visibility and visibility
Have you noticed how the automotive industry is being taken over? Technologies in the field of assistance to drivers while driving a car are developing especially briskly. One of the fastest growing systems that began to appear en masse on modern cars, this is a parking assist function reverse... We noticed how quickly this option migrated from expensive premium cars to vehicles economy class? And of course there is nothing wrong with that.
But few people know that since the introduction of the video parking assist function, this option was primarily installed on crossovers. Wondering why? Of course, this was done for a reason and not only for marketing. The fact is that, due to their size, they have significantly worse visibility.
That is, the number of blind spots in SUV cars is much greater than in passenger sedans. Especially bad performance in crossovers and SUVs is seen when parking in reverse. This is where the video camera on the boot lid is indispensable, which transmits a video image of what is happening behind the car when reversing.
For the same reason, other, more advanced technologies for helping the driver when parking have appeared. For example, many car companies are now equipping both passenger cars and off-road vehicles with a 360-degree view around the car, which is projected onto the LCD screen of the infotainment system.
Such visibility of the space around the car is achieved by several video cameras located on each side of the car.
Naturally, due to the poor visibility of crossovers and SUVs, this system of all-round visibility when parking is indispensable. So, driver assistance systems, which appeared in many crossovers, also began to be used on passenger cars, making them even more comfortable and safer.
Yes, of course, do not forget that not every sedan can boast of stunning visibility behind the wheel. For example, the Mercedes-Benz CLA has very poor visibility and is perhaps even inferior in appearance to many modern crossovers. But more often than not, sedans have better visibility.
So when driving a Honda Accord or BMW 5-series, visibility of the road and the area around the car is much better than or.
Believe me, it will be much easier for you to park on a passenger car than on an SUV built on the same platform.
Sedan - Design
Of course, there are people for whom the most beautiful cars are hatchbacks or station wagons. There are those for whom the height of perfection sports cars... But as they say, tastes differ. But still, these machines are not for everyone.
When buying a car, making a choice between a hatchback and a sedan, as a rule, the future motorist uses his own personal preferences. In the former post-Soviet space, that is, the great three Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the average person had a dream to have his own apartment, dacha and car, and the 24th Volga was the ideal car. No matter how you look at it, from different sides it is the same, the steering wheel can be rearranged in places from the torpedo to backseat and few people will notice the difference, probably because of this well-established opinion, since childhood, we looked at this car with lust, passing on the street or on TV as Comrade Khrushchev moves on this sedan.
On the example of the Opel Astra, the differences in the dimensions of the sedan, hatchback and station wagon bodies are clearly visible.
Pros of the sedan:
- Large trunk;
- Insulation of the trunk from the passenger compartment (smells, sound);
- In case of an accident, there is less chance of depressurization of the passenger compartment at the rear;
- When the trunk is opened in winter, the cold does not enter the cabin;
- Warm up faster in winter, faster cooling in summer due to the smaller interior volume;
- The rear window does not get dirty, the rear wiper is not needed;
- Great solidity (for those. To whom it is important).
Hatchback pluses:
- More compact dimensions;
- Better handling due to the absence of a "tail" (IMHO, not proven);
- Quick access to the luggage compartment, for example;
- Wide opening in the trunk (important when the rear seats are folded);
- A hatchback is usually slightly cheaper than a similar model in a sedan body;
- Usually the hatchback looks more sporty.
From here, most of us have gone to love this type of body. If there is a car, then it must be in a sedan body, which cannot be said at all about Europeans, whose majority of cars are hatchbacks. They love compact, but at the same time, spacious cars. This is understandable with their narrow streets, where everyone parks five centimeters apart. Putting the dog in the trunk in such a body will not be a problem. Is it more convenient to put things from the supermarket? Too. But what if you need to translate the tree for the New Year? The sedan, unfortunately, cannot boast of such capabilities.
But why, after all, our people love this type of body so much, which cannot be said for sure about the hatchback - this is prestige and status, have you ever seen a car of a higher, prestigious class, for example, a brand new S-class or 7th BMW series in the station wagon? No. Only a sedan. The desire to be like older brothers and to have a full-fledged, and not "cut off" trunk + in winter, when you open the 5th door in the back of your head does not blow.
Well, as is typical of a difficult Russian man - almost everyone wants to be a macho and “drive up” to a girl in a cut-off car - at least not solid.
Another important reason why hatchbacks are more common in Europe compared to Russia is the lack of summer cottages. Therefore, the volume of the body is not as important to Europeans as to many Russians. Seasonal migration to the dacha and back requires a lot of space in the trunk. At the same time, it is good for people to fit. Whatever one may say, most hatchbacks are inferior in body length to sedans and station wagons.
A significant difference between a sedan and a hatchback is the complete insulation of the trunk from the interior of the sedan, you will hardly hear the ringing of a jack or the sliding of other parts on the trunk of a sedan, which cannot be said about a hatchback. And if God forbid grandma's pickled cucumbers break in a sharp turn in the hatchback? We'll have to stop right on the track and urgently clean everything up, because it's impossible to breathe, it has been tested in practice.
In winter, the hatchback has more problems, getting into the car, you want to immediately warm it up, and the difference in the volume of internal space between the bodies is 1.5 times! This means that it will take almost 2 times longer to warm up the car.
A very important nuance, which, by the way, for some reason, not everyone pays attention to is clearance. Ground clearance is the distance between the asphalt on which the car stands and the lowest point of the car, as a rule, for cars it is from 12 to 16 centimeters. The second factor is the length of the wheelbase, the larger it is - the worse the permeability as well as the ground clearance, the hatchback has a base length less than that of the sedan, respectively, the hatchback is more permeable than the sedan, unless, of course, keep in mind the same model (for example, Ford Focus sedan and Ford Focus hatchback). The same model can look great in a hatchback body and not look at all in a sedan body, as well as vice versa.
When you change from a hatchback to a sedan, a very unusual moment is that in the first body - you are used to where it ends rear glass, your car actually ends up, although it gets dirty many times more than in a sedan, you immediately need to retrain to follow the dimensions of the car and count on an additional 30-40 centimeters, which you simply cannot see because of the dead zone. But this is all designed for those who drive very little, for experienced drivers with many years of experience it is not a question and put a truck with a trailer in the garage =)
Our mentality is, of course, designed for a man in a sedan, for a woman in a hatchback.
Over the hill, as I said, everything is different.
Each of us decides for himself whether you want to light up the car or you want to drive quietly? Do you need to transport skis, trees, bicycles, etc.? Or is it enough for you to take a taxi once a year for this purpose? Do you need an extra trunk? When can I buy a trailer or ask a friend for help on the van? The main points are answered, the conclusion is below.
In short, the moral of all this aforementioned variety is who you really are, your personal preferences and a host of other factors. You are a hunter or a business businessman for whom an extra trunk is like a book to a monkey, you are an egoist or a respectable family man with a zoo at home. Personally, as the author of this article, from my own experience, I can say that yes, like most Russians I like the sedan, but there are times when you go somewhere to rest in Europe, whose population is madly in love with hatchbacks and station wagons and you meet some Alfa Romeo Juliet in a juicy, like sunset, bright red body on wide and truly gigantic disks (hatchback body ed.) and it's too hard to make a choice, better and most of all you need to listen to your heart, as well as to the choice of your wife, practicality or beauty ... to each his own. The choice is yours, because we are not its masters.
