Home Torkemose Sedan Cup Hatchback Wagon Differences. What is Sedan, Hatchback, Wagon, Crossover. Classification of passenger car bodies

Sedan Cup Hatchback Wagon Differences. What is Sedan, Hatchback, Wagon, Crossover. Classification of passenger car bodies

An article about sedans and hatchbacks - which car body choose: the advantages and disadvantages, the criteria of choice. At the end of the article - video about what is better - sedan or hatchback.


The content of the article:

The answer to this question will be the next question - "For whom you are interested in?", Because the dispute of domestic drivers about what is better, sedan or hatchback, has begun since the release on the road of the first configuration of VAZ 2108.

In the CIS countries, of course, the sedans are leading - it is for these countries that many foreign manufacturers create new modifications in such body execution that are practically not bought in Europe and the United States.

But the hatchbacks confidently conquer the market and take a significant piece of cake from the classic configuration. Sales of sedans in the Russian Federation stand in the first place - it is approximately 32% of the entire market, the hatchbacks have up to 25%, slightly inferior to SUVs.

Experts predict that the compact equipment of urban hatchbacks in five years can be the most sold machine.

New-night drivers are really tormented, which car to choose. Consider the main differences between bodywork structures, their advantages and possible shortcomings.


The sedan is convenient, practical and stylish. External body forms, interesting performance of radiator grilles make auto presentable and expensive. It is in this performance that all the premium segment machines are produced. The traditional body of the sedan consists of three clear volumes: the salon, the luggage compartment and the volume of the hood. The trunk is always isolated from the cabin.

The main line of the sedan 21st century remains the presence of a central rack (which is absent in the body of the coupe) and the size of the size. The length of the luggage compartment must be approximately equal to the length of the engine. It is along the length of the body and determine the affiliation of the car to a specific class.


The sedan is completed with one or two (less often three) rows of seats, there is no lifting door in the trunk.

In the category of sedan, except classical layout include such bodies of body performance:

  1. Hardtop. Distinctive feature - lack of central racks, side glass Without outdoor frames.
  2. Fastback. A car with a slope roof and a fuzzy third, luggage compartment.
  3. Tudor. Two-door sedan. The most vivid representative of the family of two-door sedan can be considered Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
  4. Long sedan. Today it is very rare equipment - there are three rows of full-sized seats in the auto cabin.
The transitional model is made as an intermediate between the sedan and the hatchback is Liftback. In the form of body shape, the car has similar hatchback of the sinks, but the length of the luggage compartment, as in the sedan configuration.

Benefits of sedans

In addition to the representative species, sedans have a number of advantages that experienced drivers are so appreciated:

  1. The sedan provides the best wave. This means that at speeds on the highway, the car has perfect stability - they are easier to manage and maneuver. Front I. rear axle We experience almost equal load due to the same volume of the engine and luggage compartment.
  2. Large and comfortable salon. This is well noticed adult passengers rear seat.
  3. The salon is completely isolated from the trunk - it provides silence and the absence of strangers.
  4. A greater parameter of passive passenger safety. When an accident, the trunk serves as a buffer.
  5. In winter, the sedan salon warms up faster, in the summer faster cooled - it leads to fuel economy.
But is there any disadvantages of such a body design as a sedan, and is always profitable to acquire a traditional and familiar model?

Disadvantages of sedan

  1. 70% of the manufactured sedans have medium ground clearance About 155 mm. Such clearance will not allow the car to move on a relatively light off-road. Often for sedans is a problem and departure from snow-covered parking. Exceptions are always there - the Skoda Octavia of the first generation has a clearance of 170 mm.
  2. Beginner drivers on the sedans are more difficult to park. Large sizes of auto require even small, but driving experience. Given the crowded city parking lots and roads, the driver is harder to find a place to park.
  3. The cost of a set of sedan is 10-15% higher than the hatchback of the same model.
  4. Cutely, the volume of the sedan trunk will not allow to carry long loads (panels, plinth, refrigerator, etc.).
But all these shortcomings are not perceived by connoisseurs of sedans as a big minus configuration. Many drivers older than forty love for this car laid out almost at the gene level.


Hatchback (literally "rear hatch") call a car with a shortened rear breath, a door, more often with two, less often with one chairs. The main thing distinctive feature The configuration remains the length of the rear, which is always less than the length of the front. If it is equal to the front, formally the car can not be attributed to the class of hatchback, even if it has similar shapes.

For example, Audi 100 in the Avant modification with the external similarity of the body with the hatchback has the length of the rear sweep equal to the length of the front and refers to the class of the universal. But Ford Scorpio MK has a three-volume (classic sedanovsky) body, a rack in the center to support the roof, but the length of the rear sweep is slightly shorter than the front - the equipment belongs to the Hatchback class.

Advantages of hatchbacks

The main advantage of hatchback is the best maneuverability in the urban stream due to a smaller than that of sedans, size. What other advantages have a complete set:

  1. Little cost. Hatchbacks are more accessible than sedans, and remain in most budget models.
  2. The bulk trunk will allow you to carry a large-sized cargo - if you fold the rear seats, the useful volume increases 3-4 times.
  3. Smaller sizes will allow more convenient to park in the city.
The hatchbacks often choose young drivers who consider this model the most convenient for beginners despite the fact that overview through the rear window at the driver of hatchbacks is worse than those of sedan drivers.

Disadvantages of hatchbacks

What disadvantages exist with this configuration, and so they are critical to choose?

  1. The smaller comfort of the rear row passengers by combined with the luggage salon.
  2. It takes more time to heating the cabin in winter and on cooling in the summer. Due to this, fuel consumption increases.
  3. For rear windows you need to install a wiper with a washer.
  4. Little passive security When hitting the trunk.
Sedan and hatchback are excellent samples of modern body modifications that do not even have to be the subject of the dispute. You need to choose a model based on personal attachments of drivers.

Do not forget about the operation mode. The sedans are more presentable and selected as the main transport for the city and rare trips to the country.


Hatchbacks are a great family option, it is good to go to work well and get into nature. In addition, there are some models of popular cars that are only available in the Hatchback body - for example, Mercedes-Benz Class A, Mazda 2, Fiat Bravo, Grande Punto, VAZ 2191, 1111, etc.

Video about what is better - sedan or hatchback:

Each car model is produced by the manufacturer's manufacturer in a specific body, and sometimes even in several. For example, Ford Focus. and Hyundai Solaris. There are also sedans and hatchbacks. These are the names of the body types, distinguish between which may not have every car enthusiast, not to mention the people who do not have their own vehicle. What is the hatchback? Does it have features that make it easy to distinguish it from other body types with visual inspection of the car?

Hatchback - what is it?

The term form two words of English origin: Hatch ("Luke") and back ("rear"). Literally Hatchback is translated as "Luke Rear". Therefore, this type is characterized by the presence rear doorequipped with a window. Structurally body is divided into 2 parts: the first takes motor compartment, the second - salon and the luggage compartment separated by the back of the rear passenger seats.

Hatchback is three and five-door. This type of body is comfortable for the driver and passengers, roomy, but compact. Many car manufacturers On the basis of the hatchback, high-speed or economical models produce, as it is characterized by good aerodynamics, easy to control and has a relatively small mass.

How to understand that this is a hatchback body, not any other?

To learn to distinguish the types of bodyworks, you need to get acquainted with their main views. Having an idea of \u200b\u200beach of them, it will be easier to detect differences.

  • Sedan. It will be very difficult to confuse it with the hatchback, as they are largely different: the first option has a full-fledged back door in the luggage compartment, and the second is the trunk lid. The sedan is also characterized by a streamlined body shape.
  • Universal. The most often hatchback is confused with him. Although, if you carefully look at, the difference is colossal. Hatchback seemed to "hard" from behind, the wagon is much longer. It is the rear SBE and is the main difference.

  • SUV. These are quite large cars, for example, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ford Explorer or Infiniti QX. Thanks to the large size of the SUV, it is impossible to confuse it with the hatchback.
  • Crossovers are slightly smaller than SUVs. These include models such as Lada X-Ray, Hyundai Tucson., Nissan Qashqai.. In essence, and SUVs, and crossovers due to the length of the luggage compartment can be attributed to the universal. But due to the size of the body and features in appearance, they were grouped into separate classes. The crossover is a hatchback, only he has a larger wheel and more ground clearance. The rest of the differences between these types are not. This is necessary to navigate.

Liftbek as a kind of hatchback

Liftbek deserves separate attention. This type of body is a type of hatchback. The most popular models in the body of Liftbek are Ford Mondeo. and Skoda Superb.. Visually, such a body is very similar to the sedan. But it is easy to distinguish them - the defining factor is the length of the rear swell. Again, Liftbek has a door with a window, and the sedan is equipped with a trunk lid. Since Liftbek is a hatchback, it is more important to disassemble the difference between them. The best differences are noticeable when comparing photos of the bodies presented in the article. Liftbek combines classic appearance Sedan with a streamlined form and universality of hatchback. That is, the rear part is not "cut", but, like a sedan, smooth.

Advantages and disadvantages of hatchback

This type of body has both positive and negative qualities. Of the advantages of the hatchback, it is possible to distinguish its ability to carry more cargo than the sedan. Thanks to the full rear door, use the luggage compartment more convenient, and you can also accommodate large items that you can not say about the sedan. Another positive feature is a good hatchback maneuverance. This means that it is great for use in urban environments where traffic jams and often need to be rebuilt from one band to another.

The minuses of the hatchback are associated with the combination of the cabin and the luggage compartment. Because of this, unnecessary smells penetrate into the salon, and he is heard longer and worse. When transporting large cargoes will be necessary to disassemble the rear seats. As small truck car Hatchback does not fit as good as, for example, universals Lada Largus. or Lada Kalina.. This type of body is more positioned as sports or family.

Conclusions about hatchback

Today, this type of body is the most popular in the automotive market, gradually reassigning the eternal classics from the leading position in the face of the sedan. The hatchback can be called a modern representative of the automotive industry, thanks to its advantages perfectly suitable for use today. If you explore the ratings, we can conclude that many people prefer instead of crossovers, sedans, hatchback universal. This is the main indicator of the multifunctionality of this body, its convenience and safety.

Since the hatchbacks are three and five-door, you can choose the option that best suits use everyday life. For example, three-door models are more sports versions, thanks to a lightweight strong body. Five-door options will become an ideal solution for families. The spacious back of the cabin and the large luggage compartment make such cars as comfortable and comfortable as possible. Of course, in terms of the capacity of passengers and baggage, the hatchback SUV, the crossover and the universal is somewhat inferior, but it is much easier for them. By the way, thanks to excellent aerodynamics and high maneuverability, many motorists recommend novice to choose a model in this body as the first car.

Favorites among Hatchbacks and Liftbekov: Rating the best

This class of cars is relatively young, but has already managed to justify enough in the model range of many manufacturers. The following is a rating of hatchbacks, compiled on the basis of the assessment of machine owners.

So, the top 20 models that motorists are satisfied:

  1. Audi A5;
  2. Audi A7;
  3. Porsche Panamera;
  4. Opel Insignia;
  5. Skoda Superb;
  6. Subaru. Impreza WRX. STI;
  7. Audi S5;
  8. Toyota Aqua;
  9. Lexus CT200H;
  10. Hyundai Veloster;
  11. Audi A1;
  12. Honda Accord;
  13. Honda Crosstour;
  14. Honda Freed Spike;
  15. Nissan LEAF;
  16. BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo;
  17. Citroen DS4;
  18. Volvo C30;
  19. MINI HATCH.

Hatchback is elevated level Safety, original design, convenience in management and aesthetic appeal, thanks to which the body type is so popular in the contemporary city to perform everyday tasks.

There are several types of automotive bodies - today the market contains more species such as sedan, station wagon, pickup, hatchback, crossover, coupe and SUV. Lemousins \u200b\u200band cabriolets are less common on the territory of the Russian Federation. There are quite a lot of differences between all of them.

But to understand what exactly the sedan from the hatchback is different and it is important to know these differences in 2020, the inexperienced motorist is difficult. In fact, everything is not so difficult, and it is possible to distinguish one from the other by external signs and inherent in one or another model of the design features, but you need to know the difference for a successful choice of cars.

Before assessing the advantages and disadvantages of both types of body, you need to know the characteristics of each of them. Features of the sedan:

  • passenger vehicle;
  • separated salon and trunk compartment;
  • the lid of the cargo compartment is called a hood;
  • does not have a lifting door in the rear wall of the body;
  • two- or four-door design;
  • auto practical and comfortable;
  • it has a presentable view.

Description Auto with Hatchback Body (or Hatchback):

  • a solid bulk body that does not have distinction on the salon and the luggage compartment;
  • in the cabin there is 1-2 rows of seats;
  • the rear sink is shortened, and the door is located on the rear wall of the body;
  • the front skell of the hatchback is always longer than the rear;
  • liftbek is similar to the body of a classic car, but the rear window is combined with a luggage compartment;
  • body three- or five-door;
  • the trunk is part of the salon, and is for the last number of passenger seats;
  • a number of rear seats are formed, which increases the volume of the luggage compartment;
  • body compared to a sedan or wagon shorter;
  • the luggage cover is considered a car door.

Main differences in designs

After the parameters and characteristics of both bodies became clear, it is necessary to find out the main differences, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of both types of car.

Main distinctive features:


Advantages and disadvantages of models

Many drivers prefer to move on the roads of the country precisely on classic models of cars, from the Soviet times the popularity of sedans and universal in our country is not reduced. The main advantages of the classics:

  • respectable view of the car;
  • uniform distribution of the weight of the machine on both axes - the trunk and the engine compartment are almost on equal remoteness from the wheels;
  • salon size - it is wider and longer;
  • the separated wall between the cabin and the trunk allows you to transport badly smelling loads;
  • the best driver overview through the rear window - because it is closer to the driver and more in the area;
  • the salon is faster heated in the oven in the winter and cooled in the summer.

The main drawbacks of a classic car:

  • costs more;
  • non-cargo loads can not be transported;
  • worse maneuverability due to the larger length of the car. Need more space for reversal;
  • at the expense of the rear long trunk, it is difficult to quickly park the car and there is a chance that you can hook a border bumper;
  • below clearance, which is a disadvantage when driving on poor-quality road surface.

Advantages of auto type hatchback:

  • less dimensions - higher maneuverability and more convenient to park;
  • conveniently operated trunk - you can carry volume loads;
  • the cost is lower than the sedan.

Hatchback prefer to acquire women due to the shortened length of the car and the absence of the trunk, as in the sedan, which makes it possible to more confidently hold onto the road and on the parking lot.

But he has disadvantages:

  • increased noise in the cabin at the expense of the connected trunk;
  • in winter When opening the door of the trunk, cold air Quickly falls into the salon;
  • worse than the rear window visibility (its area is less), and when you travel to wet and snowy weather, you often turn on the glass flower and wiper.

What is the difference between the sedan, hatchback and wagon?

The wagon is the average between the hatchback and sedan. As a rule, the length of the second and station wagon is almost the same. Rarely universals are three-door, mostly autocompany produce 5-door models. Sometimes autodizainers design a sloping roof, but the classic wagon body - when the roof of the car has a length almost to the end of the car. The fifth door or the trunk lid rises up or opens to the side.

On a note! There are models of universal, in which there is a 2-fold luggage door.

The luggage compartment is distinguished by a large volume due to a long smooth roof. It can still be increased by folding the reverse seats. The salon has comfortable seats, as in the sedan, but the bulk salon, as in the hatchback. The width of the car is the same with a classic car, so the whole family can accommodate in the cabin. The supervisor has a tighter suspension compared to the sedan.

When transporting long goods, the universal is always on top, because other models do not wear such luggage.


On the road, the wagon with hatchback is impossible to confuse - the wagon is longer and the roof of the trunk does not have a bevelled rear sweep.

Also distinguished the wagon can rear posts In the car - they are longer in it and are located vertically to the car frame, as well as long side windows on the trunk, which end on its racks.

Universals are preferable for people who often travel through the whole family on cars - passengers are comfortable placed in the cabin, and all things in the trunk. For example, the crossover can not boast such amenities - this is a more urban car.

The special lid of the trunk does not make it from the car hatchback. The main difference belongs precisely to the length of the rear sweep relative to the base model in the body of the sedan. If the socks are not shortened, such a car can be called soon a wagon. Like the universals, the hatchbacks have adjacent trunk with the salon, which complicates the heating of the car and does not prevent the penetration of foreign smells into the salon. These properties will rather disadvantage, the advantage, however, the popularity of the model is not reduced due.

In connection with the parallel developments of many popular manufacturers in this direction, determine the first company that suggested that the body design has not so simple. However, many consider the point of reference to the 40s when a specific the lineup "Citroen".

Despite the fact that the passenger cars of this series appearance almost did not differ from the traditional sedans, the design provided for the presence of a hatch behind. The presented step of the manufacturer was not immediately evaluated by drivers, and only thanks to the Kaiser's autoconecern, the promotion of the presented solution in the construction of the car began. Citizen's purchase of rights to release models of presented design allowed Fraser Vagond conveyor production and Kaiser Traveler.

For the Asian Market, the first vehicles in such design began to supply Japan, and for the European zone, the popularity of hatchbacks are associated with the release of the Renault 16 model in 1965, which was in demand among lovers of auto until 1980. This unit was also seriously reviewed by the leadership of the Soviet Auto industry as an alternative to Fiat 124. However, the model was rejected, which is associated with the outdated structure of the power module.

What does the type of hatchback body look like and what is his differences from other vehicles modifications

The hatchback is the type of body characterized by the presence of the rear door, as well as a two or four-bed salon with a reduced rear sink. The main advantage of the presented model of the passenger car over the sedan is the presence of the 5th door. Such a design significantly affected the carrying capacity and dimensions. The wagon with a shortened body is not to be confused with the Liftback, in which the length of the rear swell is less, however, such a part has a stepped form. It is not necessary to miss the discussion about the fastbeck, the shape of which is similar to the hatchback, but is characterized by a smooth back of the body.

Separate the type of body hatchback from the other is easy. Construction features Machines provide for two compartments. If we are talking about the trunk, it is separated using one source of the sofa. Armchairs from behind such a design are transformed, in connection with which the luggage litters is significantly increasing.

Body type Liftback

Liftbek should be attributed to the species of hatchback: the lid in the trunk is also combined with rear glass And plays the role of the fifth door. However, the external signs of the side are the reason that such a type of body is often confused with a sedan, whose rear ledge resembles a luggage compartment.

There are varieties of hatchback, in which the fifth door has a vertical location. This parameter makes a model similar to the minivan, but it has a high height more. Improved leafbeck aroodunics, handling and low weight, attract many modern automakers. Therefore, they create high-speed models vehicle It is on the basis of the presented design.

The advantages and disadvantages of the body

The type of hatchback body is great for the family, the needs of which go far beyond the loading capacity of the usual sedan, but there is no desire or possibility of getting a bulk universal. The choice in favor of the presented car is justified in cases where the volumetric luggage needs to be transported not often. The advantages and disadvantages of the vehicle are filed in the following table.

Positive featuresDifficulties in operation
  • improved maneuverability, especially for the city, which is associated with the presence of a shortened rear sweep;
  • a good review of the back, provided by a large glazed area;
  • increased lifting capacity, which is more than a sedan, which has no fifth door and an increased luggage compartment;
  • in the hatchback, much easier to put large loads, as well as extracting them.
  • the difficulty of warm up the salon in winter and air conditioning in the summer, which is associated with the expansion of space due to the trunk;
  • lack of partition contributes to the penetration of the smell with luggage compartmentthat lowers the comfort level inside the car;
  • when the sofa is not complicated by the volume of the luggage compartment, it is almost no different from such a parameter in the sedan;
  • reducing the amenities for passengers due to the expansion of the trunk, which leads to the fact that they cannot normally straighten their legs.

Examples of domestic cars hatchbacks

Many car enthusiasts preferring vehicles domestic production, accustomed to sedans and universal. However, no less actual type of body, which has recently gained popularity, is a hatchback. The first domestic models that should be attributed to this category are "nine" and "eights" VAZ.

Regarding the body of a popular car "Moskvich Izh Kombi" in the distant past, specialists led to the fact that it would be more correctly attributed to Liftbacks. The producer of the VAZ recently returned to the popularization of this body design by submitting the buyer the model "Lada Grant". However, it is not the only one, since such a decision has already been introduced in Kalina and prior.

The popularity of the model with the body of Hatchback: " Hyundai Getz.», « Daewoo Matiz."," Toyota Yaris ". The release of vehicle data is provided only in the presented modification. This is due to the fact that russian market It is not customary to use the term "Liftbek". As an example of the popularity of cars, which are positioned like hatchbacks, you can consider the following.

Popular lucky cars imported origin is "Kia Rio" - hatchback with old form Body. The recently represented model was restyled. If we consider the exterior, then by external signs this car In the option, the hatchback is more like a small crossover. Such a parameter is only positively reflected on the owners of the vehicle.

The manufacturer was well bothering in order to make the body brilliant and having soft overflowing forms. At the same time, sizes were clearly and harmoniously calculated. However, there are also obvious disadvantages: too close the arrangement of the rear seat to the front. All this creates a slightly uncomfortable atmosphere for passengers.

Peugeot 206.

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