There are several decisions to make throughout the car shopping process. One of the very first is figuring out which body style is the right fit for your needs. If you’re looking for a car, you have two options: hatchback or sedan.
Both types of vehicles are considered passenger cars and share many similarities. That said, there are some key differences that stand out when comparing hatchback vs sedan. Whitten Brothers Automotive Group looks into the similarities and differences between these two types of cars to help make car buying in Richmond or Ashland a little easier for you.
A sedan is a passenger car, which is a type of vehicle designed to transport a small number of people. A sedan, for example, typically seats five people. Sedan interiors feature two rows of seats and a separate, fully enclosed trunk space.
A hatchback is also a passenger car. They also typically seat five people with two rows of seating. The trunk is part of the interior and not fully enclosed.
When it comes to hatchback vs sedan, the biggest difference is the design and cargo area.
A sedan typically has four doors and a three-box design. This means that the engine, passenger space, and cargo space are three separate compartments. A hatchback has three or five doors and is a two-box design. The engine compartment is separate, but the passenger and cargo spaces are not.
Unlike a sedan, the rear door on a hatchback car is a liftgate, or hatch. This is often referred to as the third or fifth door on hatchbacks.
Another difference is that a sedan car’s cargo area is completely covered. Because the cargo and passenger areas are connected on a hatchback, the liftgate design includes the rear windshield. Because the trunk isn’t fully enclosed, hatchbacks often come with a cargo cover to add privacy to the storage area.
Both sedans and hatchbacks often have second-row seats that fold down for extra storage. With no separation between the trunk and passenger space in a hatchback, they typically provide more space for larger items. Even with the rear seats folded, any larger items are still restricted by the size of the trunk.
In terms of passenger space, sedans usually have more legroom, while hatchbacks offer more headroom.
Now that you know more about the differences between a hatchback car and a sedan car, we hope it’s easier to figure out which is the right body style for you.
If you prefer to have more legroom and privacy, a sedan is the way to go. They’re longer frames make for a comfortable ride, and the fully enclosed trunks are helpful if you frequently transport valuable items.
If more headroom and extra storage are top priorities, a hatchback makes more sense for you. You have more head clearance thanks to the taller design and can easily transform the cargo area to meet your needs.
Still unsure about which car is right for you? We recommend test driving both styles and exploring the cargo areas in person.
Whitten Brothers Automotive has more than 100 years of automotive history in central Virginia. With three showrooms throughout Richmond and Ashland, we have a large inventory of new sedan cars and hatchback cars. We also have a great selection of used sedans and hatchbacks from all the top automotive manufacturers. After you’ve explored our inventory online, contact us to schedule a showroom visit. You can also get your auto financing pre-approved, your vehicle trade-in value, and new vehicle and used vehicle specials.