The Indian car market might be littered with SUVs today, but once upon a time, a hatchback or a sedan were truly the kings of mass-market cars. And even despite the reigning supremacy of SUVs, hatchbacks and sedans continue to play a pivotal role, especially below the Rs 10 lakh price mark. Hatchback vs sedan – which is the better choice for you? To find out just that, we’ve put together a comparison between these two body types , so that you can pick your next car without worrying about choosing between a hatchback or a sedan.
Also Read – SUV Cars In India
Table of Contents
- What is a Sedan?
- What is a Hatchback?
- Hatchback vs Sedan: Differences
- Hatchback vs Sedan Summary
- FAQs on Hatchback vs Sedan
What is a Sedan?
A sedan is a type of car that has a total of three boxes built into its design, and has four doors. The first box in a sedan is the engine compartment, the second box is the passenger compartment, and the third box is the trunk or the boot. All three compartments are well-defined regions of their own, and have clear separation or demarcation between them. In a sedan, the boot, for most parts, can only be accessed through the tail section of the car. There are some sedans that allow small access to the boot from the passenger compartment, but this is limited to a few cars and is reserved generally for more luxurious sedans.
Also Read – Kushaq vs Creta
What is a Hatchback?
A hatchback, by definition, is a two-box car. Unlike a sedan, it only has the engine compartment, which is the first box, and the passenger compartment, which is the second box. The boot or the trunk are enclosed inside the passenger cabin and can be readily accessed from inside the car as well. You won’t find a clear demarcation from the outside of where the passenger cabin ends and the boot begins. While the design of sedans is essentially the same, no matter what criteria you choose (price, design, region), the design of hatchbacks does tend to fluctuate and some hatchbacks end up looking like coupes as well.
Also Read – MG Hector Plus vs XUV700
Hatchback vs Sedan: Differences
Hatchback | Sedan |
Two box design | Three box design |
Varying design | Fixed design |
Shorter wheelbase | Longer wheelbase |
Second-row can mostly be folded down | Second-row can’t be folded down in most cases |
Pros and Cons of Hatchbacks
Let’s start with the pros of a hatchback. When styling a hatchback, designers have the advantage of being flexible in design with the rear-end of the car. The roof-line can gently slope to the rear bumper, or can come down like a cliffside depending on the style a carmaker adopts. This allows for a varied variety of designs when it comes to hatchbacks, offering consumers more choice. Secondly, the boot of the hatchback can be accessed from inside the cabin, and not only that, but the rear seats can also be folded down to enhance boot space. This is very rarely the case in sedans and makes hatchbacks more versatile. It is also generally easier loading and unloading luggage from the boot of a hatchback, as the loading lip is closer to the ground. As far as cons go, there aren’t all that many in modern day hatchbacks.
Pros and Cons of Sedans
When it comes to sedans, the biggest pro has to be interior space. A separate box for the passenger allows designers to focus on passenger convenience and comfort, making longer drives more comfortable. As far as cons go, sedans are less versatile than their hatchback counterparts because of their fixed layout. The rear seats don’t fold down and therefore, the boot space cannot be increased for ferrying extra luggage at the cost of passenger space.
Also Read – Jeep Compass vs MG Hector
Hatchback vs Sedan Summary
Ultimately, picking between a hatchback or a sedan comes down to your use-case scenario. A hatchback will be better for those people who prefer a smaller car that is more easily manageable in traffic, and also want less hassles loading and unloading their luggage. A sedan will be better suited towards those who want more comfort and convenience inside the passenger cabin, and don’t mind letting go of the added functionality of flipping down the rear seats to do so.
FAQs on Hatchback vs Sedan
Q. Why are sedans considered safer than hatchbacks?
There is no direct way to answer if a sedan is safer or a hatchback, and therefore you should look at the Global NCAP crash test ratings of a car to figure out which one is safer.
Q. Why are hatchbacks more expensive than sedans?
This is not generally the case.
Q. Which is better: a hatchback or sedan?
Hatchbacks are better for those that want added utility while a sedan is better for those that prefer a more comfortable passenger cabin.
