After home, buying a car is the second most expensive purchase you are going to make. If you are looking for a new car but with abundant choices; you don’t know how to begin and what to buy. For decades drivers have had the choice of Sedan and Hatchback but now a new segment is getting popular that is sub compact SUV or Crossover SUV and this segment is giving stiff competition to both premium hatchback and compact sedans.
Last decade, 2010 to 2020, though Price of base variants of compact sedans were equal to crossover SUVs, they were sold like hot cakes and sedan sales had taken a serious dive. Thanks to its wide popularity and practicality.
Each car body style has its own pros and cons. No product is made for everybody. Let’s explore more in detail to find out which one is the best choice for you as per your needs. Here are the things you should consider.
Ride & Handling
Easy manoeuvring is the one benefit that a sedan offers is much better than any car body type. Riding dynamics, steering and handlings is better for a sedan than SUV. Car performance is lighter and more aerodynamic. 0 to 100 reach for a sedan is much easier compared to SUVs. Sedans have longer wheelbase and they are wider too that allows stable, smoother and quieter driving experience. Navigating through rough roads is pretty much simpler in SUVs, having said that crossover SUVs have marginal increase in ground clearance compared to hatchback. Crossover SUVs have more alleviated levels of view that offer potential improved visibility. Driver has good all round visibility which feels like the driver is in control of the vehicle. SUVs are agile with a smaller turning radius. SUVs have smaller wheelbase compared to compact sedans. Most crossover SUVs only feature front wheel drive like sedan and no all wheel drive options.
Driving and Comfort
Sedans have much better driving comfort. Sedan cabin design is more driver focused while Crossover SUVs give a more airy feeling. Sedans offer more legroom while SUVs offer more headroom. Crossover SUVs offer a high riding position where foots are beneath while sedan foots are stretched out in front of you.
Road Presence
SUVs are becoming Status symbol in India thanks to its muscular look. It gets respect on the road; small vehicles keep aside so that SUVs can have an easy way off because of its road presence. Though some crossover SUVs look like more hatch up vehicles than Sport Utility Vehicles.
Space
Dimensionally compact sedans have more wheelbase than crossover SUVs. Sedan wins the race for overall cargo capacity in terms of volume in litres but there is much more to it apart from numbers. Sedan boot space has certain limitations when loading bulky items due to its shape. SUVs allow much flexibility due to its two-box design; Folding seats configurations are easy to do and offer larger cargo space.
Safety
Sedans are safer as their center of gravity is lower. Sedan driving feels more under control and less tippy. In case of rear end collision, the three box design of the sedan provides better protection for second row occupants than crossover SUVs. Technology incorporated is way more advanced than that of SUVs for the same price. Sedan’s manoeuvring is easy at high speed though features like electronic stability control, traction control have made crossover SUVs more safer than before.
Not to forget, Sedan’s fuel economy ratings are better due to its aerodynamic design than compact SUV.
Crossovers SUVs are agile, peppy and fun to drive. Crossovers look attractive to the younger market while Enthusiast normally prefers the low sitting position of sedan. Sedan occupant feel lower to ground while crossover SUV features high driving position. Sedans are not as versatile as Crossover SUVs. My heart says SUVs because of road presence, passion, social status but my brain says Sedan as the driver comfort, the fuel efficiency and technology is good in a sedan. Buy a car that makes sense to you and not just emotionally excited.
Just give your comments which one you prefer?