What is the difference between a hatchback and a station wagon? What is the difference between a sedan and a hatchback

03.03.2020

Salon

We do not buy a car every year and when choosing it, we have a large list of requirements. Manufacturer, price, fuel consumption, passenger capacity - all this must be taken into account. An important criterion is the type of body. It is on him that the appearance, comfort during operation, and the cross-country ability of the car depend. There are many types of body: convertible, coupe, pickup, limousine, crossover and others. We will consider the most common on Russian roads: sedan, hatchback, station wagon. And let's try to figure out which is better.

Body types

Let's analyze the most common body types:

A sedan is a car body with a trunk separated from the passenger compartment by seats. This type is also called three-volume: the interior and trunk are two closed adjacent spaces (the third is the engine compartment). The trunk lid is called the hood. The rear window is comparable in installation angle and area with the windshield. Mostly car models have 4 doors and 2 rows of seats.
A hatchback is a body with a shortened rear overhang, that is, the distance from the rear wheel to the rear bumper. The body is two-volume - the trunk is part of the cabin and is located behind the passenger seats. To hide the contents of the trunk and protect passengers, a stretch fabric mesh is provided by the manufacturer. In the rear wall there is a lifting door that provides access to the salon. The vast majority of modern hatchbacks have this door slanted. Models are available with both 3 and 5 doors.
Station wagon - a passenger car with 5 doors and a luggage compartment combined with a passenger compartment. Has a large trunk space. The fifth rear door can be lifting, opening to the side, double-leaf. It is possible to install an additional row of passenger seats in the cabin. Sedan and station wagon have the same body length.

The difference between a sedan and a hatchback

We found out the characteristics of the sedan and hatchback body. Now let's see how they differ and what advantages they have.

Machine length. The hatchback is 30-40 centimeters smaller due to the shortened rear overhang. This affects maneuverability and greatly simplifies parking. This is important in a city where every inch of parking space counts.
Axial distribution. The sedan has the advantage of an evenly distributed weight load on the wheels.
Rear overhang. At the hatchback, it is shortened and thanks to this it is easier to park it in reverse without fear of hitting the curb. Because of the spray from the road, the hatchback needs a rear wiper with a washer.
Salon volume. For this parameter, a sedan gets a plus, since there is a more comfortable interior for passengers. And although its competitor's interior is considered more due to the trunk, it is not so comfortable. Moreover, in order to create a suitable microclimate in a hatchback, it will take more time to heat the interior or, conversely, to cool it.
Trunk volume. It's hard to say who wins. The volume of the trunk itself in the sedan is larger. But in a hatchback, you can fold the passenger seats, which will give extra space. At the same time, the usable space is commensurate, but it is difficult to load, for example, a TV or long objects in a sedan. The hatchback makes practical and a large loading window.
Safety. The sedan clearly wins, since in the event of an accident, depressurization of the passenger compartment at the rear is almost impossible. Passengers in a hatchback are often injured in a collision with objects that were in the trunk. Some countries even oblige to use a special dividing grid.
Body connection. It is difficult to say on whose side the advantages are, rather it depends on the situation. Advantages of the combined cabin and trunk space:

access to luggage without leaving the car;
in an unusual situation, it is possible to get into the car through the back door;
increase in the volume of the trunk due to the cabin.

Positive aspects of an insulated trunk:

When transporting a can of fuel or an open can of paint, you will not smell, and this will not affect your well-being.
Opening the trunk, you do not change the microclimate in the car.
It is safer to carry small items.

Ease of management. In a hatchback, the border of the car body runs along the edge of the rear wheels, which allows the driver to better feel the dimensions of the car. Almost all models of sedans have low ground clearance, which makes it difficult to drive freely on dirt roads or broken asphalt.
Rear view. Novice motorists will notice that it is wider in a sedan. This is achieved as a result of the large rear window and the short distance to the driver. In a hatchback, this distance is greater, and the glass itself is smaller, thus resulting in a tunnel effect or a reduced viewing angle.
Appearance. The sedan has a more solid, presentable look. A hatchback is closer to a sports car.

What to choose?

When choosing a car, decide what functions, in addition to delivering from point A to point B, it should perform.

If you are planning a move, repair, replenishment in the family or frequent trips to the countryside, then it is better to opt for a hatchback. It will help to transfer bulky goods, for example, a small refrigerator, TV, stroller or cornice. It also handles bumpy roads with a higher seating position and adapted suspension.

This body style is worth choosing if you have recently obtained a driver's license and this is your first car.

The Russian buyer prefers a sedan for its comfort, respectable appearance, and safety. If you carry a lot of little things - the best option would be a car with a closed body.

As we can see, the characteristics of the type of body in different situations can play both for us and against. When buying a car, focus not only on the aesthetic appearance, but also on your needs and practicality. The machine will tell others about your status, lifestyle and even character.

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Hatchback

VAZ-1111 "Oka" - a hatchback with a vertical rear wall.

Renault 16 is one of the first European hatchbacks.

Toyota Prius NHW20 (2003), modern hatchback.

Hatchback (English hatchback from hatch - hatch and back - behind) - the name of the car body with one or two rows of seats, a door in the rear wall and a shortened rear overhang.

Peculiarities

Audi 100 Avant - not a hatchback, but a station wagon, as it has a long rear overhang, like a sedan; could also be called a liftback (see below).

The name "hatchback" usually implies a shorter rear overhang compared to a sedan or station wagon.

For example, the Audi 100 Avant is not a hatchback, but rather a station wagon (or liftback, see below), since it has the same length of the rear overhang as the base sedan, although its rear wall is sloping, which makes it look like a hatchback - in fact they are united only by the fastback roof line. Versions of the Lada Kalina car with station wagon and hatchback bodies are also fundamentally different, mainly in the length of the rear overhang.

Accordingly, the hatchback differs from the station wagon in a smaller trunk volume and a shortened rear overhang. A hatchback with a vertical rear wall of the body (Oka, Daewoo Matiz) from a minivan - a lower height.

Thus, the hatchback is more maneuverable in urban areas compared to the station wagon due to the lack of a bulky “tail”, and carries more cargo compared to the sedan, facilitates the loading and unloading of bulky luggage due to the presence of a large fifth door.

The price for this is the combination of the passenger compartment with the trunk, which makes it difficult for the heating system to warm up the passenger compartment and contributes to the penetration of foreign odors from the trunk into it, as in the station wagon. In addition, with the rear seat unfolded, the hatchback's trunk volume is not much larger than that of the sedan, the advantage in carrying capacity is only apparent when the rear row of seats is folded or dismantled. That is why the hatchback is usually positioned as a "family" car, allowing only if necessary to carry a large load, and for permanent operation as a utility vehicle, most of them are unsuitable and inconvenient.

Hatchback roof shape

Ford Scorpio Mk. I Hatchback formally had a three-volume body, but the length of its rear overhang is less than that of a sedan or station wagon of the same model, and it is still a hatchback.

Usually, a hatchback has a sloping fastback roofline, it was these cars that were originally called hatchbacks (Renault 16, VAZ-2108, Moskvich-2141 and others).

However, in our time there are very compact hatchbacks (Oka, Daewoo Matiz and the like), in which such a roof line is impossible, in this case, the hatchback, due to the vertical rear wall of the body, looks like a station wagon, in which the rear overhang is shortened to the limit. Sometimes this body type is distinguished into a separate type - a station wagon hatchback.

The hatchback body can also have a third volume, often barely pronounced. However, the rear overhang is still shortened relative to the sedan (see illustration on the right).

liftback

1992-97 Toyota Corolla Liftback.

Toyota Corolla Liftback.

ZAZ-1103 "Slavuta", body type - liftback with a notchback roofline.

A hatchback is also often mistakenly called a liftback (English liftback - literally, “rising back”).

Meanwhile, this is a slightly different type of body, which differs from the classic hatchback (with a sloping rear door) by a longer rear overhang (for a liftback it is like a sedan, and for a hatch it is shorter), for example, Izh-Kombi is rather a liftback ; and also, accordingly, often stronger than a hatchback, with an inclined rear wall of the body (not always). At the same time, the body of most liftbacks, like most hatchbacks, is two-volume.

For example, the Toyota Corolla E100 was produced both as a five-door hatchback and as a five-door liftback. The liftback was distinguished by a longer rear overhang and, accordingly, a more inclined rear wall. This type could also be called a station wagon, by analogy with the Audi 100 Avant, but the classic station wagon with a vertical fifth door based on this model was also produced, so in this case, to separate the three body types, they were called "hatchback", "liftback" and "universal".

A liftback can also be three-volume (liftback-notchback), it differs from a hatchback, in addition to the length of the rear overhang, by visual similarity with a sedan (in this case, the body is three-volume, and the trunk lid simply “continues” to the roof) - an example of the second case is “Slavuta ". But, contrary to the misconception widespread in Russia, which arose due to the fact that the Slavuta was the only type of such a car that was massively distributed and widely covered in the press in the territory of the former USSR, this is not a defining feature of this type of body.

Assigning a particular model the designation "hatchback", "station wagon" or "liftback" often depends on the policy of the manufacturing company. For example, the name "liftback" is more common on models for the US market.

In principle, a hatchback can be considered as a variant of a liftback with a shortened rear overhang (and a hatchback with a vertical rear wall is already a station wagon variant with a shortened rear overhang).

Car examples

Only models are shown for which the hatchback is the only body style.

Russian hatchback cars

Based on sedans (closer to the liftback type):

Izh-2125 / −21251 (Izh-Kombi) - hatchback or liftback 5-door.

Having sedans in the model range:

Independent models with a hatchback body:

Notes

Writing in Russian
1 2 Peskov, V.I. Fundamentals of ergonomics and car design. Textbook .. - Nizhny Novgorod: Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University, 2004. - S. 64-65. - 225 p. - ISBN 5-93272-232-0
http://www.lada-kalina.ru/body.html Official site Lada Kalina - Models

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

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What is a hatchback - this is a car body, how does a hatchback differ from a sedan and station wagon

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First off, what is a hatchback? This type of body is different in that it always has a door at the back. Many can't tell it apart from a station wagon, which is forgivable, as they differ only in that the hatchback has a smaller rear overhang. It makes no sense to talk about a hatchback as a separate car body. It would be much more logical to immediately move on to comparisons and differences from the sedan and station wagon. But first, let's give each of the body types a detailed definition.

What is what

Hatchback, as mentioned above, is a car with a shortened rear overhang, as well as a rear door. Even by the name itself, you can guess that this car will be a shortened version of some other car or body type. The main feature is the trunk lid, which is usually called the door. The trunk with the interior is practically not separated, and in fact the trunk is part of the interior of the car. Actually, the whole point of the hatchback is an incredibly comfortable and roomy trunk.

A sedan is a car with one or two rows of seats, as well as a partition that separates the main cabin space from the trunk. In general, the sedan is the most popular and common car body style. This proves that this species occupies a leading position in the market.

All of the above, of course, differs from the description of the station wagon. Although, on the other hand, many call it an enlarged sedan model. In fact, this is so. A sedan with an increased rear overhang and a trunk - this is the exact description of the station wagon. Also, this type of body is often used for the transportation of relatively small loads, which makes this option more convenient and useful. This means that in this case, this vehicle can be called not only passenger, but also cargo.

So, here we figured out the main features of body types. Now let's go directly to the differences between each of them.

Comparison with a sedan

Of course, each body type has its advantages and disadvantages, and this case is no exception. The sedan has a huge luggage compartment, which the hatchback cannot boast of. This feature is well suited for a large family.

The hatchback has pretty good handling, it maneuvers better and has a comfortable and accessible trunk. But that can also be a downside. How often have you been freezing from the fact that you opened the trunk in winter, but due to the lack of a partition, cold air enters the cabin? This will never happen if you choose a sedan.

It also has more space even in the cabin, and this gives the owner some solidity. At the same time, the hatchback boasts a more sporty look, compactness and modern design. What exactly is your priority - you must understand for yourself and choose between these options, depending on your preferences.

Comparison with station wagon

To begin with, it should be noted that the combined interior and trunk is the main similarity of these body types. A station wagon, for example, has a larger trunk, though not much, which is why this option is more often used for cargo transportation. Some firms or individual entrepreneurs specifically buy a station wagon for the transport of goods. The fact is that trucks cost much more, while there are a huge number of economy wagon options.

The hatchback has a nicer design than the station wagon. When choosing between these two bodies, many choose the hatch because of the more beautiful appearance. This is the case because the station wagon has a slightly chopped tailgate, unlike the hatch, in which the tailgate smoothly flows into the overhang.

The station wagon has a large body length. Although this can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. In terms of cargo transportation, this is an advantage, because of this, there is more space for cargo in the cabin. But if we consider this from the point of view of ride comfort, then everything is deplorable. The fact is that the longer the body of the car, the worse the car shows itself in handling.

The station wagon, by the way, in most cases has a higher price than the hatchback. Yes, there are different cases, but most often it happens that way.

Results

With all the disadvantages and advantages of the above body types, it is impossible to single out any one and call it the best. Everyone is good in their own way. The choice of car depends primarily on the preferences and taste of the person. But now you will definitely know the best and worst sides of different types of car bodies. With this knowledge, you can easily decide what exactly you need from the car.

It is also important to consider your driving style and, most importantly, the reason for buying a car. This means that the choice depends on what exactly you need the car for.

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Hatchback what is it? | autoposobie.ru

Hatchback (hatchback, hatchback, hatch) comes from the English hatchback from hatch - hatch and back - rear or rear. What is a hatchback? This is the name of a passenger car body, which is a three- or five-door car with a shortened rear end.

Hatchbacks can be either two- or four-, as well as five-seater, the back door (hatch) is attached to the roof of the car and, as a rule, opens completely. There are also models in which the back door consists of two parts.

After the second row of seats in the hatchback there is a shelf, folding which the driver gets a fairly large voluminous luggage compartment for carrying various luggage. However, with all this, the trunk of a hatchback is much smaller than that of sedans or station wagons, and a hatch can only compete with them if the rear row of seats is folded down in it. In this position, the trunk increases several times, which allows you to place quite large things in it.

This body has such car models as: VAZ 2108, VAZ 2109, Volkswagen Golf, Skoda Fabia, Peugeot 308.

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What is the difference between a sedan and a hatchback, what is the difference between a sedan and a hatchback

The body of a modern passenger car is a structure that carries its main components. It also sets the basic concept of the entire vehicle: passenger, cargo-passenger or off-road vehicle. All car bodies are divided into types, and the two main ones are called sedan and hatchback. Possessing a number of common properties, they are antipodes in terms of the distribution of usable space. In this article, we will talk about the difference between a sedan and a hatchback, as well as what features and advantages of each of them.

What is a sedan

The main idea is already embedded in the name: translated from English, sedan chair means a covered stretcher or a portable closed chair. On the territory of modern France there is the city of Sedan, probably named after the famous carriage factory in the 18th-19th centuries.

What does a sedan look like?

The sedan body is similar in design to a carriage: it accommodates only a few seats for passengers, and the luggage compartment is taken out. Structurally, it is separated from the cabin by a rear seat with a partition, and you can get into the luggage compartment only through a separate cover.

Sedan - the most popular type of monocoque body - is a classic of the automotive industry. It has two or four doors, the rear glazing is similar in area and installation angle to the front. Of domestic cars, these types include bodies VAZ 2101, 2103, 2105, 2107 or Gas - 2410, 3110.

This type of body is a perfect example of another important classification - by the number of compartments or volumes. A strongly protruding and closed engine compartment, an insulated trunk and the interior itself form a single load-bearing, not equally strong, with differentiated rigidity structure - a three-volume body.

What is a hatchback

The main difference between a sedan and a hatchback lies in the number of its compartments - this is a two-volume body. In a hatchback, the trunk is combined with the passenger compartment into a single space. There is a visual separation in the form of a rear seat back and stretched fabric mesh, but this border is easily removed - the rear sofa in a hatchback usually folds, thereby creating a large luggage compartment.

If the sedan has an entrance to the trunk through a horizontal lid, then the hatchback has a separate door with glazing for this. The word hatchback itself is translated from English as a hatch, a rear door.

What does a hatchback look like

Another important characteristic is the rear overhang or its angle. The simplest way to describe this parameter is as the distance from the rear wheel to the end of the rear bumper. There is also a front overhang, measured in the same way: in a hatchback, it is necessarily longer than the rear. Recently, a new type of body with equal bevels has appeared - a liftback (outwardly similar to a sedan, but the rear window and trunk lid are structurally combined).

When choosing a hatchback for yourself, you should know its difference from the station wagon. Despite the apparent similarity, it is the different lengths of the rear overhangs that create these two types. The shortened back of the hatchback is different from the longer one of the station wagon. VAZ-2104, which is a modification of the 2105 sedan, illustrates well what a station wagon is: the length of the rear and front wings of the body is approximately the same.

Advantages and disadvantages of a sedan and a hatchback

Having understood how a sedan differs from a hatchback technically, it is worth knowing how these differences manifest themselves in practice. In our country, love for sedans has remained as a legacy of the Soviet era: this type of body was mass-produced. It was also believed that a sedan trunk isolated from passengers is safer and more comfortable for transporting flammable substances (gasoline, kerosene) that have an unpleasant odor.

The advantages and disadvantages attributed to the bodies are reflected in the following:

The length of the car - the hatchback is shorter due to the reduced rear arch. This gives it maneuverability and makes parking easier.
The two-volume hatchback has an increased interior compared to the sedan. In winter, this requires more intensive operation of the heater and more time to warm up the entire cabin.
Axle weight distribution: the sedan is in a more advantageous position due to the evenly distributed weight load on the wheels.
In the transformation of the interior decoration, the sedan loses to the hatchback: it is possible to make a cargo-passenger body out of a sedan with large restrictions on the dimensions of the cargo. At the same time, the working volumes are approximately the same, but it is often simply impossible to transport, for example, a TV in a sedan.
Due to dirt from the wet road, the hatchback needs a rear wiper with washer. The sedan is protected from pollution by a long trunk.

Novice drivers will also note the sedan has a wider rear view. It is achieved due to the large area of the rear window and a shortened interior. In a hatchback, the distance to the rear window is greater and the glass area is smaller, which creates a tunnel effect of vision or a smaller viewing angle.

The development of modern infrastructure has given impetus to the wide distribution of various variations of cars for urban traffic and intercity transportation. Hatchbacks and station wagons are especially popular among domestic consumers.

But what is the difference between a hatchback and a station wagon? And also what are their advantages over "classic" sedans? In this post, we will answer the most common questions from motorists.

A hatchback is a variation of a passenger car with a shortened overhang, a rear “hatch” door and a small luggage compartment combined with the passenger compartment. Depending on the specific configuration, the car may have 1 (less often) or 2 rows of seats, 3 or 5 doors. The luggage compartment can be significantly increased by simply folding the rear seats.

The emergence of hatchbacks was the result of a growing demand for a city car, behind the wheel of which the driver would feel comfortable driving in dense city traffic during rush hour. The border of the body runs along the edge of the rear wheels. The layout in most cases provides for front-wheel drive with a transverse engine. These solutions allow you to significantly increase the maneuverability of the car, make it possible to park in difficult conditions.

A beginner who has just graduated from a driving school will feel more confident on a hatchback, since the dimensions of the body are much better felt on it.

Once again, let's pay attention to the characteristic distinguishing features:

Shortened rear overhang - thanks to this feature, the hatchback is easy to distinguish from other modifications in appearance;
Trunk volume is less capacious than in station wagons or other variations;
There is a door in the back wall. In some cases, the glass in it can be opened separately.

Due to the fact that the cabin is actually combined with the trunk, passengers may complain of an unpleasant smell coming from the trunk if specific foodstuffs, engine oils, etc. are regularly transported there.

Universal: I take everything with me!

The station wagon is a five-door passenger car based on a sedan of the same model, in which 4 doors are located on the sides in pairs, and one is in the rear of the body. The latter is located vertically and is the lid of the luggage compartment, which communicates with the interior of the car.

If necessary, the volume of the luggage compartment can be increased by folding the rear row of seats (just like in the hatchback we talked about above).

Of all types of passenger cars, station wagons are best suited for cargo transportation, so they have been invariably popular with people working with bulky luggage for many years.

The disadvantages of the class, as a rule, include increased injuries among passengers as a result of an accident. In a collision, cargo from the trunk may fly into the passenger compartment. In some countries, traffic rules require the use of a special separating net that protects people from force majeure situations.

The main differences between a hatchback and a station wagon

The common features inherent in the hatchback and station wagon - both classes are a modified sedan with a virtually unified interior and trunk.

The differences between a hatchback and a station wagon are as follows:

The size of the luggage compartment - in the Hatchback it is significantly smaller. The station wagon is great for cargo transportation and is often purchased by private entrepreneurs and medium-sized companies for this very purpose;
The hatchback features a more elegant rear end design. The inclined door looks much more beautiful than the strict vertical overhang of the station wagon. Women often make choices based on this;
The station wagon is longer than the hatchback. This can be a significant disadvantage in urban conditions if the car is used only for the transport of passengers, but when it comes to oversized cargo, this is definitely an advantage;
The hatchback can be supplied in a "sporty" 3-door configuration;
Station wagons, as a rule, are more expensive than hatchbacks of the same series.

Both classes of passenger cars discussed in this article occupy their own niche in the domestic market and are in demand among Russian motorists due to their features.

When choosing a car, a person is guided by many factors, including the cost of the vehicle, brand, model of car, and, of course, body type. The last factor is almost decisive, because comfort and the possibility of proper operation of the car directly depend on it. Hatchback and station wagon are very popular among drivers all over the world, and the difference between the two body types just determines the choice of a motorist in favor of one or another option.

hatchback

The car body can have one or two rows of seats, depending on the configuration. A distinctive feature of this type of body: the presence of a door in the rear wall and, most importantly, a shortened rear overhang. The last factor makes it easy to distinguish the hatchback in appearance. As a result, the trunk of a car is not as roomy as, say, a station wagon. But such a design allows the hatchback to maneuver well in urban conditions, because this type of body is widely in demand in megacities. Another advantage is the possibility of easy parking. The actual combination of the passenger compartment and the trunk also has a negative side: quite often, drivers and passengers complain about an unpleasant smell from the trunk, if, for example, some products are transported there.

Toyota Prius NHW20 - an example of a hatchback

station wagon

This is a closed two-volume body for passenger and freight traffic. We can say that the station wagon is a sedan in which the luggage compartment is enlarged and there is an additional lifting door at the back. As a result, the vast majority of station wagons have five doors, less often three. Since the luggage compartment and passenger compartment are combined, this creates a risk of injury to passengers by the transported goods (for example, due to an accident). Therefore, in many countries of the world, a special dividing net is used to properly protect passengers from force majeure situations.

Opel Astra H - an example of a station wagon

Comparison

Combining the luggage compartment and the cabin is the most striking example of the similarity between the hatchback and station wagon. What is the difference between a hatchback and a station wagon? In the following:

The size of the luggage compartment of the hatchback is smaller, respectively, this type of body is less often used for cargo transportation. But the station wagon is specially purchased by many companies as a vehicle for cargo transportation.
The hatchback has a more elegant design (rear). The inclined door looks more beautiful than the strict vertical version of the station wagon. For example, many women prefer hatchbacks because of their aesthetic appearance.
The station wagon is longer. It is difficult to say whether this is an advantage or a disadvantage - it all depends on the purpose for which the car is used. If for cargo, then rather an advantage, if for a normal trip and transportation of passengers, then closer to a disadvantage.
The ride comfort of the station wagon and the hatchback is almost the same, except that in some station wagons, tall passengers in the rear seats feel more comfortable.
As a rule, the station wagon costs more. For example, a station wagon body type for new Lada Priora or Kia pro cee'd cars is more expensive than a hatchback.

Findings site

Luggage size. The station wagon is more spacious.
Different design. The rear of the hatchback car is more elegant than the station wagon.
In the length of the car (station wagon is longer).
The station wagon is more comfortable for tall passengers in the back seat.
In most cases, the cost of the station wagon is higher.

There are several types of car bodies - today the market is dominated by types such as sedan, station wagon, pickup truck, hatchback, crossover, coupe and SUV. Limousines and convertibles are less common on the territory of the Russian Federation. There are quite a few differences between all of them.

But it can be difficult for an inexperienced motorist to understand exactly how a sedan differs from a hatchback and whether it is so important to know these differences in 2020. In fact, everything is not so complicated, and you can distinguish one from the other by external signs and design features inherent only in a particular model, but you need to know the difference for a successful choice of car.

Before evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of both body types, it is necessary to know the characteristics of each of them. Sedan features:

light vehicle;
divided interior and trunk compartment;
the cargo area cover is called the rear hood;
does not have a lifting door in the rear wall of the body;
two- or four-door design;
car practical and comfortable;
has a presentable appearance.

Description of a car with a hatchback body (or hatchback):

one-piece volumetric body, which has no distinction between the interior and the luggage compartment;
in the cabin there are 1-2 rows of seats;
the rear overhang is shortened, and a door is located on the rear wall of the body;
the front overhang of a hatchback is always longer than the rear;
the liftback is similar to the body of a classic car, but the rear window is combined with the luggage compartment;
three- or five-door body;
the trunk is part of the cabin, and is located behind the last row of passenger seats;
a number of rear seats fold down, which increases the volume of the luggage compartment;
the body is shorter compared to a sedan or station wagon;
the trunk lid is considered a car door.

The main differences between designs

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

Main distinguishing features:

Advantages and disadvantages of models

Many drivers prefer to travel on the roads of the country in classic car models; since Soviet times, the popularity of sedans and station wagons in our country has not decreased. The main advantages of the classic:

respectable appearance of the car;
uniform distribution of the weight of the car on both axles - the trunk and the engine compartment are almost at an equal distance from the wheels;
cabin size - it is wider and longer;
a divided wall between the passenger compartment and the trunk allows you to transport bad-smelling goods;
a better view of the driver through the rear window - because it is closer to the driver and larger in area;
the interior is heated faster by the stove in winter and cooled by air conditioning in summer.

The main disadvantages of a classic car:

costs more;
it is impossible to transport bulky goods;
worse maneuverability due to the greater length of the car. Need more space to turn around;
due to the long rear trunk, it is difficult to quickly park the car and there is a possibility that you can hook the curb with the bumper;
lower ground clearance, which is a disadvantage when driving on poor-quality road surfaces.

Advantages of a hatchback car:

smaller dimensions - higher maneuverability and more convenient to park;
easy-to-use trunk - you can transport bulky goods;
the cost is lower than the sedan.

Women prefer to buy a hatchback due to the shortened length of the car and the lack of a trunk, as in a sedan, which allows you to more confidently stay on the road and when parking.

But he also has disadvantages:

increased noise in the cabin due to the connected trunk;
in winter, when the tailgate is opened, cold air quickly enters the passenger compartment;
visibility of the rear window is worse (its area is smaller), and when traveling in wet and snowy weather, you often have to turn on the washer and wiper.

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

The station wagon is a cross between a hatchback and a sedan. As a rule, the length of the second and station wagon is almost the same. Rarely station wagons are three-door, mostly auto companies produce 5-door models. Sometimes auto designers design a sloping roof, but the classic station wagon body is when the roof of the car is almost the length of the car. The fifth door or trunk lid lifts up or opens to the side.

On a note! There are models of station wagons in which there is a 2-leaf tailgate.

The luggage compartment has a large volume due to the long flat roof. It can be further increased by folding the rear row of seats. The salon has comfortable seats, like in a sedan, but a spacious interior, like in a hatchback. The width of the car is the same as a classic car, so the whole family can freely fit in the cabin. The station wagon has a stiffer suspension compared to the sedan.

When transporting long loads, the wagon is always on top, because other models will not accommodate such luggage.

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

You can also distinguish the station wagon by the rear pillars in the car - in it they are longer and are located vertically to the frame of the car, and long side windows on the trunk stand out, which end on its pillars.

Station wagons are preferable for people who often travel with the whole family by car - passengers are comfortably accommodated in the cabin, and all things in the trunk. For example, a crossover cannot boast of such amenities - it is more of a city car.