Passenger or crossover. What to choose brother?

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Oh, if Toyota knew what a storehouse of opportunities they are opening with the release of the first generation RAV4! Those first “ravchiks” that run along the roads will soon hit “twenty”. Consider that this is the age of crossover cars in a modern applied form. Today, their diversity is dazzling, and the choice of an iron horse turns into real flour. What to give preference to - classic sedans with hatchbacks or still a crossover?

Marketers. It is they who make you rack your brains in an attempt to determine whether the car belongs to a particular class. It was they who imagined themselves to be engineers and trendsetters at the same time. Twenty years ago, there were few marketers. They were considered outcasts who get in the way with their focus groups, which is why you clearly knew what car you were driving and what it was actually intended for. Then there were telephones to make calls. Don't think I'm a snob - the very idea of ​​multifunctionality has the right to be implemented, but are there so many real functions in the current generation of crossovers compared to familiar cars?

The initial concept was correct - a spacious load-bearing body, high ground clearance and four-wheel drive. To grab on a muddy primer or park in a snowdrift is just that. No frames, handouts, complex differential locks and extra weight. The crossover is intended to be the choice of those who really don’t have enough opportunities for a “passenger car”, but there is no need to own a serious SUV. And it’s not scary that you have to sacrifice controllability to some extent. If you are not obsessed with this, then you will survive, if, on the contrary, you are passionate about it, in this case, the crossover is simply not your car. Of course, among all-terrain vehicles there are cars that can be set as a model of drive, but this is achieved, rather, through compromises and to the detriment of the main idea.

It's for nothing that most representatives of the class are built on the platforms of existing sedans and hatchbacks and have the same range of powertrains. The increased weight and more complex transmission lead to increased fuel consumption compared to passenger counterparts, and you have to pay for high ground clearance with buildup and rolls in corners. True, as a reward, you get the opportunity to not so closely monitor the condition of the roadway. It is topical, given that for the entire period of independence, we have not been able to connect the cities of our country with some decent highways. "SUV" does not yet give you the feeling of complete protection from the mediocrity of road services, but it will definitely help to get to your destination and not shake your whole soul. For the same reason, I don’t understand why crossovers are needed in Europe, and why do crossovers need Europe? If in Ukraine the responsible organizations for maintaining the deplorable state of the streets and highways, it seems, even the manufacturers themselves pay extra, stimulating the sales of crossovers, then in the Old World the demand for them is clearly created by advertisers.

Of course, the presence of an all-wheel drive transmission inspires a certain confidence behind the wheel. However, one should not forget that the vast majority of cars of this class under normal conditions are practically monodrive (more often with front axle drive). Part of the torque is transmitted to the second axle “on demand” using a multi-plate clutch, when the drive wheels lose traction and slip into slip, or during heavy acceleration. At the same time, manufacturers often equip SUVs with the function of forced clutch locking for obviously difficult conditions “overboard”. This scheme has its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, the presence of a permanent drive on only one axle allows you to save fuel on daily trips, and the nature of handling remains unambiguous. On the other hand, the automatic traction distribution mode often operates with a slight delay, which is sometimes enough for the car to dig into loose or damp soil and turn into real estate. In addition, viscous couplings are prone to overheating during prolonged slippage, and as a result, complete shutdown. Then wait until it cools down and restores performance. But if you do not experiment with forays into mud baths, then in all other cases you can rely on automation - it will insure both on snowy and wet surfaces. Although there is an alternative: on the Ukrainian market you can find crossovers with “honest” permanent all-wheel drive, where the torque between the front and rear axles is divided almost equally (for example, Subaru cars).

I deliberately do not focus on curbs and sidewalks, the conquerors of which can easily become behind the wheel of a SUV, because driving on them looks bad, unless you are taking your wife to the hospital through city traffic. Traditional machines do not do this kind of exercise so easily. But they are more pleasant to drive on normal roads, they are more economical, more maneuverable, faster, what else is there? Cheaper! It is natural that passenger models are less burdensome for the wallet when buying than crossovers built on their basis (even at car washes they will “flatter” you and say that “you are a jeep”, but you will have to pay an increased rate for this toadying). Yes, and with the choice of a body, everything is clear here - sedan, hatchback or station wagon. And in these "SUVs" now go figure it out! Again, the machinations of marketers who will make you believe whatever you want: for example, that in front of you is not a crossover at all, but at least a sports coupe (). Well, there are their own hatchbacks and minivans. What about a convertible? - Yes please! Suffice it to recall a promising open-top concept based on ... or.

In case the "parquet" image for some reason does not suit you, but you really want to have all the presenters, the manufacturers have another solution in store. And in it, in my deep conviction, there is a very rational grain. We are talking about traditional cars that are equipped with an all-wheel drive system, and often with increased ground clearance. The companies themselves call them whatever they like -, Alltrack. The essence is the same: without compromising driving performance, you can get a car on which you can “overwinter” without hysteria, and drive on the nearest country road without much fear. I think that this is how, by and large, the “bad roads” package in the Ukrainian interpretation should look like. For such tasks, neither an SUV nor an SUV is needed. For those motorists who do not want to climb “a floor above”, some manufacturers also took care and implemented all-wheel drive technology as part of their passenger platforms. Now many dealers can offer you a sedan or hatchback with all the leading ones.

Mikhail Gorbachev - master of sports and USSR champion in auto racing, trainer-instructor, creator of modern sports and safe driving programs:

Crossover (English crossover, abbr. x-over, literally transitional or matching device, border or transitional phenomenon, intersection, etc.) - a collective name referring to various concepts and objects: type of car from cross-over - driving rough terrain. Station wagon (hatchback) off-road, passenger car, with all-wheel drive.

Any car dealer will tell you that half of the buyers ask for crossovers, or "SUVs", as they are also called. Today they are in fashion. But, many crossovers do not have all-wheel drive. Why? Because the look of the crossover is fashionable, not its filling. I sit high, I look far away. And most pedestrians consider me wealthy and successful in life! They do not see the difference between a real expensive SUV and an SUV. Car drivers let go! Nice! That is why they are in fashion! Let's put the emotions aside and see if you need a crossover. I do not take those who are prevented from getting to the dacha by those notorious 600 meters of mud. Everything is clear here! I take car owners who, in principle, are not going to move off the asphalt. Do they have an advantage if they decide on a fashion purchase? Except for the capacity. A simple station wagon is not fashionable, but a crossover, in fact, the same station wagon is still fashionable ... In operation, a crossover is more expensive than a passenger car. Everything is more expensive: tires, maintenance, consumables, fuel. What about manageability? The car is designed for movement, they drive it, and do not admire how solid it looks! But there are only minuses here: a high center of gravity and hence roll in corners, smeared steering reactions and poor feedback on the steering wheel due to the large side slips of high-profile tires. Increased braking distance due to greater mass. Sluggish dynamics. Difficulty in maneuvering in narrow parking lots and in dense city traffic. All this indicates a significant decrease in the degree of pleasure from driving such a car. Does it matter to you? And for me it is very important! Therefore, I only drive passenger sedans or coupes. I don't want to be a slow truck driver. And, you readers, decide for yourself!

If you hesitate to answer the question why you decided to give up the advantages of cars in favor of a crossover, or even answer empty “because you like it”, you can stop reading. In the event that the choice of a crossover is predetermined by the real need to be somewhere a little further than the rest, then we will try to highlight those aspects that you should pay attention to when buying. Ditch the "top-end" large-size wheels with low-profile tires and leave them for poseurs who "because you like it." No matter how wonderful their appearance is, you definitely will not see the desired comfort when driving on our roads. Pay attention not only to the ground clearance of the "SUV", but also to the front and rear overhangs, which predetermine the angle of entry into and exit from an obstacle. The shorter they are, the more opportunities you have on rough terrain and the safer the bumper. It does not hurt to make sure that there is a forced lock of the clutch and that the stabilization system can be turned off. On some surfaces this is necessary, but not all cars of this type have this functionality. Do not give up on such electronic assistants as a descent assistance system and imitation of cross-axle differential locks. However, do not forget that the main assistant is common sense, which should tell you whether you really need all this or is the Golf better? ...

Discussion of the article

Green 7 years

Very good article! We started signing photos - it's nice =) Vladislav, we are waiting for more articles !!

291 Nm - enough for a light 7 years

Do you know where I had all these sedans and hatches? OUR ROADS ARE NOT MADE FOR THESE MACHINES. Especially for well-controlled cars (the pleasure of driving is called a plus). Good handling is associated with a short suspension travel, specific steering settings, in which even small bumps can provoke a bite of the tongue. As a result of pleasure "0". To save fuel, you need to take a diesel. The issue of lack of SUV for our people is only a matter of money. And for sober-minded people, this is not a show-off, but a real necessity. Even a multi-wheel drive all-terrain wagon is a justified choice. Our choice is a four-wheel drive shed, and everyone comes to this sooner or later. And Ponty is a separate topic about individual people.

+2 -3

wavan 7 years

I agree 10000% when you look at a cool foreign car like a Porsche or a BMW on our roads, it’s tantamount to letting a beautiful blonde in high heels across a collective farm field, the 21st century and the roads have remained in the past, like Otto Bismarck said that the country’s economy begins with roads, but alas, this is not about us!

+1 -1

Vano 7 years

100% true. And about not using all the capabilities of SUVs in everyday driving - you never know where and what awaits you around the corner - a pit, milling from road repairs or a primer. By analogy with sports - why do people need bodybuilding? It is unlikely that a bodybuilder will go to work physically, but in which case - ...

+1

sergey, Kyiv 7 years

all good health. the article is interesting, but we decide for ourselves which car to buy. from my point of view, where will you drive, in the city or everywhere. if in the city, a small car. if everywhere, cars d class with high ground clearance. you travel by yourself or with a company. it depends on the body type. gasoline or diesel: if you drive a little, 10t.km. in year. petrol. if 30 t.km and more, diesel. when buying a car, find out the cost and you will know whether this car suits you or not. about the make of the car. Unfortunately, even famous brands suffer from quality. now spare parts are made in china, india, turkey and... even expensive cars are assembled in these countries. decide for yourself for whom you are buying a car. For yourself or for a neighbor. Sincerely.

+2

Sergey 7 years

The correct answer is: there should be two cars in the family! one for everyday trips in the summer (subcompact) and the second is the right crossover (for example, nissan x-trail)!

+1 -3

Victor 7 years

Sergey, there are 2 reasons why I decided to unsubscribe, if a person has the opportunity to keep 2 cars, then he will not take a crossover, but will take a full frame SUV, instead of a NISSAN X-trail (for the same money) a supported patrol or Toyota LC 80 This is my personal opinion!

+1 -1

Guest 7 years

X-trail is positioned as an SUV. Marketing, of course, but still .. take it, you have to be ready for repairs, sometimes not ordinary, in general, for an amateur

-2

Guest 7 years

there is somehow a lot of subjectivity in the article now, the handling of crossovers is almost the same as sedans, all the same electronic systems, not even hydro, but electric power steering, etc. Yes, weight, consumption, maintenance are more expensive, but the suspension is stronger and safety is higher and easier in winter, etc.

-1

Guest 7 years

I sold an old sedan, bought a SUV that is not the most expensive, but not the cheapest either. Impressions are only positive, both for me and for my family, I do not regret it. This is a choice for our country. There will be "extra" money, I will buy a small car (not a sedan) for the city, for work.

Dmitriy 7 years

In general, all these disputes are of a philosophical nature. Gorbachev said everything correctly and wisely, but the sedan doesn’t suit me - I’m not a taxi driver, a station wagon with good ground clearance would fit, but the appearance is boring, the crossover is more fun and the size, etc. but the fuel consumption, damn it, the hatch is just a fairy tale and parking is also a expense for you, but damn it’s spaciousness, I liked the updated Renault kengo, but it looks funny, whatever one may say, it’s not easier to find the perfect car than the perfect woman, but about Farce or "antlers" it's and a penny can be bought at the age of 18 and feel like a god. I am most afraid of such drivers on the road. people who have nothing to lose - scary people in Japan they are called. "samurai" and expensive is a responsibility. just like buying a car is a serious and responsible step, and most importantly an individual one.

thinking 7 years

I have two Beha 3 cars for the summer season in the city and long-distance driving on the highway in the spring-summer season and a pazhderik for all other moments. I am sure to make EXCELLENT one machine for everything is not realistic. Sedan on the highway - there is a sedan)

Dmitriy 7 years

I agree with the previous comments that there is a choice for everyone and an explanation for that choice. I drive a sedan myself (Hyundai Grandeur). Completely satisfied. Clearance in 162 is enough, but I don’t drive off-road. Have multiple cars? Great idea, especially cars of different classes. Although, on the other hand, I can’t imagine myself in the summer, in the heat of 40 degrees, driving a small car 1.2-1-4. For me, the work of climate control will be insufficient (rather just air conditioning in this class, if you do not take the top version). Consumption will be almost the same as on my 3.3. Again, I take into account my personal dislike for high temperatures and compare the experience of driving VW Polo 1.4. The route is similar. Speed ​​over 100 and above, rpm 2000, consumption 8.5-9.0. In the city, the numbers are also different. Huge interior and trunk, etc. Again, someone does not like this car. Pajero? Patency, solid appearance, etc. If gasoline, get ready to waste. As for me, for such a large car, the interior is cramped. bmw 3? Manageability, ergonomics, comfort - class! Someone is too small and expensive, but the pleasure of driving! What about M3? Beast! The above is my personal opinion, I respect the choice of everyone. Ford Kuga diesel? S class? Supra? Yes, even a Muscovite or an Indian Hindustan ... There are a million options! It remains to wish everyone good health and the presence of a sufficient number of banknotes, and there are at least 10 cars: a sedan, a luxury sedan, a crossover, a station wagon, an SUV, a stock car, a roadster, a bus, a bus, ... And a travel card, just in case :-)

+2

Guest 7 years

I myself live in Yaremche. In winter I go every day to work in Bukovel. I have a Peugeot 308. In the summer I drive on 18 wheels - in the winter on 16. For 3 years I had no problems even with the heaviest snowfalls and frosts, but believe me, we have them. I can even boldly say that in all the time I have never pecked my nose. If friends have a bunch of SUVs, I realized one thing - there really is a lot of space and a large carrying capacity, but otherwise all the pluses are only for cars (IMHO)

+3

Andrey 7 years

My wife has a Peugeot 107. They put spacers on the racks + 2 cm, and in winter the tires are a little more + 1 cm. And for the transportation of things there is a service Partner. But I dream of a SUV ... (I think such cars are universal)

+1

Andrey 7 years

According to our roads, not only the SUV, but also the GAZ 66 with difficulty. How insulting and painful it was to look at the shabby bumper and broken fog of your comfortable sedan when you got into a puddle on the road in the CENTER of the city. In our country, so far there are only cars with increased cross-country ability, and the sports coupe is only for TOP GEAR so far, much to our regret.

Boris 7 years

A mono-drive SUV is a show-off, a desire to seem like a "cool jeeper" against the backdrop of cars. All-wheel drive SUV - the hope that you will not get stuck in muddy snow or primer. But hope is weak if you hit a specific off-road. Most car owners drive on asphalt, albeit a broken, but hard surface. Muddy snow comes across a couple of times during the winter, a primer - even less often. If you have extra money - you can overpay for the "show-off". And so - the choice is for a passenger car: sedan, hatchback or station wagon. Again - according to need and taste.

-1

eric 7 years

I read all the discussions and thought, because I have three Skoda superb diesel cars, a Nissan x trail gasoline and a Ford Tanzit, you are all right in your own way !!! I don't know which is better! all cars are good in their own way!

Sergey 7 years

Thanks for the good article ... Although I drive SUVs, I’m thinking of switching to a sedan.

+2

... 7 years

Garne car in the first photo - AMC Eagle Wagon 1987 rock. Exter "єr richly cutting for the bagats of today.

-1

Michael 7 years

Nobody argues, the sedan is cheaper, more economical, softer. A real driver driving for a long time and in large quantities, of course for a sedan. But lately, mostly blondes (frightened) have been driving SUVs. And smart marketers caught the trend or created it themselves when they buy not consumer qualities, but beautiful shiny blue, red, but show-off.

One of the most important criteria that guides when choosing a car is the type of body. The number of car body types has almost doubled over the past 15-20 years. Manufacturers are increasingly trying to combine several body types in one car at once. Distinguishing one option from another is becoming increasingly difficult, but we will do it anyway.

Let's understand the classification of car body types

To begin with, we divide all body types into 3 groups: three-volume, two-volume and one-volume.

Three-volume

Three-volume body has a protruding hood and trunk. Three-volume bodies are among the least versatile bodies due to the limited possibility of transforming the interior and trunk. This group includes sedans, coupes, convertibles and pickups.

Sedan, coupe.

The main difference between a coupe and a sedan is a two-door body. A coupe (from the French "couper" - cut off) is usually built on the basis of a sedan and has a sporty bias (lower body, powerful engines). The coupe does not always have a pronounced three-volume body and often resembles a three-door hatchback in shape. But the hatchback always gives out a vertical tailgate, which the coupe tries to make as horizontal as possible.

Convertible, coupe-cabriolet, roadster.

A convertible is a coupe with a "soft" canopy roof that folds behind the rear seats and rises if necessary.

But the soft top did not allow the car to be used all year round, so in the late 90s a new version of the open body began to gain popularity - the coupe-cabriolet. At first glance, it looks like a normal coupe, but just press the right button, and the hard metal roof rises and neatly folds into the trunk, turning the coupe into a convertible.

A two-seater convertible (without a second row of seats) is called a roadster.

Roadster Porsche Boxster Roadster Audi TTS

Pickup.

Pickup Mitsubishi L200

A pickup truck is a body with an open cargo area, separated from the passenger compartment by a rigid partition. Simply put, this is a reduced copy of an ordinary truck. Most often, this body is confused with a van. In order not to be mistaken, it’s enough to remember that Pick-up in English means, among other things, “pick up”, “pick up”, that is, throw it into the body in a quick way ... Most pickups are built on the same platform as SUVs and have a good patency. Both here and throughout Europe, pickup trucks are not very popular, but in the USA they are crazy about them.

Two-volume

With a two-volume body there is no protruding trunk, and its lid opens only with glass and is considered another door.

Two-volume bodies include hatchbacks, station wagons, as well as crossovers and SUVs created on their basis. Two-volume bodies are distinguished by the most capacious trunks (station wagons) and compact dimensions (hatchbacks - “hatchback”, you can translate English as “rear door”). At the same time, both station wagons and hatchbacks have a folding rear seat, which allows you to significantly increase the volume of the trunk and the characteristics always indicate its minimum (i.e. with the seats unfolded) and maximum (with the seats folded) value.

Hatchback, station wagon.

Skoda Fabia New hatchback and Skoda Fabia New Combi station wagon

The main difference between a hatchback and a station wagon is the size (length) of the trunk.

Liftback Skoda Octavia New

In addition to the usual hatchback, there is still a liftback - a hatchback with an almost three-volume body. In a liftback, the trunk lid has a small protrusion and resembles a sedan, but opens along with the rear window.

Hatchbacks are very popular in Europe, but in our country they are only gaining popularity so far, and that is mainly due to liftbacks (due to their similarity to sedans).

The main advantage of a hatchback is its compactness and maneuverability, but the station wagon always wins in terms of trunk volume.

SUV.

The crossover, although it tries to look like an SUV, can not boast and imposing and very often inferior to an SUV in height. Sometimes they are called "SUVs", probably with a hint that such an "SUV" is suitable for driving on parquet, and not on real off-road...

Crossover Nissan Qashqai

In addition, more and more crossovers are created on the basis of hatchbacks and differ from them only in increased ground clearance and large wheels.

Recently, the popularity of crossovers around the world has grown tremendously. Despite the fact that the first crossovers appeared relatively recently (mid-90s), almost every manufacturer already has such a body in its lineup or plans to add it in the near future.

Single-volume

Single volume the body does not have a far protruding hood and trunk - the engine and luggage compartment are practically in the cabin. Monovolume bodies are proud of the huge number of options for transforming their spacious interiors.

The "single-volume vehicles" include the "youngest" body types: minivans, compact vans, microvans - that is, almost all buses of any size. These body options can be distinguished by the size of the car and the number of rows of seats.

Minivan.

A compact van is between a microvan and a minivan in size, with a length of 4.2 to 4.5 meters. At the same time, some compact vans may have a third row of seats. The first "compacts" saw the light in the mid-90s. In fact, this is a slightly reduced (compact) version of the minivan.

Microvan

Microvan Nissan Note

A microvan is simply an enlarged (height) hatchback with a more spacious interior. The microvan does not have a third row of seats. The length does not exceed 4.2 meters. The first microvans appeared only 5-7 years ago, but they are already rapidly gaining popularity in Europe and even on our roads they can be found more and more often.

Differences are getting smaller

Gradually, the difference between the types becomes less noticeable. What is only the Skoda Superb sedan-hatchback (the trunk lid opens with and without glass) or the almost one-volume Honda Civic hatchback.

.

The era of crossovers began with the entry into the automotive markets of the first generation Toyota RAV4. Those first models will soon be twenty years old. Thus, we can say that crossovers are about twenty years old. Today, almost every self-respecting car manufacturer has crossovers in its range.

But what to choose: to sit behind the wheel of a sedan or hatchback and indulge in the classics or take a seat behind the wheel of an aggressive crossover? A crossover or a passenger car will show itself from the best side in each case?

It's all the fault of marketers, because it is they who decide which class the car will belong to. Twenty years ago, there were few people with such a profession, and thanks to this, we had a clear understanding of what kind of car we drive and what this car is intended for. Yes, and phones in those days were used only for calls and sending messages. Do not think that we have something against the profession of "marketer" or against the versatility of cars and their equipment, we just hint that for the variety of classes of cars and all kinds of equipment, we should thank them - marketers. So let's try to find out how many real functions are in today's crossovers, in comparison with ordinary cars, in order to distinguish them as a separate class.

Initially, the concept was as follows - a fairly spacious carrier, and high ground clearance. It is not a problem to ride on a primer soaked with rain and snow or slip through snowdrifts. The crossover is suitable for those who have few opportunities for a regular car and do not need a large number of functions that serious SUVs have (besides, their fuel consumption is far from economical). Also, getting behind the wheel of a crossover, be prepared to lose control - if this is not a problem for you, then this is your car.

Unlike passenger cars, crossover class cars have an increased mass, and they are also equipped with a more complex transmission - this leads to. High ground clearance leads to roll and buildup when cornering. In the pluses, you can add increased cross-country ability, even with poor quality of the roadway, this advantage is a pretty solid bonus in terms of driving on domestic roads, the quality of which leaves much to be desired.

The so-called SUVs will not protect you completely from the arbitrariness of road services, but the level of shaking will be reduced. That is precisely why it remains a mystery to many why crossovers are needed in European countries, despite the fact that the quality of their roadway is quite high. This is probably just squandering, meaning increased fuel consumption. In the conditions of Russia and Ukraine, it seems that crossover manufacturers pay extra to road services so that they do not repair roads. But in Europe, the demand for this class of cars is created exclusively by specialists in the field of advertising.

Sure, having an all-wheel-drive transmission gives you some confidence, but don't discount the fact that many crossovers normally end up with almost one-wheel drive (usually front-wheel drive). Part of the torque is transferred to the second axle on demand, thanks to the multi-plate clutch, at the moment when the drive wheels lose traction or during rapid acceleration. Manufacturers often install a forced clutch lock on cars of this class in order to obviously insure against difficult weather conditions and the quality of the roadway. In this design, you can highlight its disadvantages and advantages. Among the advantages, one can add the ability to save fueldue to the presence of a permanent drive on only one axle. And the disadvantages include the delay in the operation of the automatic mode of traction distribution, and such a delay is sometimes enough to burrow in damp soil and immobilize the car. Also, do not forget that viscous couplings during prolonged slippage of the car tend to overheat and because of this they can completely turn off. In this case, you will have to wait until it cools down. But if you don’t get carried away with taking mud baths, then in other cases you can safely rely on automation, which will help on a wet surface. Although in our market you can find crossovers with the so-called honest regular all-wheel drive - in this case, the distribution of torque between the rear and front axles is approximately equal, these include representatives of the Subaru clan.

Let's not talk about overcoming all sorts of sidewalks, curbs and other obstacles, since this does not occur to many, although owning a crossover will give you a significant advantage in such exercises compared to conventional cars. But conventional cars are more economical in terms of fuel consumption and more maneuverable on normal roads. And in general, ordinary cars are much cheaper than crossovers. In addition, it is much easier to understand the body types of ordinary cars: station wagon, sedan or hatchback - everything is simple and clear. But you still need to be able to figure out SUVs, here again marketers confuse us, who can inspire anything. Here, for example, it will be easy for you to justify that this is not a crossover, but a sports coupe and vice versa.

Manufacturers have a solution in case you are not a fan of crossovers, but still want to have a car with all-wheel drive. And this decision is very rational. Now they began to produce passenger cars with all-wheel drive, and sometimes with increased ground clearance. Manufacturing companies call them differently: Outback, Scout, Alltrack and others. And rationality is that, without losing driving performance, you can safely drive along a country road and move normally in. This option will be ideal for the domestic consumer. To date, a large number of dealers can offer you a hatchback or sedan, which have all-wheel drive.

If in any case you decide to purchase a crossover, but the budget is limited, then we will try to highlight the points that require attention when buying a crossover class car. It is better to refuse large wheels equipped with low profile tires. This accessory is needed more for beauty than to increase functionality. However, for some this may be the deciding factor. In the conditions of our roads, low-profile tires will not allow you to feel the expected high level of comfort. Along with ground clearance, pay attention to the rear and front overhangs (they are responsible for the angle of entry and exit from the obstacle). The shorter the overhangs, the more solid your bumpers will be and the more extensive the ability to ride on rough terrain. Be sure to make sure that the forced clutch lock is installed on the car and the stabilization system is turned off. In driving conditions on some types of road surface, these functions are simply necessary, but they are not present on all crossovers. Also, the system for simulating differential locks between the wheels and the descent assistance system will not interfere.

We wish you good luck in choosing a car!

Today in the world there are many modifications of car bodies. Each of them has its own name of the name, but many cannot distinguish an SUV from a crossover, and a station wagon from a hatchback, and even more so to distinguish a crossover from a hatchback.

crossover

Initially, the crossover appeared in North America and was intended to be replacement for the usual SUV. Yes, the crossover has similar features with an SUV, but this is only at first glance.

Crossover and SUV are similar in body structure. As well as a crossover, like an SUV, it has increased ground clearance, plastic trim on rims, car sills and much more.

But the main difference that can be seen when buying is car drive. Everyone knows that the SUV has all-wheel drive, and the crossover, unfortunately, has basically only front-wheel drive. At the same time, there are alterations of crossovers, in which they have all-wheel drive.

The next feature of the crossover is transmission. The transmission of crossovers is simplified so that its price drops several times, and therefore is not the most reliable element of the car. By the way, off-road, owners of crossovers run the risk of being left without a tidy sum of money. The fact is that the transmission of the crossover is not designed for long-term use outside the paved road.

Also crossover and SUV have minor body differences. The body of the crossover is made like that of an ordinary passenger car, and the SUV has a frame structure. And finally, the most important difference between a crossover and an SUV is the engine size. Engines with a volume of up to 2.5 liters are installed on crossovers, and engines with a volume of 3 liters or more are installed on SUVs.

A crossover is like an SUV fuel consumption. The minimum fuel consumption of a crossover is about 8 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers (it all depends on the type of engine and car model). At the same time, the amount of fuel on the highway does not decrease significantly, unlike the hatchback. The average cost of a crossover is about 5-7 thousand dollars in the secondary market and from 9 thousand dollars from the salon.

hatchback

Hatchback is a type of body in which the car has shortened rear overhang. The most famous car in the post-Soviet space, Lada 2108, can be called a hatchback. The hatchback has similar features with a station wagon and a sedan. But the difference between these cars is in length. The station wagon will be the longest, after it there is a sedan and only then a hatchback.

Also, the hatchback can be either a five-door or a three-door, a station wagon and a sedan are presented purely in a five-door form.

Hatchback consumes approx. 4-6 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers(it all depends on the type of engine and car model). The engine capacity of a hatchback is on average 1.8 liters, but there are models with an engine capacity that can reach about 2–2.2 liters.

Also, the hatchback body is distinguished by its aerodynamic data, which allows the car to move on the road much better than similar cars, but in other body variations.

To date, many automakers have decided to abandon the production of cars in the sedan, so more and more cars come out in the hatchback, but it's too early to say that the hatchback is already a classic.

The average cost of a hatchback in the secondary market is about 3-4 thousand dollars, a new hatchback will cost about 6-7 thousand dollars.

What is the difference between a hatchback and a crossover?

So, let's summarize the differences between a hatchback and a crossover. Firstly, crossover is very similar to an SUV, which gives the car a special status, but in no case should you rely on the use of a crossover in off-road conditions. The hatchback, on the contrary, is the golden mean between the station wagon and the sedan. The hatchback has a slightly cropped body, but the voluminous trunk, as well as the convenience of passengers, is a noticeable plus when choosing a car in a hatchback body.

Secondly, a notable difference is fuel consumption. The crossover consumes noticeably more fuel compared to the hatchback. The hatchback was originally created as an economical family-type car and today it holds the brand. So, a hatchback consumes about 4-6 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers, while the minimum fuel consumption of a crossover is about 8 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers.

Thirdly, the problematic place of the crossover is transmission, which requires considerable investments from owners, while the hatchback does not have any particular problems with driving performance.

Fourthly, the creators of the hatchback took better care of the convenience of passengers. The creators of the crossover tried to create an urban car similar to an SUV, which is why the crossover is often called an SUV.

And finally, the body itself. If the hatchback inherited the body from its predecessors, then the creators of the crossover reduced the cost by deteriorating the quality of the body, which can be traced in a car like the Renault Duster.

What do crossovers and hatchbacks have in common?

If there are differences, then there must be similarities between the crossover and the hatchback. One of them is plastic. The inner lining of both cars is made of inexpensive plastic, which also wears out quickly. Also, both cars in any configuration will come with velor interior. Leather interior for cars like modification is not provided. A simple and convenient control panel is another similar feature of these cars. And, finally, undemanding to the quality of fuel is the main feature of these cars.

After analyzing all the information received, you can choose the most suitable car for yourself.

The introduction of the body as a supporting part of a passenger car made it possible to significantly expand the number of body types. But among the whole variety of body types, there are the most popular among motorists. The leader among the types of the bearing part is the sedan, but recently it has been competing with the hatchback body. Each of them has its own differences, as well as positive and negative sides. We will try to figure out what are the features of sedan and hatchback bodies, as well as what are their advantages and disadvantages.

Sedan

Classic hatchback and sedan

The main difference between the sedan is a three-volume layout, in which the design is divided into three parts - the engine compartment, passenger compartment and luggage compartment. Between themselves, these parts are separated by partitions, which makes each volume of the body separated from the other. As for the number of doorways, this type of door body can have either two or four.

As the automotive industry developed, different versions of sedans were produced that had certain features in the body structure. The main types of body type "sedan" are:

1. classical;
2. hardtop;

Video: Which is better, a sedan or a hatchback?

The difference between the classic sedan is approximately the same overall dimensions of the engine and luggage compartments. Over time, in order to reduce the parameters of the car, which were usually significant for the "classics", the length of the luggage compartment began to be reduced, while increasing its height to compensate for the usable volume. This eventually led to the wedge-shaped body shape that all modern sedans now have. There are a lot of representatives of classic sedans, since this body type is the most popular. Examples in the domestic automotive industry are all the "classic" VAZ models (except for the VAZ-2102 and 2104 station wagons), VAZ-21099, 2110, 2115, all Volga models.

From foreign cars, representatives of sedans are Toyota Corolla, Mitsubishi Lancer, BMW 5th, 7th series. In general, sedan cars are produced by almost all automakers.

Mercedes-Benz CL-class hardtop

A feature of the "hardtop" body was the absence of the central pillars of the saloon compartment. If in the classic version the front and rear doors were separated by a rack stretching from the floor to the roof, then it was removed from the hardtop. In this case, usually the doors did not have glass frames, or they were retractable along with the glass into the door. Cars with a hardtop sedan body have not been found to be particularly popular, and now they are practically not produced. A striking representative of cars in this body is the Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac de Ville Hardtop.

It is noteworthy that two-door versions of "hardtops" are still found, but most of them are classified as "coupe".

The “fastback” body differed from the “classic” and “hardtop” by a very weakly expressed third compartment in the silhouette of the car - the trunk. This was achieved thanks to a very smooth transition from the roof of the car to the rear. At the same time, the luggage compartment, although it was separate, outwardly it was, as it were, integrated into the cabin. The representative of the car with this body is GAZ Pobeda.

In modern automotive industry, there is another body type - "liftback", which is a transitional model between a sedan and a hatchback. Its main difference is hidden in the fact that outwardly there is a pronounced luggage compartment, but the body itself is two-volume and the luggage compartment is located inside the cabin. Of the modern cars produced in the back of a liftback, Skoda Superb can be noted.

Of the positive qualities of cars in the sedan body, it is noted:

1. more presentable and solid appearance of the car;
2. the presence of a separate trunk;
3. faster heating of the cabin in winter due to the small volume;
4. better safety for passengers in a rear impact (the trunk acts as a buffer).

But there are also disadvantages, of which the most obvious are:

• worse maneuverability of a car due to large dimensions;
• complicated parking due to the worst feeling of the dimensions of the car;
• limited luggage space;
• lower body strength due to the large rear overhang.

Video: Lesson 2 - car types, hatchback, sedan, station wagon, body types, SUV, crossover, SUV

hatchback

Let's move on to hatchbacks. Its main distinguishing feature is reduced to a two-volume layout, that is, there is only an engine compartment and a passenger compartment. Moreover, the latter combines both a place for passengers and a luggage compartment. If the sedan uses a special cover to access the trunk, then the hatchback is equipped with an additional rear door. At the same time, it is generally accepted that only cars with a sloping rear door belong to hatchbacks. But there are also versions with a vertical position of the rear door (VAZ Oka, Daewoo Matiz). Due to the presence of an additional door in the design, their total number in hatchback cars is unpaired (3 or 5 doors).

This body layout made it possible to reduce the rear overhang and, as a result, the dimensions of the car itself. Moreover, it is the overhang that allows you to visually determine what type the body belongs to. For example, one of the main differences between a hatchback and a station wagon is precisely the size of the rear overhang.

A type of hatchback is a liftback. The main difference between a liftback and a hatchback is the same overhang length, the former has a slightly larger one. Additionally, on some liftbacks, the luggage compartment may be slightly pronounced, which visually gives such a car the appearance of a sedan, but with a shortened trunk. And here the main difference from the sedan is the back door. For liftbacks, it is one-piece and includes the rear window. An example of such a liftback is ZAZ Slavuta, in which the rear of the car visually has a trunk, but it is closed with a stepped rear door. The already mentioned Skoda Superb on some generations uses a two-section rear door - you can open only part of the door that closes the trunk, or completely raise the door, along with the glass.

The advantages of hatchbacks are:

1. the presence of sports notes in appearance;
2. easy access to the trunk due to the large dimensions of the rear door;
3. the possibility of transporting oversized cargo (after folding the rear row of seats, which allows you to use part of the cabin as a luggage compartment);
4. improved maneuverability of the car due to smaller overall dimensions.

But there are also enough disadvantages for this type of body:

• increased noise in the cabin (can give a shelf separating the luggage compartment from the passenger compartment, a massive rear door, the cargo itself, since it is, in fact, located in the cabin and is separated only by the back of the rear seat and the shelf);
• when opening the back door to the cargo department, air from the outside also enters the cabin (this drawback is especially evident in winter);
• the need for more time to warm up the cabin due to its increased size).

Representatives of hatchbacks are Toyota Yaris, Seat Leon, Nissan Micra, etc.

As you can see, each of the considered car body types has its own positive qualities, as well as negative properties. When purchasing a car, everyone decides for himself which car suits him best.