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Cars come in a whole lot of flavours, and one of the first structural choices you’ll make is deciding between a sedan and a hatch. In South Africa, hatchbacks take up 46% of the market and sedans a paltry 23%, and this number hasn’t shifted much in the past four years.
A sedan has a completely separate boot, in most cases inaccessible to the car’s passengers, and the rest of the car. For this reason a sedan is called a four-door, because only the front and passenger doors give access to the body of the car. Car and Driver define a sedan as, “Having "three-box" bodies: the front box is home to the engine; the middle box is larger and houses the passengers; and the third box, located in the rear, is the boot. These are the classic proportions of a sedan and have been for more than 70 years.”
However, a hatchback is called a five-door or three-door because the boot is a part of the main body of the car, and the boot’s door could technically be used to access the car.
MotorTrend Car says, “Compared to a sedan, a hatchback offers a slightly higher roofline, which contributes to its ability to haul bulky items with ease. That higher roofline also gives you more headroom. Passengers sitting in the rear seats won't have to slouch and hurt their necks thanks to that extra bit of space.”
The advantages of this popular hatchback include:
Sedans, "Are often a popular choice for commuter vehicles. Sedans also receive better fuel economy ratings, which often makes them cheaper vehicles in the long run as well. Performance ratings also tend to be better in sedans, giving drivers a more exciting and responsive drive,” according to Barlow Motors. The Suzuki Ciaz placed 8th in the Compact/Medium Car category of the July 2018 top-selling vehicles.
CarFinder finds that, “Sedans usually involve lower insurance premiums. This is because they are known to be the top choice for most families. In addition to this, statistics show that drivers who are driving with their families or group of friends are more careful compared to other drivers.”
According to AutoGravity, hatchbacks usually have a higher Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) than similarly sized and similarly equipped sedans.
The Suzuki Ciaz achieves 56.44% of its original list price on auction as bidders believe that it is an unassuming vehicle that still ticks all the boxes. (source: Sunday Times)
Both builds do their job - transporting people and cargo - so the main difference boils down to personal preference and what you need from your car. Is flexibility more important than security, or a bigger boot space more key than a sporty look? It’s the versatility, affordability, and funky look of the hatchback that appeals to the South African market, but both vehicles have their place.
How about booking a test drive at your nearest dealer to see if a sedan or hatch is right for you.
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