The sedan vs hatchback vs SUV debate still rages on, with many detractors and supporters on all sides. Sedans are stylish and a symbol of wealth and status, SUVs symbolize a sporty, adventurous outlook, while hatchbacks are compact and a practical person’s treasure, perfect for the logjam that is Indian roads.
If you’re planning to buy used cars, which makes for the best bet? Hatchback, sedan or SUV: which is better in India? Let’s find out.
Hatchbacks
The Pros
Nothing screams practicality like a hatchback. Its compact build makes it perfect for manoeuvring crammed roads and parking in tight spaces. This is the key difference between a hatchback and a sedan or SUV.
The rear seats of a hatchback can be folded down completely or in a 60:40 ratio to increase the trunk space and allow the storage of more luggage.
Hatchbacks are beautifully designed, offering all the grandeur of classic station wagons with none of their clumsiness. These neat cars come in all sorts of dashing colours, modern designs, and sleek looks.
The resale value of hatchbacks is high because they are a lot more durable.
Hatchbacks are typically more fuel-efficient than sedans and SUVs.
The Cons
The trunk of a hatchback is directly joined to the rear seats, and the rear window gives a clear view into the back seats. This may seem like an invasion of privacy to many.
Let us be honest: a hatchback is an everyday car. Hatchbacks are just not as classy as sedans.
Hatchbacks are not as powerful as SUVs as they are only two-wheel drives.
They do not have very spacious interiors, though that’s changing now.
Sedans
The Pros
One significant difference between SUVs and sedans is that sedans are more fuel-efficient than SUVs.
They have spacious interiors and allow five well-built adults to sit comfortably without squishing each other.
Sedans have modern designs and have the best safety and security features among all three types of cars.
The insurance premium is much lower for sedans as compared to hatchbacks.
The Cons
Sedans are not as fuel-efficient as hatchbacks.
They are not considered ideal for urban settings. This is because the size inhibits manoeuvrability.
Sedans also necessitate large parking spaces, which are quite rare in Indian cities.
Another difference between a sedan and an SUV is that the former is much less spacious.
SUVs
The Pros
SUVs are family cars. They are very, very roomy. You can fit six to seven adults quite comfortably in an SUV.
SUVs are perfect for off-road driving, driving on untarred roads, potholes, mud and rural roads due to their powerful engines and four-wheel drive. They are the best companion for long road trips and cross-country travel.
SUVs are built to withstand harsh conditions. It is much easier to drive this type of vehicle in inclement weather like rain or snow.
The Cons
SUVs are not as fuel-efficient as hatchbacks and sedans.
Since they consume the most fuel, they emit the highest amount of pollution among all three car variants.
Hatchback Vs Sedan Vs SUV: A Quick Comparison
Find a summary of the key differences between a hatchback Vs Sedan Vs SUV:
Parameter
Hatchback
Sedan
SUV
Boot space
A hatchback is a compact vehicle. Therefore, it has a smaller boot space as compared to a sedan and SUV. The compactness, however, makes a hatchback easy to navigate through busy city roads and park in tight spots. Dimensions: A typical hatchback, such as the Maruti Swift, offers a boot space of 268 litres.
While a sedan has a compact safety shell, which is its cabin, it doesn’t have an integrated boot space. Sedans carry a protrusion that form their boot, which is bigger than that of a hatchback. Dimensions: A typical sedan, such as the latest Dzire, offers a boot space of 378 litres.
It might be difficult to manoeuvre an SUV through narrow roads and park it in tight spots, but it offers the maximum amount of seating as well as boot space. This makes it ideal for off-roading, taking long trips, or comfortably driving around with your entire family. Dimensions: A typical SUV, such as the MG Hector, offers a boot space of 587 litres.
Cabin
A hatchback offers a less spacious cabin as compared to the other two. Also, its interiors are seldom as plush as sedans and hatchbacks. The difference is more starkly felt by the rear occupants of a hatchback.
A sedan offers a more spacious cabin as compared to a hatchback, but often lesser than an SUV. Also, its interiors are plusher than sedans, and sometimes even starter SUVs.
In comparison between SUV vs hatchback vs sedan, an SUV will have the most spacious and often luxe cabin, as compared to the other two.
Rear visibility
You will always find the rear visibility of a hatchback better than a sedan and SUV. This is why it’s easier to reverse or parallel park a hatchback.
In comparison between hatchback vs SUV vs sedan, a sedan will often have the lowest rear visibility. This is due to the protrusion at the back, which forms the car’s boot.
As compared to SUV vs hatchback vs sedan, you may find reversing an SUV easier than a sedan, but never easier than a hatchback. Sure, an SUV offers improved rear visibility as it doesn’t have a protrusion at the back, but the overall considerable size of an SUV diminishes rear visibility a tad.
So, which type of used car is the best?
The choice between a sedan, SUV, or hatchback ultimately depends on your individual needs and preferences. Sedans offer a balance of space, fuel efficiency, and comfort, while SUVs provide more cargo room and seating capacity. Hatchbacks are smaller and more fuel-efficient than sedans and SUVs, making them ideal for city driving and parking. Consider your lifestyle and prioritize the factors that matter most to you when making your decision.
The bottom Line
It is significantly easy to buy second-hand cars with a variety of used car finance options, like used car loans in India. Thus, you should definitely buy used cars if you’re looking for an affordable route to owning your car.
Tata Capital’s used car loan is the best choice when you are planning to buy second-hand cars or used cars. Loan amounts from Tata Capital range from Rs. 1,00,000 to Rs. 50,00,000 and are available for a time period of 12 months to 60 months.You can avail of attractive used car loan interest rates starting at 12.5%. This second-hand car loan is immediately processed and has versatile EMI choices and tenures. You can also calculate your EMI in advance using our handy used car loan EMI calculator.
So, what are you waiting for? Head over to our website to learn more about our attractive loan offerings, and apply online today!
08 February 2024
7 mins read
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