Sedan - what kind of cars are they and what types they are

Having set out to buy his own car, the first thing a motorist pays attention to is the body shape. Undoubtedly, the car should "arouse admiration among all acquaintances," but the first priority is given to the correspondence of the purpose of the car, rather than a tribute to fashion. Maybe that's why private traders consistently choose a sedan. Although the clear lines of this definition are currently significantly blurred, the main features remain. And which ones - this article will tell. 

In the confusion that has appeared over the past decade, it is very difficult to figure out which body type this or that model belongs to. And in order not to be mistaken with the choice, the future owner should familiarize himself with the detailed information that sheds light on the influence of the layout of the car on its physical parameters, and as a result - on the possibilities.

From the very beginning of its entry into the car market, the sedan remains the most demanded model in the whole world, although the European consumer has his own preferences. We will not insist that this is the best choice, since such a statement is incorrect in relation to many manufacturers of luxury, sports or small cars.

The largest number of sales of sedan vehicles occurs in Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union. And as statistics for 2019 showed, the Tesla Model 3 sedan became the world's best-selling electric car version. The history of this body speaks of ups and downs, nevertheless, it still manages to stay at the highest levels of the rating.

The point is, most likely, in practicality, but what it consists of and what is the difference from the coupe body - let's take a closer look.

What is a sedan

In the classic version, the sedan body has three visual volumes, that is, it is divided into three clearly defined zones: the hood for the engine, the cabin for the driver and passengers, and a separate trunk for luggage. The main advantages of a vehicle of this type include:

• minimalistic and at the same time stylish neat look, especially in trendy color;

• comfortable conditions in the salon for four adults;

• relative isolation from motor noise;

• quick warm-up of the passenger compartment due to the separation from the trunk;

• absence of extraneous odors from the luggage compartment.

Initially, the stepped sedan body is endowed with a flat roof along the entire length of the cabin and a supporting B-pillar that protects the rear door from skewing. The trunk length of the first sedans (in the period from the 50s to the 80s of the twentieth century) did not differ from the size of the hood, in modern models the luggage compartment was somewhat shortened. 

Although the American cars, which have become legend, still make a stunning impression:

Sedans are four-door vehicles with two rows of seats. The second one, if desired and of "modest size", can accommodate three adults or, alternatively, two adults and a child. Currently, you can find six-door copies in an elongated body, which are called "limousines". 

Sedan body history

How the name of the model itself appeared - no one will definitely remember. One of the versions suggests that it comes from the name of the palanquin - a closed stretcher with handles and a seat-chair (from the Latin sedes), in which eminent persons have been "driving around" since ancient times. 

According to another theory, the name of the body was given in honor of Sedan, a city in France bordering Belgium and famous for making comfortable road carriages. Later, at the beginning of the XNUMXth century, at the dawn of mass automobile construction, the first cars appeared with a kind of trunk - a removable wooden box attached with belts to the rear of the passenger compartment on a small platform. Now the pronounced luggage compartment has become a stationary part of the structure.

From the very beginning, the body was strikingly different from other models by the presence of a fixed rigid roof, which stood out among the open (or covered with a removable cloth top) dash / touring salons, roadsters, phaetons. But this moment did not immediately become the advantage of the car. It is worth remembering that the frames of the first cars were made of wood, which significantly increased the overall weight.

With the introduction of metal bodies into production in the early 30s of the last century, which greatly facilitated the car, sedans quickly begin their ascent up the ladder of success, defending their position against the emerging coupes and station wagons. True, it was not without inclusion in the fight against American hardtops, which took a short-term advantage with an unusual design. But the latter, despite the spectacular exit, soon lost interest of the public, who preferred the safety of a sedan, endowed with frames for door windows and a B-pillar. They were absent in hardtops.

A hatchback that appeared on the market at one time made serious competition. New forms with a shortened rear overhang, reduced dimensions along with a high carrying capacity won over a significant part of motorists. As a result, the sedan body had to give up a competitor of one of its variants of the model range - a two-door version. Now it has completely become the prerogative of the hatchback.

At the moment, despite its strong position in the mid-price category, the sedan has to reckon with the popularity of SUVs and crossovers. Although this segment is in demand from a wealthier client.

The demand for a sedan body is dictated by a number of winning positions:

• in the autumn-winter season, the interior warms up quickly, thanks to the isolation from the hood and trunk;

• open luggage compartment does not affect the loss of heat in the cabin;

• rear window due to the elongated "tail" is less exposed to contamination;

• visibility from the passenger compartment is improved due to panoramic windows.

In addition, modern models are endowed with high-tech equipment and are produced in interesting design solutions.

In different countries, the sedan body is called differently. In our usual sound, the term Sedan is used in many European countries: Portugal, Denmark, Poland, Turkey, Czech Republic, Sweden, etc., as well as America. In Germany, all closed cars are called Limousine, and the Japanese and British use the word Saloon more often.

Types of sedans

Due to the constant struggle for the market, many car manufacturers go for tricks, playing with the forms of traditional brands and adjusting them to the body standards that are most in demand by the consumer. The sedan also has to adapt to car fashion in order to keep the palm. Consider all the options available today.

Sedan classic

Differs in pronounced main characteristics: three visual volumes, giving the body a stepped shape; uniform roof height above the passenger compartment; the presence of a central pillar, rigidly holding the body and rear doors from skewing; four full-size seats (with a strong desire, it can accommodate five people).

The domestic market is represented by the brands Moskvich 412, VAZ 2101 (Zhiguli), GAZ-24 (Volga).

Long base

The photo shows a rare Soviet copy of the "Seagull" GAZ-14 in a cherry-colored body of a representative (extended to 611,4 cm) sedan, presented by L.I. Brezhnev, General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, in honor of his birthday. Hand assembly was completed at the end of 1976 and opened the way for small-scale production from 1977 to 1988.

The GAZ-14 sedan in its production had a limited release, in total, only 1114 cars left the assembly line. History has preserved a "X-ray" (drawing by designer V. N Nosakov), which shows in detail the complete set of cars and a salon with four doors, three windows and two rows of luxurious seats at that time. 

The seats are at a comfortable distance, so there is much more free space in the cabin. The model could easily pass for a limousine if it had a glass partition inherent in the latter, separating the seat with the driver from the passenger seats.

Two-door

It is currently not accepted to talk about two-door sedans, this individual feature now belongs to other models. And at the dawn of their ascent, it was the two-door, now outdated Zaporozhets (ZAZ), Skoda Tudor or Opel Ascona C, which are still found on the roadway, in great demand. 

Opel Rekord A (on the left in the picture) and "Volga" (on the right) were once popular, which for an uninformed person may seem like twins if it were not for the presence of four doors in the GAZ sample.

The two-door sedans were of great interest to the low-wage working class as they were sold at democratic prices. The first American two-door version of the Chevrolet Delray appeared in 1958.

In the modern classification, it is customary to refer a coupe body to 2-door structures. But then again, a coupe can also have four doors, and despite its sporty, fastback crossover look, many call it a "four-door coupe."

Hardtop body

The appearance of the "extinct" sample, which once entered into competition with the sales leader, is structurally very similar to the Sedan standard, though more extravagant.

Hardtops are usually called four-door (sometimes two-door) sedans that entered the American market in the 50s - 80s. with its own position in the classification of models. Despite the external similarity in basic features with the Sedan, cars of this type had several significant differences, and with a number of disadvantages:

• the absence of a B-pillar significantly reduced safety and forced to use the car only on ideal roads;

• even the frame structure did not save the reputation of the body, since without the main center support the body was subjected to deformation;

• frameless side windows created a wide view, but since they often remained lowered, they made it easier for intruders to enter someone else's property for theft;

• noise insulation in the cabin was practically absent;

• the quality of the belts attached directly to the roof of the passenger compartment left much to be desired.

The peak of sales of a hardtop sedan fell in the 60s of the last century, after which public interest began to fade.

Notchback

This is most likely another name for the classic four-door three-box sedan, often used in Japan and America. Different peoples have christened the model in their own way. The British / British call it Saloon. French, Romanians, Italians - "Berlin".

The British and Americans call the 4-door Sedan models "Fordor", and the 2-door models - "Tudor" or "Koch". Well, Europe has its own concepts, for them a notchback is what we used to think of as hatchbacks or liftbacks.

Liftback body  

Inherited from the sedan 4 doors, and a similar, but slightly shortened rear overhang. The roof above the cabin is almost the same height, but smoothly flows into the eye-catching trunk, there are 4 seats in the cabin.

This is where the similarity, perhaps, ends, the other qualities are more related to the liftback with a hatchback or station wagon. The luggage compartment can be accessed through the open rear glass lid (in the sedan, the lid is completely metal). The very shape of the body has smooth corners on the sloping front and rear walls, which is not inherent in the sedan.

Fastback

Until the end of the 50s of the last century, the fastback constituted a well-defined segment of body types, with a pronounced teardrop shape due to the roof sloping noticeably towards the trunk; a glazed rear wall and a small luggage compartment lid. For the standard, you can safely take the "Pobeda" GAZ-M-20 (left) or GAZ-M-20V (right) - a Soviet-era car in serial production with upgrades in the period 1946 - 1958.

Currently, the clear lines of this segment are blurred, as many of its characteristics are used in the creation of other models in order to surprise the consumer with the unusual forms of classic models. This is due to the "games" of the automotive market, which is becoming increasingly difficult to conquer.

Under the modern interpretation of fastback, one should no longer mean a separate type of body, but the application of its features to other popular designs. This phenomenon can be observed in station wagons, hatchbacks, liftbacks, many sports models, and, of course, sedans. 

How the types of sedans differ by class

Any passenger light transport belongs to a certain class that meets the standards of the Economic Commission for Europe. This organization mainly focuses on vehicle dimensions. But when determining, one should not lose sight of consumer demand, cost, wheelbase, engine or cabin size, and other important arguments in favor of class assignment.

А

The sedan classification occupies almost the entire grid, from class A to F, with the exception of the M, S, J segments and pickups. Many argue that category "A" (especially small) sedans cannot be, since it includes cars with a body length of up to 3,6 meters. It would seem that with such a length, there is nowhere to attach a separate trunk, but in nature there are still supermini sedans. For example, Citroen C1 or Soviet minicar "Zaporozhets" ZAZ 965, whose trunk was located in place of the hood:

В

Class "B" includes cars with a length of up to 4,1 meters, the so-called "small". In Russia, as in many countries of the world, this category is in great demand, since small dimensions are usually sold at affordable prices. But in the Russian Federation, this segment is somewhat expanded in the line of pricing policy related to the equipment of the salon and "outfitting" cars. Therefore, cars available to the masses, but slightly exceeding European standards (in length), are referred to category B +, as an intermediate option between class B and C. The French compact Citroen C3 can be considered a full-fledged standard in class B:

С

Cars with a body length not exceeding 4,4 meters belong to the so-called golf class "C" (small medium). As in the case of the "B" class, some representatives of sedans in dimensions may slightly exceed the stipulated European standards, but withstand them in terms of the size of the wheelbase and the volume of the trunk. Such cars occupy an intermediate position between categories C and D and remain in the C + class. The striking representative of this segment is the French compact Citroen C4:

D

If the length of the vehicle is in the range of 4,5 - 4,8 meters, then this is a representative of the middle class "D", which includes, for example, the family Citroen C5. The wheelbase of such a car should be within 2,7 meters, and the trunk volume should be from 400 liters.

Each country uses different parameters to determine the class, but some standards remain the same for all machines. So, for example, in Japan, cars are classified into the D line exclusively by size: length - more than 4,7 m, height - from 2 m, width - from 1,7 m.And for Americans, class D means a certain volume of the cabin - 3,15 - 13,4 cubic meters m.

But most experts characterize the class of the car in terms of its level of equipment and technical capabilities:

E

Passenger transport of the highest average level with a body length from 4,8 to 5,0 m belongs to the business class “E”. These are oversized cars with a high level of equipment. It is believed that this category completes the range of vehicles that allow a private trader to do without driver assistance. In the following segments, the status dictates to use the services of a chauffeur, regardless of the presence or absence of a driver's license from the owner of the car.

A striking example of class "E" - Citroen DS 8 with signs of fastback modification:

F

A characteristic feature of the upper class "F" can be called the body length exceeding the five-meter mark. Further, in this parameter, the car has no restrictions, but within reasonable limits for convenient movement along the streets. Otherwise, it will be just a museum or fake exhibit for photo sessions, unsuitable for its intended use.

A luxury / executive car must have the highest quality "equipment": electronic equipment, high-quality interior trim, accessories, perhaps even a bar, etc.

What are the advantages of different types of sedans by class

The sedan body is the most popular due to its many advantages that distinguish it from other models in the same segment. For example, a class A sedan is most in demand in its category, not only for the simple reason of the demand for budget cars, there are other reasons that take place in each of the classes.

1. The model range of the body is distinguished by a variety of shapes and dimensions, so the consumer is given the opportunity to satisfy a wide variety of taste preferences:

2. Improved visibility is achieved due to large windows in the cabin, which is important when parking. In such conditions, the driver does not need to use parking sensors - parking assistance systems, he will perfectly park even in reverse, observing the movement of the car through the rear panoramic glass:

3. The model has existed on the market for nearly a hundred years. From the very beginning, a unique platform was developed for the body, which naturally adapts to various vehicle modifications. This point is especially important for the reliability and safety of the case. If other brands use the base of the sedan, then inaccuracy of calculations may creep into the design, but this does not threaten the sedan:

4. The type of this body contributes to economical fuel consumption due to reduced weight and optimal aerodynamic performance. 

5. Thought-out low seating arrangement, as well as the ability to adjust the seat tilt with comfortable backrests, create comfort even on long trips. In addition, sedan cars have the best grip due to the design that distributes the load evenly along the entire length of the wheelbase.

6. Initially, budget models, presented in any class, in addition, do not require large costs for car maintenance. Passing maintenance does not cause complications, since running parts are inexpensive and always available for any segment.

7. A separate trunk is quite roomy, regardless of category. Luggage compartment insulation prevents odors and sounds from entering the passenger compartment. And the elongated rear overhang additionally serves as a kind of cushion that takes a hit (in a rear collision) in the event of an accident.

Differences between a sedan and a coupe

Arguing about which model is better is just as unethical as insisting on the advantage of white / black over the rest. It is rather a matter of taste and preference. You can only talk about the main distinguishing points in technical characteristics, visual perception, etc., and then the choice remains with the motorist.

Until recently, both body types were defined by clear distinctions, giving each of the models a distinct style. From the very beginning, the designers of the coupe took the two-door version of the car as a basis, but due to the appearance on the market of three-door modifications, the body can be compared with a sedan:

The picture shows Mercedes-Benz CLS (III generation fastback). The representative of the "four-door coupe" has a presentable appearance, the salon is equipped with modern "stuffing" with a rich design, but in appearance - almost a sedan all in the same fastback body.

The classic coupe has a three-door, two-volume body with a separate saloon and two full-size seats. On rare occasions, an additional row of seats is added, occupying a small space (up to 93 cc), most suitable for accommodating children. The luggage door is usually absent, the rear wall is glazed.

Rank games are conducive to unexpected solutions, such as the "two-door sedan". Although it is rather a "time loop" in the past. The first bodies of this type had two full-fledged interpretations: 2 and 4 doors. Now, along with the difference in three visual volumes, a roof evenly spaced from the floor of the cabin, the presence of a central pillar, these are mainly 4-door models:

The picture shows a Tesla Model 3 with an electric motor, which entered the market in 2017. On her example, one can observe the evolution of the transformation of the classics, adapting to the needs of the consumer.

The main difference between the sedan and the coupe is the shortened base of the latter, in connection with which it is usually equipped with only one row of seats for adults, or has a 2 + 2 format (polymer seats). In addition, the coupe is closer to the sporty format.

Differences between a sedan and a station wagon, a hatchback

The key difference between the sedan and the hatchback and station wagon is its three-volume shape. Visually, the profile highlights the bonnet, roof and trunk. In the cabin, the passenger section is separated by a rigid partition from the luggage compartment. True, in most models, the backs of the rear sofa fold (often in a ratio of 40 * 60), so that a long load can be transported in a sedan.

But first of all, the sedan is focused on transporting passengers and a small amount of things. This body type has the following advantages in relation to passenger transportation:

• Increased comfort due to the complete isolation of the passenger compartment from the trunk (neither sounds nor smells spread from the trunk when transporting goods);
• This type of body allows you to organize an original microclimate due to the same rigid partition in the cabin;
• This type of body is more rigid, which has a positive effect on the handling of the car;
• Thanks to the greater number of energy-absorbing zones (engine and luggage compartments), safety in the car is higher than in models with a combined luggage compartment with a passenger compartment.

But this type of body was not without its drawbacks. Thus, the increased comfort requires the manufacture of a longer body compared to the same hatchback. If you compare it with a station wagon, then the sedan loses significantly in practicality.

The fastest sedans in the world

Speed ​​and sedan concepts are not compatible for one reason. The driver will not be able to use the full potential of the motor due to poor aerodynamics. Powerful and high-performance powertrains in the sedan are installed more for the sake of prestige than for sporting events.

The faster the car, the less comfortable it will be. So, the acceleration in 2.7 seconds, like that of the Tesla Model S P1000D, cannot be called comfortable in any way, because the passengers are literally pressed into the seat.

If we talk about models with a classic internal combustion engine, and not an electric motor, then the list of the fastest sedans includes:

• Mercedes Benz AMG;
• Porsche Panamera Turbo;
• BMW M760.

If you plan to charge a sedan for racing, then in its class it will be inferior to a coupe or hatchback with the same characteristics.

Best in class

Most of the representatives of classic cars are made in one type or another sedan body type. The executive class, premium class, luxury and similar luxury car models receive exactly the sedan body due to the popularity and beauty of the form.

The following sedans are popular in the CIS countries:

• Lada Grant;
• Renault Logan;
• Toyota Camry;
• Skoda Octavia;
• Hyundai Solaris;
• Ford Focus;
• Volkswagen Polo;
• Nissan Almera.

It is worth mentioning that in order to attract more buyers, automakers are releasing the same model in different bodies. An example of this is the Ford Focus 3 or Hyundai Solaris, which are equally popular in both sedan and hatchback bodies.

It’s impossible to name the best sedan. Because it's a matter of taste. The popularity of a particular model is influenced by its configuration, color performance, quality of performance of all systems and assemblies, as well as design solutions.

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Questions and answers:

What is this sedan? A sedan is a body type that has a three-volume shape - three body elements are clearly defined (hood, roof and trunk). Mostly 5-seater sedans.

What are the sedans? 1) classic - with three clearly defined body volumes. 2) two-door. 3) limousine. 4) hardtop (no B-pillar). 5) two-, four- or five-seater.