Coupe vs Sedan
Posted Thursday, Oct 27, 2022
When buying your first car, you surely want to be well informed about the types of vehicles available to you. Each category of automobiles will have specific features that fit each driver's particular needs and lifestyle. Among all the possible options, two of the most common types are sedans and coupes. They come in a myriad of models to choose from with a price range that can suit different budgets. Previously, they were easily distinguishable, but as new models have been designed, it has become more difficult to tell them apart. Keep reading to learn the differences between sedans and coupes to better understand which one is best for you.
What Is a Sedan?
Generally speaking, sedans are closed-roof cars with four doors and more than 33 cubic feet of interior passenger space. You can recognize them by their fixed B-pillar (the vertical structure that supports the roof) between the front and back seat doors. They have a longer wheelbase than coupes and three full rear seats. Additionally, they have three clearly defined and separated spaces: the engine bay, passenger cabin, and trunk space. In short, they are spacious and comfortable cars for transporting up to five people. Some examples of these cars are the BMW 5 Series, the Toyota Camry, and the Infiniti Q50.
There is, however, controversy regarding a model that is sometimes referred to as a two-door sedan. These are cars that are called sedans because they have more than 33 cubic feet of rear space, though they only have two doors.
What Is a Coupe?
Coupe comes from the French verb "couper", which means "to cut". It normally refers to a smaller car that has two to four seats, placed in a 2+2 position; its rear space is shortened, as if it was cut, hence its association with the term “couper”. Generally, a coupe is thought of as a two-door car with a fixed roof. It has less than 33 cubic feet in the rear, a lower roofline, and its body is built closer to the ground. Thanks to its compact and slim design, it is often viewed as a sports car.
Some examples of these cars are the Chevrolet Camaro and the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. While their characteristics seem to be clearly defined, there are some disputes about what constitutes a coupe. Over time, hybrid designs have been introduced that have four doors but still have less than 33 cubic feet of passenger space, blurring the lines between sedans and coupes.
What Is the Difference Between a Coupe and a Sedan?
Due to many controversies regarding the number of doors for each type of car, we will give you more clues so that you can easily differentiate between the two of them. It is worth noting that there are those who claim that a two-door car will always fall in the category of a coupe, and accordingly, a four-door car in the category of a sedan. Yet, to choose the right vehicle, it’s a good idea to know all the nuances around these cars.
Exterior design: Coupes tend to be longer and shorter in stature; their doors and side windows are elongated. Sedans, on their part, are bigger, but they do have shorter doors.
Interior passenger space: Perhaps the biggest difference between sedans and coupes is their interior size. A Sedan's passenger space allows up to five people to travel comfortably as it offers more rear leg and head space. Coupes can carry between two to four people, although it should be noted that legroom and headroom are more limited when they have four seats.
Cargo space: A determining feature when buying a car is the size of its trunk. If you plan to use your car for traveling or if you carry lots of belongings in your daily life, you should know that sedans have much more space in the back.
Performance: Thanks to their lightweight design, coupes provide a smoother and more exciting driving experience, reaching higher speeds easily. Sedans, on the other hand, are heavier. This is not necessarily a disadvantage; bigger and heavier cars are safer as they provide more protection in case of impact.
Bottom line, if you are searching for a stylish, sporty, fun car to drive, coupes are an excellent choice. They are lightweight and have a design that gives them a modern and slender appearance. If you are looking for a family car or one that is good for traveling, sedans should be your go-to vehicle. They offer more space, safety, and comfort for your passengers. Keep in mind that today you can find hybrids that will mix the best of both worlds.
At Lux Auto Centre, we have a wide variety of these as well as other types of automobiles in order for you to find your dream car. If you have further questions or are interested in checking out a specific model, please explore our inventory and schedule a test drive.
