Over the last several years, there has been an astonishing increase in the sales of trucks and SUVs at used car dealerships. For example, sales of SUVs in 2019 were double that of cars, and this comes just four years after sales of SUVs surpassed sales of cars for the first time ever. There are several reasons for the dramatic increase in truck and SUV sales. One reason is that trucks have become nicer over the years. What was once a utilitarian vehicle, modern trucks have transformed from workhorses with bland designs and few features to workhorses with stylish looks and luxurious interiors with all of the tech gadgets and features you could ever imagine.
But not everyone needs or desires a truck or SUV, so there is still an interest in sedans and coupes, and people still head to their local new and used car dealership to test drive the latest models. There are likely people out there who aren’t sure just what the difference is between a sedan and a coupe. So before deciding which is right for you, here is what you need to know about sedans vs coupes.
The Differences Between a Sedan and a Coupe
Back in the day, a coupe was a coupe, and a sedan was a sedan. That is, the differences were obvious, and there weren’t any features between the two that blurred the lines of what it was. They were two completely different types of cars, and everybody knew which car fell into which category.
For example, the 1967 Chevy Camaro is a coupe. Although it is also labeled a muscle car, it has all of the characteristics of a coupe, including two doors, a sporty performance, seats four, and seating in the back is challenging for taller passengers. The 1968 Cadillac DeVille is an excellent example of a sedan. The DeVille had four doors, was longer than a small yacht, could seat four to five people, and enjoyed several luxury features. The point is there were distinct differences between coupes and sedans, but that line has blurred over the years.
Today, there are still a few features that separate sedans from coupes, but these aren’t standard or official in any sense. Traditionally, a coupe is a two-door car, and a sedan has four doors. This still holds true in today’s standards when differencing coupes and sedans.
Performance is another indicator that separates coupes from sedans. You can expect a coupe to have a stronger engine and better handling than a sedan. However, the main reason a coupe handles better is due to its smaller size. Modern sedans are much smaller than they were years ago, and therefore they handle much better as a result. Sedans were traditionally longer than coupes and came with plenty of luxury features. Today, sedans are shorter and come with a plethora of luxury features. But then, modern coupes are also full of luxury features.
There are a few traditional features that define each type of car that still holds true today. Sedans typically seat five and enjoy plenty of head and legroom. Modern coupes are still smaller and usually seat four and no more. And a sedan is going to have more cargo space than a coupe in most cases.
Which Is Right for You?
When it comes to choosing the right vehicle for you, the cost is likely on the top of the checklist. The price for a sedan is all over the place. You can find some brand new sedans at fairly low prices, while other sedans that offer far more luxury features can be quite expensive. So it is fair to say that regardless of your budget, you can easily find a sedan in your price range.
When it comes to the price of a coupe, the range is more narrow. Generally speaking, you are going to pay more for a coupe, so keep that in mind when shopping around. Coupes also tend to cost more to insure both due to the higher price you buy them at, but this can vary depending on model, age, year, and insurance, so it will not always be the case.
If you are shopping for a car that is sporty and stylish, you will probably gravitate towards a coupe. However, modern sedans can be just as sporty and stylish as a coupe. For example, the Chevy Malibu is a sedan that has sophisticated styling blended with great performance, which are usually features associated with coupes. With the Malibu, you enjoy that sporty look and performance in a car that also offers a roomy interior and ample cargo space.
If you need a car that can transport family members or other passengers and offers cargo space, then you will want to seriously consider owning a sedan. While you might have your heart set on a super stylish and sporty coupe, getting passengers in and out of the back seat will prove to be quite inconvenient if not cramped. And if you need to pack gear into a coupe, you might find the lack of cargo space a problem.
Mudding Up the Waters
Many years ago, it was easy enough to distinguish between a coupe and a sedan as the body styles were very different. One of a coupe’s distinguishing features was a sleeping rear roofline, as seen in such classics as the Ford Mustang. But this design has become trendy in recent years and can be seen on a number of sedans, as well as SUVs. Those in the auto industry refer to sedans with the sloped roofline as four-door coupes. What automakers have done over the years is sneak characteristics of sporty coupes into the sedan. What you wind up with is a four-door car with plenty of room for passengers and cargo that offers luxury features and actually looks like a coupe, but it is really a sedan.
Model designations, like the difference between a coupe and a sedan, have lost their definition over the years. With the cross-use of body designs and lifestyle changes, manufacturers have worked diligently to produce models with greater appeal for various types of people. In recent years, there has been a huge increase in four-door sedans and even hatchbacks with coupe styling inspirations. While the concept has been around for a long time, it remained dormant until just a few years ago. Even just 20 years ago, a four-door coupe-style car was going to be a hard sell. But today, there are several types of drivers who jump at the chance to own one.
The bottom line is that we will see a continued merge between the coupe and sedan in the coming years. There will also likely be dramatic changes within the two breeds of cars. Trucks, SUVs, and crossovers are hot in today’s market, and that trend will likely continue. And while you don’t see a love for sedans as much as you used to, the coupe segment is suffering pretty badly. This is easy to see, two-door, smaller coupes are far less practical than sedans and SUVs, and consumers are driven to buy vehicles with more doors and plenty of interior space. But history does tend to repeat itself, so we could see a resurgence of interest in the coupe and sedan in the future.
