Both sedan and coupe have key differences, but also too many similarities. You have got a coupe, and you also have a sedan. A Coupe has two front doors whereas sedans have four doors. Case finished. Right? Not so fast. While the number of doors is a significant difference, auto manufacturers use sedan and coupe platforms differently to build specialized vehicles for their clients. As a result, the difference between sedan & coupe goes beyond their exterior style.
Learning how to explain a coupe, and what are things that make a car a sedan, can help you to find the vehicle that matches your lifestyle and needs in the best manner. Let us dig into the difference between sedan & coupe. It is tempting to think about black and white in this context: Sedans have a row of seats in which four adults can sit easily. On the contrary, coupes are sports cars for two grownups and maybe one or two small kids.
But wait a minute. Sedans can also be stylish and sporty. Sexy too. These adjectives do not belong to coupe only. On the other hand, come coupes allows a lot of extra entry nowadays. Some of the examples of blurred lines include the Volkswagen CC and the Mercedes-Benz CLA. These two cars are listed by their manufacturers as four-door coupes. Before we see the difference between sedan & coupe, let us learn about both these cars.
What is a Coupe?
The first coupe was launched in 1800 when carriage builders changed traditional coach designs to shorten them. They made it easier for passengers to climb. As the popularity of coupe grew in 1960, more automotive designers welded hardtops to two-seat, open cars as a sign to their carriage roots.
Soon, after the coupe term started to blur as the manufacturers greatly lessened or totally removed the rear seat to make it look like cars with sporty body styles. This term refers to those cars that come with a sleek, two front doors, a sloping roofline, and two seats up front, with two small seats in the back. More recently, auto manufacturers began to apply the coupe definition to sporty variants of their sedan lineup. As an effect, the coupe term became popular among the manufacturers, who apply it more loosely. Auto manufacturers may also provide both a sedan and a coupe using a similar model line, like the Honda Civic. An ability to define coupe has become a challenging task in recent years.
Who prefers coupe? People who prefer a sporty look, who are economy-minded and who have a small family.
What is a Sedan?
The first Sedan was launched by the Renault car company. This car had two seats and four doors. However, it lacked an enclosed cabin space. It used to be a popular style, and Cadillac manufactured and sold the first totally enclosed sedan in 1906. Other car manufacturers quickly followed a suit by manufacturing enclosed passenger vehicles which met the definition of a sedan. Beyond embracing modern features and styling, sedan designs have not changed over the years.
Along with two extra doors, the modern sedan has a long wheelbase compared to coupes. This added length provides both rear and front passengers more space to stretch out their legs. In most of the sedans, in the rear bench seats, three adults can sit comfortably with enough headroom and leg space. There is more cargo space also, which makes sedans apt for extended shopping trips and road journeys. To completely define sedan characteristics, all these cars have a fixed roof.
Sedans will appeal to a wider market than coupes; sales of sedans have slid a bit during the last decade as customers start to seek larger SUVs that can carry both passengers as well as cargo too.
Difference Between Sedan & Coupe
Knowing the difference between sedan & coupe can save time as you research all the different body styles in the market. Let us see the differences.
Performance
The coupe with a short wheelbase and light curb weight boosts the overall performance. Braking and acceleration performance, for instance, are noticeably improved when a vehicle weighs a hundred pounds or less. Sedans are heavy, but they compensate for the additional weight with optional engine upgrades like it is in the Nissan Altima. If you are looking for a car with extra power, choose a large V6 rather than a four-cylinder. These large and heavy cars come with suspension upgrades that improve the overall performance and handling.
Exterior style
Removing two doors to make a coupe can change the exterior styling of the car and gives a sporty look. The window frames adjust to account for some changes to the total length. The result is no more rear window and long doors. It is true that a longer door looks great, but it can be challenging when you park your car in a small space.
There are many sedans, except four-door sports cars, drop the sporty look in favor of luxurious feel and look. The short doors make entry and exit easier for the passengers, and the door and window pillar help to create a more balanced side profile look.
Interior design
The amount of space in the backseat of coupe varies from model to model. With cars, like the Hyundai Genesis, the small backset is tailored to the comfort of the rear passengers despite small legroom. The molded seats with integrated cup holders make riding in the back seat a great experience. Like many other cars with two doors, this car doe not have a middle seat, effectively restricting the passenger space to only four passengers.
Sedans, like Honda Accord, never compromised on passenger’s comfort sitting in the back or front seat. Head and leg space are a priority. Furthermore, sedans have enough room in which five passengers can accommodate easily. Thanks to the wider, bench-style seat that comes with three seat belts.
Cargo Space
As sedans are long cars, they have more cargo space in its trunk. For instance, the Hyundai Sonata, has more than 16 cubic feet of cargo space in its trunk, making it great for carrying groceries or going on road trips. Coupes have less cargo space, but in some models, we can fold the seats and expand the trunk space. As each model changes in quality and build type, it is important to look at both the interior’s flexibility and the cargo space to find out which car has more space for keeping your belongings.
Sedan vs Coupe: Choosing your Ideal vehicle
Ultimately, it comes down to the look and feels of the vehicle as you make your choice between these two body styles. Check online to compare the features and be sure to check the descriptive photographs and then choose three to five sedans or coupes that meet your expectations. While going for a test drive, take your family along with you to find out how well everyone fits in it. Narrowing down your options will help you to ensure that the car you chose serves everyone well.
Now, once you know the features, interior, exterior, and other important specifications of both these cars, what are you waiting for? Book your favorite car and be ready to enjoy a fun ride with your loved ones.