There are many terms for the body styles of automobiles in our new vehicle inventory. We’re going to break down a few of the basic car body styles in this post to see if we can shed some light on a somewhat confusing subject. Keep reading to compare coupes vs sedans vs hatchbacks.
Read More: Compare a the Midsize, Full-Size, and Heavy-Duty Chevy Trucks
Basic Car Body Styles
Maybe there is a specific term for the sort of automobile that you have liked in the past. Maybe you are just curious about basic car body styles. Here is our breakdown.
Coupes
Coupes are generally two-door vehicles with a sporty feel, like the elegant and track-optimized Chevy Camaro. While a two-door truck may just be practical (unless you’re looking at the 1959 Chevy El Camino coupe utility pickup) a car with just two doors (and generally two to four seats) is usually small and fast (and gorgeously designed) or optimized for fuel-efficiency.
Sedans
Sedans are usually four-door vehicles that seat four or more people (five is standard). This is the body style that is regularly associated with the general term “car”. It has a trunk for storage, though that trunk can be either in the front or the back, depending on the model. Hatchbacks, as another four-door model, can be considered a variation on the sedan.
Hatchbacks
Hatchbacks are sometimes described as “five-door” vehicles. Like sedans, they have four doors for passengers, and four or five seats. Instead of a trunk the “hatchback” opens up for the “fifth door”. Hatchbacks usually hold more cargo than sedans. Some vehicles, like the 2017 Chevy Sonic, are available in both sedan and hatchback body style.
There are a few other body styles that aren’t as common. Most convertibles (that is, vehicles with removable tops) are based on a two-door coupe body style. A station wagon is longer than a traditional sedan, and will have a hatchback-like rear door. And SUVs, crossovers, and trucks are a different creature altogether that we will probably cover in a future blog. Still have a question about coupes vs sedans vs hatchbacks, or about another variation on car body style? Let us know in the comments!
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