In the competitive auto market, there are ten essential types of cars. Sedans and hatchbacks come into the category of “passenger vehicles,” i.e., cars that are neither minivans, trucks, or SUVs. While it was once easy to distinguish a sedan from a hatchback, that is no longer the case. In this article, we’ll clarify the confusion for you by explaining each car’s key characteristics.
Sedan
The definition of a sedan is the same as it has always been: A passenger vehicle with four doors and a separate trunk. The trunk is an enclosed cargo space, separated from the passenger seats. Most sedans offer a foldable rear seat back that opens a pass-through to accommodate large cargo that won’t fit in the trunk.
With the seat back upright, the trunk is sealed away from access. Sedans are described as having “three-box bodies.” This means that the front box is for the engine; the middlebox is bigger and accommodates the passengers; and the third box, in the rear end, is the trunk. These are the primary proportions of a sedan.
Hatchback
Deciding what is and what’s not a hatchback is more challenging. Not long ago, hatchbacks were considered small, affordable, boxy, economy cars. They were called “two-box cars” since the engine was up front in the first box, and there was a second box for the passengers and cargo area, but no trunk. Hatchbacks had two to four doors, and a one-piece foldable tailgate called a hatch. Cars like the Renault Le Cars, VW Golfs, Ford Escorts, and Dodge Omnis are examples of the classic hatchback.
Today, most smaller hatchbacks aren’t what we would call two-box cars. Instead, they’re much sleeker, with stylish rooflines that sweep down to their rear bumpers. Modern hatchbacks are well-built, with excellent interiors, and in some cases, are anything but affordable. Some examples of newer hatchbacks include the Mazda 3, Hyundai Elantra GT, Honda Civic Sport, and Toyota Corolla hatchback. Volkswagen still makes its squared-off, traditional two-box design for its Golf car, though the model has been given modern styling. The company offers the Jetta if you’d like a Golf with a trunk.
