When choosing a car, a person is guided by many factors, including the cost of the vehicle, the make, model of the car, and, of course, the body type. The last factor is almost decisive, because comfort and the possibility of proper operation of the car directly depend on it. Hatchback and station wagon are widely popular among drivers all over the world, and the difference between the two body types is what determines the motorist’s choice in favor of one option or another.
Hatchback
The car body may have one or two rows of seats, depending on the configuration. A distinctive feature of this body type is the presence of a door in the rear wall and, most importantly, a shortened rear overhang. The last factor makes it easy to distinguish a hatchback by its appearance. As a result, the car's trunk is not as spacious as, say, a station wagon. But this design allows the hatchback to maneuver well in urban environments, which is why this body type is widely in demand in metropolitan areas. Another advantage is the possibility of easy parking. The actual combination of the passenger compartment and trunk also has a negative side: quite often, drivers and passengers complain about an unpleasant smell from the trunk if, for example, some products are transported there.
Toyota Prius NHW20 - hatchback example
Station wagon
This is a closed two-volume body for passenger and cargo transportation. We can say that a station wagon is a sedan with an enlarged luggage compartment and an additional lift door at the rear. As a result, the vast majority of station wagons have five doors, less often - three. Since the luggage compartment and passenger compartment are combined, this creates a risk of injury to passengers due to the cargo being transported (for example, due to an accident). Therefore, in many countries around the world they use a special dividing net to properly protect passengers from force majeure situations.
Opel Astra H - an example of a station wagon
Comparison of hatchback and station wagon
The combination of luggage compartment and interior is the most striking example of the similarities between hatchback and station wagon. What is the difference between a hatchback and a station wagon? In the following:
The size of the luggage compartment of a hatchback is smaller; accordingly, this type of body is less often used for cargo transportation. But the station wagon is specifically purchased by many companies as a vehicle for cargo transportation.
The hatchback has a more elegant design (rear part of the body). The inclined door looks more beautiful than the strict vertical version of the station wagon. For example, many women prefer hatchbacks because of their aesthetic appearance.
The station wagon is longer. It is difficult to say whether this is an advantage or a disadvantage - it all depends on the purpose for which the car is used. If for freight, then it is rather an advantage; if for a regular trip and transportation of passengers, then it is closer to a disadvantage.
The driving comfort of a station wagon and a hatchback is almost the same, except that in some station wagons tall passengers in the rear seats feel more comfortable.
As a rule, a station wagon costs more. For example, the station wagon body type of new Lada Priora or Kia pro cee’d cars costs more than a hatchback.
ImGist determined that the difference between a station wagon and a hatchback is as follows:
Luggage compartment size. The station wagon is more spacious.
Different designs. The rear of the hatchback car is more elegant than that of the station wagon.
In the length of the car (station wagon is longer).
The station wagon is more comfortable for tall passengers in the rear seat.
In most cases, the cost of a station wagon is higher.
Station wagon and hatchback are the names of body types of passenger cars. They both have common characteristics, but they also have one fundamentally important difference.
Station wagon
Typically a five-door passenger car with four doors arranged in pairs on the sides and one door at the rear. This door is the luggage compartment lid, and this cargo compartment itself communicates with the vehicle interior. The rear row of passenger seats can be folded, which significantly increases the trunk volume. A station wagon, as a rule, is a variation of the corresponding sedan model, has the same chassis size, drive type, etc. The rear wall-door is closer to vertical in position. For transporting goods, a station wagon is the most suitable of all passenger cars, which is why station wagons were (and remain) so popular among gardeners transporting seedlings, building materials, etc. to their country plots.
The VAZ four-station wagon is a typical representative of this class
Kalina with an extended station wagon body
A three- or five-door car with a noticeably shortened rear overhang compared to a station wagon or sedan. Accordingly, the trunk volume of a hatchback is smaller than that of a station wagon. The name hatchback is taken from the English language, where hatch is a hatch, and back is behind. A type of passenger car body with one or two rows of seats, a door in the rear wall and a shortened rear overhang. The shortened rear overhang is the main feature of the hatchback. The appearance of a shortened body, the rear border of which runs almost along the edge of the rear wheels, is caused by the tightness of movement and maneuvering in urban conditions. The layout of all hatchbacks is overwhelmingly the same: front-wheel drive with a transversely mounted engine, which also helps to increase the car’s maneuverability. The luggage compartment of the hatchback is combined with the passenger compartment and also allows you to increase its volume due to the folding rear row seats. 
Kalina hatchback main modification
Quick to remember
Station wagon
A passenger car based on a sedan of the same model with a rear door and a luggage compartment combined with the interior.
A passenger car with a rear door, a luggage compartment combined with the interior and a shortened rear overhang. It is shorter in length than a station wagon of the same class, has a smaller trunk volume, but greater maneuverability.
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Similar materials
The hatchback is a fairly popular body type these days, which has long been a serious competitor to the sedan. The word “hatchback” is formed from two English words “hatch” - hatch and “back” - rear. The body began its history in the pre-war years. In the distant 40s of the twentieth century, the first cars with a wide rear hatch began to be produced by Citroen, and later the baton was picked up by the American company Kaiser Motors, releasing two models into the world: Frazer Vagabond and Kaiser Traveler. Hatchbacks gained wide popularity thanks to the efforts of the Japanese. In Europe, the fashion for these bodies began after the release of the French Renault 16.What does a hatchback look like?
The hatchback is a 3- or 5-door body style, has one or two rows of seats, as well as a short rear overhang, and it also has a door in the rear wall. The length of a hatchback is often shorter than that of a sedan, which gives it a number of advantages in urban environments. As a rule, a hatchback has a sloping roof that smoothly, without steps, goes into the trunk lid. Also, this body can be three-volume, but even in this case the lower overhang remains shortened.Is it better to choose a hatchback or a sedan?
To make it easier for you to decide on the body of your future car, we provide a list of the advantages and disadvantages of the sedan and hatchback. After reading it, you will receive useful information that will help you with your choice.Hatchback. Advantages
- Quite compact in size, but not burdened with a “tail,” which allows them to maneuver perfectly on city streets.
- Wide luggage compartment opening, which allows you to load large items (TVs, washing machines, etc.)
- Attractive appearance, somewhat similar to sports cars (in demand among young people).
- The absence of a partition and sound insulation between the passenger compartment and the luggage compartment leads to the fact that while driving you will hear and feel all the sounds and smells that come from the trunk.
- Also, due to the fact that the interior volume increases due to the trunk, warming up the car is difficult in winter.
- The size of the trunk becomes larger than the trunk of a sedan only if the rear row of seats is removed or folded.
- The sedan has a more presentable appearance than the hatchback. This makes it a favorite among older car enthusiasts.
- Insulated trunk. A feature that is a disadvantage in a competitor is absent in the sedan. You will not hear any extraneous noise from the trunk while driving.
- The most unpleasant drawback for sedans is the small trunk, as well as the small amount of space in the cabin.
- Compared to hatchbacks, sedans are larger, which makes driving in city traffic more difficult.
If you analyze these two bodies, you can note several differences:
- Price. As corny as it sounds, it’s true. Station wagons are much more expensive than hatchbacks.
- Luggage compartment size. Station wagons have noticeably more luggage space than hatchbacks.
- Design. The elegant shapes of hatchbacks look much more attractive than the strict lines of a station wagon.
Hatchbacks are great cars for small families. They combine comfort, practicality and attractive design. The hatchback is ideal for trips into nature; all the things you need on vacation will fit in its trunk. And within the city, the maneuverability and small size of this car will help you overcome traffic jams faster. Are you dreaming of a hatchback? Go to the catalog of passenger cars, which will help you navigate the prices.
Popular hatchbacks that deserve your attention
The bestseller comes from Korea. Reliable and practical, with a long list of options and everything you'd expect from a modern C-Class car.
. Renault Sandero, an affordable hatchback from the French brand. A nice city compact, with a spacious interior and a roomy trunk. It withstands the hardships of Russian roads and weather.
An example of the ratio of price to level of equipment. Consistently high build quality, steering wheels and suspension tuned to our roads, reliable engines - all in favor of this model.
Peugeot 308, the very embodiment of style. The latest generation of the model, both inside and outside, has become the most spectacular in the class. Pleasant to the touch materials and bold body lines make you fall in love with it.
13.06.2019
Many people who deal with cars wonder what the differences are between cars with different body types, such as an SUV and a crossover, a sedan or a hatchback.
For example, if you look at a BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe and try to determine what body type it belongs to, you can easily make a mistake. The difficulty is that this model looks like a typical sedan, but for some reason it belongs to the coupe class. Despite this, due to the wide variety in the modern automotive market, mistakes can occur even for people who are well versed in the world of cars.
What are the differences between different categories of cars?
Vehicles for off-road driving. To be able to easily distinguish SUVs from crossovers, you should clarify on which platform a specific car model is created. Much attention should also be paid to the dimensions that each type of car has. The thing is that full-fledged SUVs have quite impressive dimensions.
According to the information contained in the international classification of SUVs, they are based on a frame platform, where the body is secured to a strong frame. Immediately after their appearance, all representatives of this class were made on a frame type chassis with a high level of ground clearance. After some time, thanks to the high popularity of this class of cars, cars were created in which the body was the load-bearing part and there was no frame. They are called crossovers.
Almost immediately after its creation, most cars of this class were equipped with an all-wheel drive system. Over time, in order to save money, all-wheel drive began to be connected using the AWD system, that is, with reduced interaction with the road surface.
Hatchbacks and station wagons. Both cars belong to the universal category of automobile transport when compared with sedans or coupes. In fact, their technical characteristics are closer to the previous pair of cars.
The main difference between this class of cars and all others is the larger luggage compartment volume, which is achieved due to the ability to fold the rear seats. The second positive point is easier access to the luggage compartment than in sedans and coupes. Externally, these cars can be distinguished by the body kit on the rear side of the car, which is significantly different. Unlike hatchbacks, the station wagon body is slightly longer. Most often, the roof of a station wagon is as long as its rear edge. The rear overhang is designed to create more cargo storage space. In hatchbacks, it does not reach the rear edge of the car.
Sedans and coupes. Previously, it was not particularly difficult to distinguish between sedan and coupe cars. A car with four doors was considered a sedan, and a car with two was considered a coupe. But, with the development of the car market, this principle ceased to apply, thanks to the advent of four-door coupes and two-door sedans.
For determining Whether it’s a coupe or a sedan, just look at the car’s pillars from the side. Cars with a sedan body type have three support pillars, of which the middle one serves to support the doors. It is not available in coupe-type vehicles. Another difference from sedans is the closer location of the front seats to the rear of such a car.
There are also a small number of machines that do not fit into any of the above categories. These include, for example, a Nissan Murano.
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Add a comment:Bus produced by a German company Volkswagen 48 years ago, will be sold at auction Bring a trailer. The auction will take place online.
Currently, the rare Volkswagen Bus is located in the United States. Its body is painted in two colors - white and light green. The wheels and both bumpers of this car are also painted white. The wheels have chrome caps. The wheels use tires from the famous manufacturer Hankook.
The interior of the minibus is equipped with passenger seats upholstered in fabric. The car has a CD player, which is not typical for the time the bus was built. It was probably installed much later. But the steering wheel of the car is original.
The power plant in this vehicle was a 1.6-liter engine, which has an air cooling system and works with a four-speed manual transmission. The bus has a rear-wheel drive mechanism. Currently, the starting price for this rarity is $12,000, which in Russian currency would be equal to 474,000 rubles. The mileage of this vehicle has not been announced. At the very least, there is no reliable information on this matter. Bidding will be announced in a few days.
The last stocks of several models of the American manufacturer Ford have run out in Russia.
The company announced back in the spring of this year that it did not want to continue operating in Russia, after which the brand’s enterprises were closed in two cities of the country at once.
But dealerships continued to sell new Focus, Fiesta, EcoSport cars. Now it has become known that stocks in car dealerships are running out and it is almost impossible to find them.
We don’t buy a car every year and when choosing it we have a long list of requirements. Manufacturer, price, fuel consumption, passenger capacity - all this must be taken into account. An important criterion is the body type. The appearance, operating comfort, and cross-country ability of the vehicle depend on it. There are many types of body: convertible, coupe, pickup, limousine, crossover and others. We will look at the most common ones on Russian roads: sedan, hatchback, station wagon. And let's try to figure out which is better.
Body types
Let's look at the most common body types:
- Sedan- this is the body of a passenger car with a trunk separated from the passenger compartment by seats. This type is also called three-volume: the interior and trunk are two closed adjacent spaces (the third is the engine compartment). The trunk lid is called the hood. The rear window is comparable in installation angle and area to the windshield. Most car models have 4 doors and 2 rows of seats.
- Hatchback- this is a body with a shortened rear overhang, that is, the distance from the rear wheel to the rear bumper. The body is two-volume - the trunk is part of the cabin and is located behind the passenger seats. To hide the contents of the trunk and protect passengers, the manufacturer provides a stretchable fabric mesh. There is a lift-up door in the rear wall that provides access to the interior. The vast majority of modern hatchbacks have a sloping door. Models are available with both 3 and 5 doors.
- Station wagon - a passenger car with 5 doors and a luggage compartment combined with a passenger compartment. Features a large trunk volume. The fifth rear door can be lifting, opening to the side, or double-leaf. It is possible to install an additional row of passenger seats in the cabin. The sedan and station wagon have the same body length.
Difference between a sedan and a hatchback
We found out the characteristics of the sedan and hatchback body. Now let’s figure out how they differ and what advantages they have.
- Machine length. The hatchback is 30-40 centimeters smaller due to the shortened rear overhang. This affects maneuverability and makes parking much easier. This is important in a city where every inch of parking space counts.
- Weight distribution along axes. The sedan has the advantage of an evenly distributed weight load on the wheels.
- Rear overhang. In the hatchback it is shortened and thanks to this it is easier to park it in reverse without fear of hitting the curb. Due to road spray, the hatchback requires a rear windshield wiper and washer.
- Cabin volume. For this parameter, the sedan gets a plus, since it has a more comfortable interior for passengers. And although its competitor has a larger interior due to the trunk, it is not as comfortable. Moreover, to create a suitable microclimate in a hatchback, it will take more time to heat the interior or, conversely, to cool it.
- Trunk volume. It's hard to say who wins. The volume of the trunk itself is larger in the sedan. But in a hatchback, the passenger seats can be folded down to provide additional space. At the same time, the usable space is comparable, but loading, for example, a TV or long objects, in a sedan is difficult. The hatchback also makes the large loading window practical.
- Safety. The sedan clearly wins, since in the event of an accident, depressurization of the rear passenger compartment is almost impossible. In a collision, hatchback passengers are often injured by objects that were in the trunk. Some countries even require the use of a special dividing net.
- Body connection. It is difficult to say which side has the advantage; rather, it depends on the situation. Advantages of the connected interior and trunk space:
- access to luggage without leaving the car;
- in an unusual situation, it is possible to get into the car through the back door;
- increasing trunk volume at the expense of the interior.
Positive aspects of an insulated trunk:
- When transporting a canister of fuel or an open can of paint, you will not smell it and it will not affect your well-being.
- By opening the trunk, you do not change the microclimate inside the car.
- It's safer to transport small items.
- Ease of management. In a hatchback, the border of the car body runs along the edge of the rear wheels, this allows the driver to better feel the dimensions of the car. Almost all sedan models have low ground clearance, which does not allow you to drive freely on dirt roads or broken asphalt.
- Rear view. Novice car enthusiasts will note that it is wider in the sedan. This is achieved as a result of the large rear window and short distance to the driver. In a hatchback, this distance is greater, and the glass itself is smaller, thus creating a tunnel effect or a reduced viewing angle.
- Appearance. The sedan has a more solid, presentable appearance. A hatchback is closer to a sports car.
What to choose?
When choosing a car, decide what functions, besides delivery from point A to point B, it should perform.
If you are planning a move, renovation, addition to your family, or frequent trips out of town, then it is better to opt for a hatchback. It will help transfer large cargo, for example, a small refrigerator, TV, stroller or curtain rod. And also cope with bumps on the road thanks to a higher seating position and adapted suspension.
Russian buyers prefer a sedan for its comfort, respectable appearance, and safety. If you carry a lot of small things, the best option would be a car with a closed body.
As we can see, the characteristics of the body type in different situations can play both for us and against us. When buying a car, focus not only on the aesthetics of the appearance, but also on your needs and practicality. The car will tell others about your status, lifestyle and even character.
