HOW TO RECOGNIZE CAR BODY TYPE ?

Some of us maybe did not know how to recognize a car's body, whether is it a sedan or coupe, or hatchback. So, in this writing, I will share the criteria that we must note to notice what type of body type the car represents.

SEDAN

Hyundai Sonata 2.0 Turbo

This picture shows the Hyundai Sonata 2.0 Turbo which represents the sedan car body type. So how to know the car is a sedan. A sedan is a car with a closed body with the engine, passengers, and cargo in separate compartments. The typical characteristics of sedans are : 

• a B-pillar (between the front and rear windows) that supports the roof
• two rows of seats
• a three-box design with the engine at the front and the cargo area at the rear
• a less steeply sloping roofline than a coupé, which results in increased headroom for rear passengers and a less sporting appearance.
• a rear interior volume of at least 33 cu ft (0.93 m3)

It is sometimes suggested that sedans must have four doors (to provide a simple distinction between sedans and two-door coupés). However, several sources state that a sedan can have two or four doors. In addition, terms such as sedan and coupé have been more loosely interpreted by car manufacturers since 2010. 

When a manufacturer produces two-door sedan and four-door sedan versions of the same model, the shape and position of the greenhouse on both versions may be identical, with only the B-pillar positioned further back to accommodate the longer doors on the two-door versions.

COUPE

Porsche 911 2022

This picture shows the Porsche 911 2022 which represents the coupe car body type. So what is coupe ?A coupe is defined as a closed roof, 2-door passenger car with a three-box body for the engine and the passenger compartment. Most importantly, a coupe is a vehicle with interior space that is under 33 cubic feet. Some other features include having a body built closer to the ground with smooth lines from the roof to the rear of the car, giving it a sportier look. As for seating, the passenger compartment can comfortably seat 2. But depending on the model, some include 2 additional seats squeezed in the back. Within recent years the coupe has expanded with some featuring 4-doors and called “four-door coupes” instead of the traditional 2-doors. These “four-door coupes” have multiple hybrid characteristics taken from other car segments which have blurred the line between coupes, sedans, SUVs, and hatchbacks. Among the different segments of cars, coupes are most popular with drivers who are looking for a stylish, sporty drive. They are also sought by drivers who enjoy drifting with the help of paddle shifters and ESC (electric stability control).

HATCHBACK

Proton IRIZ 2022

This picture shows the Proton IRIZ 2022 which represents the hatchback car body type. So what is hatchback? A hatchback is a car body configuration with a rear door that swings upward to provide access to a cargo area. Hatchbacks may feature fold-down second-row seating, where the interior can be reconfigured to prioritize passenger or cargo volume. Hatchbacks may feature a two- or three-box design.

The distinguishing feature of a hatchback is a rear door that opens upwards and the hinged at roof level. Most hatchbacks use a two-box design body style where the cargo area (trunk/boot) and passenger areas are a single volume. The rear seats can often be folded down to increase the available cargo area. Hatchbacks may have a removable rigid parcel shelf or a flexible roll-up cover to cover up the cargo space behind the rear seats

So that is some of the knowledge that I can share about the criteria for each car body type. Hope this sharing can be useful for those that read this writing. Thank you.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedan_(automobile)

2. https://www.kia.com/dm/discover-kia/ask/what-is-the-difference-between-a-coupe-and-a-sedan.html

3.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatchback