The Great SUV Or Sedan Debate.

SUVs and Sedans parked in a row on dealer lot with clear skies above.

SUV or Sedan, the age old question. Whether you’re looking to get a car or it’s your first car even, this question is probably in your head. Vehicles are so good today, one of the hardest parts about getting one is the choice. Should I get this or that? And all the prices seem to be competitive, so it really boils down to your personal preference. Let’s attempt to make this decision much easier for you.

Topics discussed:

Which is better, a SUV or Sedan ?

There are more pros to having an SUV than a sedan. SUV stands for Sport Utility Vehicle. You definitely get more utility out of it vs a sedan. That is if you care about that stuff. With SUV’s you get more space, all around and your ground clearance is higher which means you can go more places and tackle a more diverse patch of terrain. Speaking of terrain, generally more SUV’s come with AWD (All Wheel Drive) as options standard.

Dodge

Even some SUVs come with 4WD (4 Wheel Drive) Options. This is not the same for sedans across the board. Now you might be wondering, what’s the difference between AWD & 4WD. It’s very simple, AWD is all wheel drive all the time and 4WD is two wheels, usually the fronts with the option to engage the other two, which are the rear wheels. You can also feel safer in a SUV because it’s bigger and heavier than a sedan, which means you can feel less impact if anything were to go wrong.

However, sedans can be just as safe as SUVs, because this also depends on driving habits. Now in terms of sporty driving, sedans are better. Sporty driving requires maneuverability and speed, which is easier to accomplish in a sedan vs an SUV. This is not to say SUVs aren’t fast, but the physics of a sedan is more compatible with speed and maneuverability than a SUV.

Is an SUV or Sedan better on gas ?

Fuel gauge with a red needle indicating empty. 3d render

Sedans tend to do better on gas than SUVs because they’re smaller and weigh less. Weight can be very significant when it comes to mpg (Miles Per Gallon). Sedans being smaller and weighing less, means its less wind resistance moving through the air and less weight for the engine to tug along. Now if the engine does less, it revs less, which uses up less gas. However, your mpg also depends on your driving style.

Is an SUV or Sedan easier to drive ?

Examples of a Sedan: Mazda 6 car drive on road at daytime

SUVs are bigger and bulkier, which means there is less room to get around in tight spaces. It’s not super hard once you get over the learning curve, but sedans do have that advantage over SUVs. When it comes to quick response scenarios, generally sedans perform better as well. This is not to say SUVs can’t be quick responding. Sporty and Fast SUVs are becoming more normal these days.

Are Sedans more reliable than an SUV ?

Example of a Sedan: Alpha Romeo Giulia with hood opened at the jacob javits center new york auto show.

This really depends on the manufacturer or what brand you go with. However, SUVs are built to take more, they have bigger, more expensive parts, so they can take more wear and tear and take pressure off or certain other parts. Over the course of a few years, driving an SUV might be less beat up than a sedan, assuming similar and proper driving habits. In terms of long lasting vehicles, truck based SUVs seems to be one of the more long lasting vehicles according to ISeeCars.com.

Are SUVs more comfortable than Sedans?

SUV’s generally come with better shocks and springs for the weight of it, they also come with bigger tires and bigger seats. All of these parts play a role into the comfort level of a vehicle. Sedans often come lower to the ground, stiffer springs and less meat on the tires depending on the make and model. SUVs are generally built to be more comfortable than a sedan.

Is insurance cheaper on an SUV or Sedan?

Dealer salesman giving car key to owner. client signing insurance document or rental car lease form agreement contract Insurance car concept.

SUVs tend to be more expensive for insurance because of a few factors. SUVs are built with more and expensive parts like I mentioned above, which means there is a lot to replace should anything happen. Higher rate insurance also depends on your age, for your level of driving experience.

London, UK - 10 April, 2019 - A car driving through a London street lined with terraced houses and parked cars, you can see SUV or sedan around Crouch End area

Where you live in case there is a high rate of theft in an area. How often you drive, the more you drive the more chances for you to get involved in an accident. However, a couple factors that could get you a cheaper rate is getting a vehicle that has great crash test results and is known for good anti theft technology.

Are SUVs better in the snow?

Ivalo, Finland - January 16, 2020: Dark blue 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan drives on a snowy road near winter forest at twilight beyond the Arctic Circle. Extreme winter driving conditions. Front LED headlights are on. Color tonning applied.

SUV’s have better ground clearance than sedans, so when it comes to high or thick patches of snow you will have an easier time with clearing that. With more SUV’s equipped with AWD or 4WD literally improves your chances of dealing with the snow as well. Front wheel drive sedans  also work better in slippery conditions like the snow, vs rear wheel drive vehicles in general. The biggest key difference that makes your vehicle perform in slippery conditions, like snow for instance is your tires. Whether you have an SUV, Sedan, AWD,4WD,FWD or RWD the point of contact to the slippery surface you’re driving on is your tires! The better your tires are at dealing with those conditions, the easier time you will have.

Conclusion

The future of mainstream vehicles might be crossovers. The pros and cons that exist for both SUVs and Sedans, Crossovers take care of. If your SUV is too big a crossover is a bit smaller and if your sedan is too low, a crossover has better ground clearance etc. So maybe the future answer to this age old question, SUV or Sedan? Crossover ! At this point the vehicle market has enough options for you to have option paralysis. However, it is ultimately your values that will guide you down the road of any choices. Hopefully this article has helped you in making a more assured choice.

author avatar
Javaughn Barrow
Hello! My name is Javaughn Barrow, a young car enthusiast who writes all the articles for Karcandy.com. I’ve written over 50 articles about automobiles. With each article, I deepen my understanding and expertise in writing and the automotive world. Ever since childhood, I’ve always had a strong passion for cars. All types shapes and sizes were interesting to me. I’d spend most of my time after school researching cars and the more I found out about them the more exciting it was. In my teens, I created a fan page about corvettes posting content at least ten times a day! Yes, I was crazy about it. The page ended up garnering over 40k followers! After a while, I wanted more than a fan page. I wanted to express my passion differently. I wanted to create more helpful content, higher-quality content. My first car was a 2013 VW CC Sport. Learned very quickly car ownership wasn’t as expected. I spent a lot of time replacing control arms, cam position sensors, brake rotors, brake pads, etc. Walking away with more information than I knew before. As I was growing in my automotive journey I was learning about writing. Starting by writing a detailed outline about 300 words long then I would pay a professional to write a full 1000-word article and learn from them getting familiar with the process of writing. The moment I realized I could use my writing skills to express my passion for cars and help people simultaneously, I started Karcandy.com. I realized with my unique perspective coupled with my hard work discipline and work ethic I can create a space online to help bridge the gap between the complicated and simple in the automotive world. I’m motivated by the challenges and work it will take to create such a space. My work ethic is something I choose to refine and make better each day. I think it’s important to push myself and stay committed to my evolution as a human and this website is only one of the results of that.

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