Sedan vs. Coupe: What’s the Difference?

Gone are the days when a car simply meant having four wheels and a decent engine. Today, you’ll come across various styles like the SUV, pickup, hatchback, minivan, crossover, and convertible一each with their own distinct features and capabilities.

While it’s relatively easy to tell most of these styles apart, telling the difference between a sedan and a coupe is not as simple for many. Let’s find out how these two types differ from one another and which one is the best for you.

What’s the Difference Between a Coupe and a Sedan?

If you ask car enthusiasts about the difference between a coupe and a sedan, they’ll probably tell you that a coupe has two doors while a sedan has four. While this is technically true, the difference between the two cars is more than just the number of doors.

The main difference between a coupe and a sedan has something to do with their size. According to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), a coupe is a car with less than 33 cubic feet of interior volume. Any car that exceeds this measurement regardless of whether it has two or four doors is considered a sedan.

Driving a Coupe vs. Driving a Sedan

Both coupes and sedans feature a three-box design, which means the engine bay, passenger cabin, and trunk space are physically divided. But aside from this feature, the two car types are very much different in terms of style, performance, and space一all of which have something to do with their size.

Appearance

Most people find coupes to be more stylish cars than sedans. Coupes tend to have gentle roofline slopes that give them an elongated and less boxy look. Sedans, on the other hand, have luxurious designs and shorter doors that give them a balanced side profile.

Accessibility

Sedans usually seat up to five passengers comfortably, which makes them  great family cars. Meanwhile, coupes have either very small rear seats or, in some cases, no rear seats at all. As such, coupes generally don’t make as good of family cars as sedans.

Performance

The coupe’s small dimensions, low ride height, and slim shape can make it a great performance car. The decreased size and weight also contribute to better handling, braking, and balance.

Sedans, on the other hand, tend to be heavier and bigger than coupes, but they can sometimes perform just as well with the right engine and suspension upgrades.

Cargo Space

Sedans are built to have a bigger cargo space than coupes, making them the better choice if you often travel with a lot of items.

Coupe Pros and Cons

Coupes are among the most popular car types, but what exactly are the benefits that come with driving one? Similarly, what drawbacks do they come with?

Coupe Pros

• Sleek and Sporty Aesthetic. There’s no denying that Coupes are attractive vehicles with their sharp, aerodynamic designs. They’re eye-catching, sporty, and stand out on the road.
• Powerful Performance. Most coupes are designed with performance in mind, optimized for speed and power. This means they have high automotive benchmarks and are very satisfying to drive.
• Optimized for Speed. Because of their weight distribution, low center of gravity, and powerful engines, coupes are much faster and more agile than other car types. A coupe’s handling is responsive and effective, making it good for winding roads.

Coupe Cons

• Not Very Practical. Coupes lack storage space because they’re designed for power and performance as opposed to practicality.
• Can Be Uncomfortable. Passengers don’t have a lot of room – especially the ones in the back seat. They’re not ideal for families.
• Form Over Functionality. Coupes are typically sleek, making them difficult to enter. They’re also built for power over comfort, meaning drives will feel stiffer.

Sedan Pros and Cons

Sedans are one of the most widely used and widely available car types, but what exactly makes them so attractive to people – and what exactly are their disadvantages?

Sedan Pros

• Affordable and Accessible. Sedans are cheap compared to coupes and other car types, making them more accessible to the average driver.
• Incredibly Comfortable. Because they’re built for practicality, sedans are comfortable and offer a lot of legroom and headspace.
• Better for the Environment. Sedans are incredibly fuel-efficient compared to other car types because of their light weight and low fuel consumption.

Sedan Cons

• Poor Cargo Space. Though sedans have roomy interiors, their cargo spaces are typically quite small.
• Low Ground Clearance. Sedans are built lower to the ground, making them ineffective at offroad driving and traversing flooded roads.

Unimpressive Performance. Though fuel-efficient, the average sedan doesn’t have very high automotive benchmarks. They lack power and torque.

Coupe vs. Sedan: Which Is the Right One for You?

Your needs and preferences will determine which car style is ideal for you.

If you’re looking for something practical with ample cargo space, then a sedan might be the wiser choice. But if you want to drive a sporty car without spending too much on upgrades, you might be better off with a coupe.

Most Reliable Coupes

A coupe’s style and performance are enough to make a statement on the road, which explains why many drivers opt to drive this type of car. If you’re looking into getting a coupe, check out some of the best makes and models in the market and what they have to offer.

Lexus RC

The Lexus RC is a sporty coupe equipped with a standard 2.0-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine. It delivers 241 horsepower with 258 lb-ft. of torque. The RC is also available in a rear-wheel or all-wheel drive system and two V6 engines with up to 311 horsepower.

Other features that add to the RC’s spirited driving experience include a seven-inch infotainment display and a state-of-the-art audio system.

Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang continues to live up to its image of being the most dependable roadsters out there. It boasts powerful engine options like a turbocharged 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine with 310 horsepower and 350 lb-ft. of torque available in a six-speed manual transmission or 10-speed automatic. It also has impressive reliability scores.

Audi TT

The Audi TT’s superb performance is backed by a standard all-wheel drive system. The model is available in a 2.0-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine with 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The TT’s interior is as striking as its exterior. It features dual-zone automatic climate control, a 12-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system, handwriting-recognition technology, and a top-of-the-line infotainment system.

Most Reliable Sedans

Sedans make a great family car with their ample interior space and dependable engine. Here are some of the best-rated models in the market to give you an idea of what make and model suits you best.

Toyota Avalon

The Avalon’s ample cargo and passenger space makes it a great full-size sedan. It has top-notch available safety features like rear cross traffic alert, lane keeping assist, and blind spot monitoring. The Avalon is also known for having lower than average repair costs, making it one of the most reliable sedans on the market.

Honda Accord

The Accord is available in a 1.5-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 192 horsepower as well as a 2.0-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine with 252 horsepower. This model is best known for having agile and sporty handling while offering more passenger space than most of its competitors.

Toyota Camry

Comfortable and powerful are only some of the best words to describe the Toyota Camry. The model is one of the best-selling midsize sedans in the market thanks to its impressive safety features and state-of-the-art infotainment system. It is available in a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine with 202 horsepower and a 3.5-liter V6 with 301 horsepower.