What Body Style Is Best For You?

While SUVs and crossovers still dominate most of the market for new car sales in the United States, there are still other options available for those who might not need so much space. Sedans and hatchbacks might not be as popular anymore, but they still exist as a (mostly) smaller, more efficient form of transportation. Fortunately, some brands like Toyota, Mazda, and Honda offer almost every body style across their lineups. Those three brands in particular also offer models in both sedan and hatchback body styles, which make for a useful way to compare hatchback vs. sedan body styles.

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Toyota

Toyota is a Japanese automaker founded in 1937 that has developed a reputation for reliability across a multitude of segments, from sports cars and family sedans to pickup trucks and off-roaders. Famous models from the brand include the Hilux, Land Cruiser, Camry, Crown, and Corolla, the latter being the world’s best-selling vehicle nameplate, with more than 50 million Corolla-badged vehicles being sold since it was first introduced. Toyota typically competes in the mainstream market, but is also famous for launching Lexus as a luxury sub-brand to take on Mercedes-Benz.

Founded

August 28, 1937

Founder

Kiichiro Toyoda

Headquarters

Aichi, Japan

Owned By

Publicly Traded

Current CEO

Koji Sato

Exterior Design And Dimensions

Size And Style Differences

It’s true that there are dimension differences between hatchbacks and sedans, but it’s not always a case of a hatch is simply a sedan with the trunk lopped off. In some cases, hatch and sedan versions don’t even share a wheelbase measurements, while in other cases, everything is the same with the exception of overall length. Here’s a direct comparison between the sedan and hatch variants of our three example cars to make it easier:

Sedan Dimensions and Style

In our hatchback vs. sedan face-off, we’re looking at three popular models that are available in both body styles. In a traditional three-box sedan, you have the front seats, rear seats, and a trunk. A hatchback, on the other hand, has a taller cargo area that forms part of the rear compartment of the car. As far as dimensions go, the exteriors of each body style are differentiated by length. While width and height are identical between the Civic, Corolla, and Mazda3 sedans and hatchbacks, the hatches are shorter by an average of 8.4 inches. That makes sense given all the extra length is attributed to the larger trunk on sedans.

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There’s also the styling aspect to consider. While there are a few automakers that purposefully make performance-focused sedans, the majority aim their sporty products at more compact body styles. Sedans tend to be considered as economical and practical commuters – or luxury barges – while hatchbacks feel more youthful, and thus, arguably, sportier. Examples include the Toyota GR Corolla and Honda Civic Type R, which are both only available as hatchbacks although more demure sedan counterparts do exist. The Honda Civic Sedan happens to have the SI trim, which is sportier than most other Civic Sedans, but it’s not quite on the Type R level.

Hatchback Dimensions

When comparing a sedan vs. hatchback, dimensions don’t change all that much, although all of them are shorter than their sedan counterparts. For the most part, width and height are relatively similar, but things such as interior space for passengers, wheelbase, and even ground clearance can vary, depending on the make and model. It’s also worth noting that since manufacturers also tend to aim their sedan and hatchback models at different target audiences, dimensions also shift to accommodate that. For example, if sedans are considered more mature, then metrics such as comfort and practicality will matter more. If hatchbacks are aimed at a younger target market, looks matter more – even if you need to shave some rear-seat space to make it look cooler.

Interior And Practicality

It’s All In The Trunk

The difference in cargo space between sedans and hatchbacks is due to their exterior shapes and is one of the biggest points of difference between them. The taller ‘roofline’ at the back of a hatchback allows for more cargo space inside, but in a different way. Hatchbacks tend to have more upright, narrow storage compartments, while sedans offer broad and flat trunk areas. In our three-way comparison of hatchback vs sedan, all three hatch models offer much more cargo volume behind the rear seats. Another factor worth considering is the ability to fold the seats flat in most hatchbacks. While some sedans can fold their seats down, too, its not a given, and some higher-end sedans don’t offer this feature at all.

When it comes to passenger, space, however, it’s the sedan that offers the most in terms of EPA-rated volume. On a more granular level, sedans often prioritize comfort, so you may find that headroom and legroom figures improve in sedan models, although the difference is almost negligible in the Civic and Mazda3 comparison. And in the Corolla comparison, the Hatch is more generous up front (courtesy of a higher over stance) but much more restricted in the back row.

Performance And Economy

Does Body Style Affect Fuel Budget?

To determine whether or not the body style of a car affects its performan and efficiency, let’s look at our example cars: For the purposes of this comparison, we’re not comparing hybrid models and we’re excluding performance derivatives like the Type R and GR Corolla Hatch.

In the above comparison, we compare models that share an engine, outputs, drivetrain options, and transmission. In two out of the three examples, the sedan is more efficient, with the Corolla lineup being on equal footing when kitted out with the same mechanical specs. The difference is usually not very big, however.

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It’s worth noting that since hatchbacks tend to have sportier aspirations, they’re often kitten out with options such as AWD, a manual transmission, and body styling which tends to affect weight and aerodynamics, which can explain variances in efficiency. In some cases, the differences are attributed to trim variances, with higher-tier trims carrying more kit and equipment to add to the feeling of luxury, getting larger wheels, all of which makes them heavier and less efficient.

Popularity In The USA

Let The Numbers Do The Talking

While enthusiasts tend to prefer hatchbacks due to those having the performance-focused versions and manual transmissions, when comparing base models, which style is actually the most popular? According to official sales reports from Mazda, the Mazda3 Sedan actually sold more units than the hatchback in 2024. In December of last year, the Mazda 3 Sedan sold 3,114 cars, but they only sold 933 hatchbacks. The difference becomes even clearer when looking at the annual sales figures: 23,853 sedans sold while 15,024 made it off dealer lots.

Unfortunately, Honda and Toyota’s sales reports don’t indicate which of their models are hatch vs. sedan, so we can’t draw any further conclusions. However, the fact that these automakers still have hatchback cars on sale in a market that’s overrun with trucks and SUVs does speak volumes.

Pricing And Resale Value

Hatchback Versus Sedan: New And Used Prices

Right offthe bat, it’s clear that sedans are cheaper than hatchbacks. When buying new, the Honda Civic, Mazda3, and Toyota Corolla are all more expensive as hatchbacks, in varying degrees. This comes down to a variety of factors, but one is that people are willing to spend more on a hatchback if it means a more fun driving experience and some extra cargo space. It’s also important to remember that some hatchback lineups have fewer trims, while sedan range often have a barebones fleet-spec entry-level model.

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In addition to being more expensive as new cars, hatchbacks also tend to hold their value for longer than sedans. We looked at Kelly Blue Book values for the 2023 Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla, and compared their body styles’ current resale value. The Mazda3 sedan is currently valued at around $21k, but the Mazda3 hatchback is selling for at least a grand more. The same applies to the other models in question, with the Corolla hatch seemingly holding its value best.

Conclusion: What’s Better, Sedan or Hatch?

So, hatchback or sedan? Choosing the right body style comes down to your lifestyle more than many other factors. In the end, fuel economy is comparable between the two with mostly neglible differences, and hatchbacks are generally shorter than sedans (if parking in a tight space is especially important to you). Where the differences between hatches and sedans begin to show themselves is in price and cargo space. Not only do hatchbacks cost more than sedans when new, they tend to sell for more as used cars, too.

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Across the board, hatchbacks have more cargo volume in their trunks. Other characteristics come down to whether you want a more sporty hot hatch, or if a typical sedan will fulfill your needs as a driver. It is worth noting that the few performance-focused hatchbacks left on the market are icons for a reason; the Civic Type-R is unbeatable for FWD thrills, while the GR Corolla has taken the world by storm. It’s great that the choice between hatch and sedan doesn’t ask for too many compromises, however.

Sources: Honda, Mazda, Toyota, KBB, EPA