Before we outline the advantages and disadvantages of one over the other, let's figure out how a sedan differs from a crossover, in general terms.

The sedan is a classical variant Here we have the habitual five-seater car with the luggage carrier separated from salon. If you look at the generalized statistics, then there are noticeably more sedans on the roads than crossovers. Eminent manufacturers also focus on the classic type of car.

Crossovers (SUVs) are a cross between an SUV and a station wagon. cars are also called SUVs. In theory, a good crossover can more or less passably ride off-road, but in fact it is designed for parquet, and more precisely asphalt. In the assortment of almost every popular brand there are several series of SUVs.

So, let's try to figure out what is more comfortable - a sedan or a crossover in one case or another. Consider the critical differences between each type of machine, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. All this will influence the choice of class. Let's start with crossovers, and continue with sedans.

Luggage compartment volume

One of the main differences between a sedan and a crossover is roominess. SUVs in this case are clearly in a winning position. For example, volume luggage compartment 2016 Honda Accord sedan is about 500 liters. While the Honda CR-V SUV has this figure of almost 600 liters. And if you fold the rear seats, then we get 1700 liters. At the same time, the dimensions of the "Accord" are slightly larger.

If for you the volume of the luggage compartment is a critical moment, then the choice between a crossover or a sedan is quite obvious. Here we have a clear advantage on the side of SUVs.

Four-wheel drive

A good half of Russian regions are characterized by harsh winters, as well as freezing rain, hail and snow. The latter turn the roadway into a real ice rink or off-road. Of course, high-quality and expensive winter tires save the day, but only partly for sedans. While all-wheel drive good crossovers in this case are in a better position.

In addition, systems all-wheel drive imply an enlarged ground clearance, which also saves while overcoming snowdrifts and other winter obstacles. If you need a car for winter trips to the country or in the countryside, then the choice between a crossover or a sedan is also obvious.

Landing

Another clear advantage of the SUV over conventional cars is the high seating position. That is, with an increase in clearance, the body itself became higher, and with it the driver's seat. And thanks to the high landing, the visibility of crossovers is noticeably increased.

The SUV driver can see several cars ahead, provided that there is a string of sedans in front of him. This adds points to comfort as well as to calmness.

off-road

When asked which sedan is better than an off-road crossover, there is only one answer: none. Ordinary cars not intended for digging mud in the woods or crossing flooded roads. Their path is only asphalt.

Of course, cars can also be found on sale, but they will cost much more. In addition, whatever one may say, crossovers will still be the best solution for off-road.

trend

This point is rather dubious from a technical point of view, but still a good half of motorists take it into account. The market share of sedans is slowly declining, and experts in this field unanimously declare that this cannot be avoided, so there is little point in resisting the trend.

There is a real boom in SUVs all over the world, and manufacturers are taking advantage of this, not only making a profit from the cars sold, but also improving them technically. The development of SUVs is simply impossible without prejudice to sedans. And many brands are forced to reduce investment in this class. cars, shifting interests towards SUVs.

Moreover, the cost of crossovers and sedans is almost equal. And if a couple of years ago the prices for SUVs were clearly higher, now, thanks to the abundance of offers, the difference is beginning to fade.

Fuel economy

Despite the introduction innovative technologies v technical part crossovers, they were never able to overtake sedans in terms of fuel economy. Attempts to hybridize engines also failed. In this regard, the advantage to this day remains with sedans.

The critical difference between a crossover and a sedan for this moment lies in the aerodynamic qualities of both cars. The former have greater windage and increased air resistance. This also includes the weight of the car. Crossovers are noticeably heavier than conventional passenger cars, which means they consume more fuel.

Looking at the increase in prices at gas stations, one can understand that the advantage here is clearly on the side of sedans. So in urban realities it is much more practical to turn your gaze in their direction, bypassing heavy SUV-class cars.

Salon

Crossovers have good visibility due to the high seating position, but judging by the surveys of car owners, they consider the familiar interior of sedans to be more comfortable and comfortable. The fact is that the chairs of SUVs are located at a slightly different angle, and there is more rigidity in them.

While sedans have a more comfortable fit for the driver and passengers, which means that such a car can cover a noticeably greater distance along the highway without stopping for a warm-up and other “smoke breaks”. In addition, the seat adjustment options for sedans are wider than for crossovers.

Platform

Despite the growing popularity of SUVs, the level of satisfaction of owners with them is not growing. And if the next brand new sedan from a venerable brand boasts high rates of ergonomics, comfort, reliability and other things, then, alas, this cannot be said about the SUV class.

Many owners often complain about all-wheel drive vehicles and note frequent problems with quality and reliability. Almost all modern SUVs are designed on the basis of a passenger platform. It would seem that there should be no delays. But in fact, there are problems.

Some, so to speak, not very efficient manufacturers in pursuit of profit simply take the sedan platform and increase the body without regard to aerodynamics and other technical nuances. Naturally, with such approaches, miscalculations and shortcomings emerge after the launch of the pipeline.

In such cases, the suspension, which is designed for the passenger class, suffers greatly, and an SUV body was hung on it. Because of this, it wears out faster and becomes unusable. And at the same time, the owner is forced to go broke on expensive repairs much more often than if it were an ordinary sedan on its usual platform.

Yes, venerable brands do not allow themselves such mistakes, but the cost of the lineup is clearly higher here. A striking example would be our "Lada" from the domestic AvtoVAZ of the "Cross" and XRAY series. Yes, we have a typical SUV in front of us: a massive body, a spacious trunk with a passenger compartment and good cross-country ability. But no matter what the manufacturer says and no matter what the manufacturer convinces us, the car is designed on the platform of a sedan and has a number of shortcomings. In the future, AvtoVAZ promises to correct and complete everything, but nevertheless, the fact is obvious.

So, unlike brand new crossovers, ordinary cars are more reliable and time-tested. The platform, which has been used for almost a hundred years, has been repeatedly refined, improved and improved in every way. What can not be said about the backbone of crossovers. Despite the mass character, the latter are still at an early stage of development.

When buying a sedan, you can be sure that no, so to speak, extra surprises await you. While it is very difficult to guarantee this with a crossover. In addition, the cost of spare parts for SUV-class cars is much higher.

Visibility

Crossovers have better road visibility, that is, what is in front of the car. But here other sites are, alas, in blind zones. The sedans are fine with that. It was thanks to crossovers that parking sensors and other devices appeared to compensate for the shortcomings of SUV-class cars.

There seems to be nothing wrong with this. And yet there is one thing. On a crossover without electronic assistants it is noticeably more difficult to park and cruise in a dense stream of cars. And on a regular sedan - it's easy. So without unnecessary need to buy for big city SUV is not worth it. Well, or you need to be ready to properly equip it with all kinds of auxiliary systems.

Exterior

Whatever fans of crossovers say about their appearance, sedans still have noticeably more potential for body design. famous brands offer their consumers such "beauties" on a passenger platform that can turn anyone's head.

Certainly, modern machines SUV-class can not be called ugly, but they are all kind of one-sided and similar to each other like two drops of water. So sedans are in a winning position here.

Today, motorists are increasingly paying attention to crossovers when choosing a car. They are in vogue, considered more comfortable and safer due to the high seating position and optional all-wheel drive. The victims are cars that are close in price. Instead of B-class sedans, slightly more expensive subcompact SUVs are chosen, instead of mid-size four-doors, they are comparable in terms of interior space and SUV price.

Young motorists often choose a bigger car for self-affirmation. A crossover is ideal for this: for a small overpayment compared to a sedan, you get a “jeep”, which has been considered prestigious by default in Russia since the 1990s. But an ordinary passenger car can be no less status. Not without reason, after all, Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Jaguar have always made exclusively sedans, and the first SUVs appeared in model range these brands recently - for the sake of fashion. Of course, these are examples from the highest price category, but Crete is by no means a premium option relative to Solaris.

In today's graduates of driving schools, an ordinary passenger car is better suited than a crossover. The latter is larger in size, heavier, it has a higher center of gravity. As a result, not yet knowing all the nuances of driving a car, a novice motorist dooms himself to communicate with more complex equipment. The off-road vehicle rolls more in short turns, it has worse visibility, a higher tendency to roll over. In addition, the plug-in all-wheel drive can change the behavior of the car at the moment, for which the beginner will not be ready. It's not far from the accident. Conclusion: in corners, the driver of the crossover should be more careful.

By the way, about the accident. The SUV has a feature that is completely absent from sedans: upon impact, things from the rear shelf and even from the trunk may well fly into the head of the driver and passengers. True, the owners of hatchbacks and station wagons should be wary of the same, but in Russia they are in secondary roles, and the main struggle is between crossovers and sedans.

But while the cargo is in its place, all the smells go into the cabin. Whether it's a gas canister or outdoor products, you'll have to sniff the contents of the luggage compartment all the way. On the other hand, you can always reach out, for example, to a fragrant sausage, and have a bite to eat right on the way. And the owner of the crossover should not forget to constantly close the curtain over the trunk. Otherwise, all its contents will be visible to strangers, which can lead to unpleasant consequences in the form of broken glass and the absence of personal belongings.

Putting something heavy in the trunk of an all-terrain vehicle is a more difficult task than in the case of a sedan. The latter have a lower loading height, so it is easier to load something there. On the other hand, it simply won’t fit there, for example, washing machine. And in a crossover - easily!

H hope for increased ground clearance compared to the sedan may also not be justified. And it happens that the clearance is even lower than that of a passenger car! So the drivers of both cars are equally at risk of hitting the bottom in a deep rut. For example, there are several "off-road vehicles" with a clearance of 165-170 millimeters. For comparison: the usual Lada Vesta sedan has 178 millimeters under crankcase protection. Well, who's the crossover here?

At the same time, most of the owners do not fully disclose all the possibilities of a high car. Four-wheel drive can only come in handy in winter, and such cars are not very suitable for serious off-road. Moreover, it is easy to scratch on some branch! In addition, most drivers simply do not know how to drive off the asphalt, as a result of which they "plant" the crossover in the first puddle. And this is not to mention the fact that a rare driver understands the operation of an all-wheel drive system or transmission, they do not know what a downshift is and how to use it. Often, it is improper operation that disables various units, and the motorist who killed them blames the quality of modern technology.

Paying off the crossover, you can forget about savings. First, the SUV will cost more expensive than a sedan similar class. In case of four-wheel drive vehicle the surcharge goes for the transmission, but buyers of 2-wheel drive cars also overpay - for the image.

Secondly, ongoing maintenance will also cost more. Even for a front-wheel drive SUV, not to mention a more complex all-wheel drive.

Thirdly, SUVs have a better fuel appetite (due to worse aerodynamics and increased mass) and require more expensive tires. The size of the latter is tritely larger than that of a sedan, so you will have to pay other money. You will have to pay extra at the car wash.

So, after weighing all the pros and cons, answer yourself the question again: do you really need a crossover? The sedan is also not without its advantages, and the apparent advantages of an all-terrain vehicle may actually turn out to be a myth or not exactly what you need.

The number of vehicle body types has almost doubled in the past 15 years. Manufacturers are increasingly trying to combine several body types in one car at once. Distinguishing one option from another is becoming increasingly difficult, but we will do it anyway.

To begin with, we divide all body types into 3 groups: three-volume, two-volume and one-volume.

Conservatives

The three-volume body has a protruding hood and trunk. Three-volume bodies are among the least versatile bodies due to the limited possibility of transforming the interior and trunk. This group includes sedans, coupes, convertibles and pickups.

sedan, coupe

The brightest representative of a three-volume body is a sedan, which is present in the model range of almost all manufacturers. The sedan is considered the most conservative (classic) and prestigious body type. The sedan has a huge popularity on our roads, where "prestige is everything", and cars are divided into sedans and non-sedans.

A convertible is a coupe with a "soft" canopy roof that folds behind rear seats and rises if necessary.

But the soft top did not allow the car to be used all year round, so in the late 90s it began to gain popularity. new version open body- coupe-cabriolet. At first glance, it looks like a normal coupe, but just press the right button, and the hard metal roof rises and neatly folds into the trunk, turning the coupe into a convertible.

A double convertible (without a second row of seats) is called a roadster (for example).

Pickup

A pickup truck is a body with an open cargo area separated from the cabin by a rigid partition. Simply put, this is a reduced copy of an ordinary truck. Most pickups are built on the same platform as SUVs and have good cross-country ability. Both here and throughout Europe, pickup trucks are not very popular, but in the USA they are crazy about them.

liberals

The two-volume body does not have a protruding trunk, and its lid opens only with glass and is considered another door.

Two-volume bodies include hatchbacks, station wagons, as well as crossovers and SUVs created on their basis. Two-volume bodies are distinguished by the most capacious trunks (station wagons) and compact dimensions (hatchbacks).

Hatchback, station wagon

Motorists, of course, choose their means of transportation, focusing on their own preferences, and yet you should not forget that some cars are better than others in certain parameters. Take at least a couple like a hatchback and a crossover. Both of these species are incredibly popular in the market. Unfortunately for the “heavy man”, when it comes to a car for every day, the arguments are not in his favor.

1. Price

Ceteris paribus, the hatchback will beat the crossover in all respects. Needless to say, that the issue of money in buying a car for many people remains one of the priorities? If the cars are, in fact, the same, then why overpay.

2. Dynamics

A crossover will always be heavier than a hatchback, and therefore even with the same technical specifications the dynamics of the "baby" is still better. What does this mean? Yes, the hatchback accelerates much faster.

3. Consumption

And back to the question of money. Against the crossover speaks its curb weight and aerodynamic qualities. It just so happened that the consumption of the hatchback will always be less. And which of the drivers wants to burn fuel, as if sailing on the Potemkin battleship?

4. Security

Driving practice, accident results and test scores all indicate that most hatchbacks are much safer than crossovers. This is because the hatchback has a lower center of gravity, which increases the chances of a successful outcome.

5. Washing

Yes, it's about money again. The day-to-day costs of a hatchback are much lower. Even at the car wash, crossovers go at an increased rate, and this, you know, hits the pocket.

6. Rubber

Set winter tires It will cost less for a hatchback than for a crossover. All because of the size. After all, the hatchback uses the most common car tires, and they do not cost drivers dearly.

7. Convenience

Many drivers will agree that hatchbacks are generally more comfortable than crossovers. With a comparable capacity, the trunk of hatchbacks is lower, and it is much easier to load them (dacha residents know!). These cars have less noise due to better aerodynamics, and they also have a smoother ride, which is always pleasant for the driver.

In continuation of the topic and who is cooler.

There are not so many compact crossovers or at least cross-hatchbacks with a price of up to $ 15 thousand and not with "mechanics" on sale now, and whoever is represented is either with a simple "robot" or with an obsolete 4-speed "automatic". Therefore, we could not refuse the opportunity to test the five-door JAC S2, which at the indicated price is offered in top configuration, and even with a variator.

JAC S2 announced compact crossover, but still it is more correct to call it a five-door hatchback with a good ground clearance of 200 mm. Produced in China, it can only be front-wheel drive, gasoline and atmospheric: engines with a volume of 1.6 liters (118 hp, 150 Nm) and 1.5 liters (112 hp, 146 or 165 Nm, depending on the modification). There are also two gearboxes: a 5-speed "mechanics" or a variator. In Ukraine, the model is presented only with a 1.5-liter engine, but the choice of transmission is not cut. Suspension classic - MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear, steering with electric booster.

We tested a JAC S2 in the top-end Intelligent configuration with a CVT. The car costs UAH 389 thousand or $14.9 thousand at the time of publication of the material. The equipment includes: frontal airbags for the driver and front passenger, side curtain airbags, electronic systems safety (ABS + EBD, ESP, EBA (assistance with emergency braking), TCS ( Traction control), HDC (descent assist), HAC (assist ascent), alarm and central locking. There is also heated and electrically adjustable mirrors, a rear-view camera and rear parking sensors, power windows for all doors (driver's Auto function), air conditioning, cruise control, touch screen media system and other options.

Design

JAC S2 is by far the most harmonious representative of the JAC crossover family, although not as spectacular as the older S7, which is not for sale with us yet. In general, if you cover up the logos and remove advertising stickers, the “two” can be mistaken for a Korean, and the real country of origin will be given out, perhaps, an abundance of chrome elements, inappropriately painted red brake calipers, and rough welds on the doors. The "sixteenth" wheels and original curls on the window sill look good. rear doors. The editors without objection recognized the stern of the S2 as peeped from the second-generation Hyundai i30, however, this is the case when someone else does not mean bad. Along with this, the S2 received unpainted lower sections of the bumpers, which means you can worry less about the safety of the paintwork on country roads. It should also be noted that roof rails are already installed in the basic equipment, which now starts from UAH 315,000 or $12,000.

JAC S2 optics, regardless of the configuration, are halogen. high beam reflex, and the "near" is realized through lenses.

LED daytime running lights are placed above the fog lights.

The trunk lock button is installed between the handle and the logo on the fifth door.

Interior

However, inside there is no frills, and everywhere hard plastic dilutes only the visor covered in leather dashboard and padded armrests in the front door cards. An unusual solution - a hole was made at the base of the visor of the tidy, through which, bending over, you can observe windshield. It covers a small dashboard with a small print of the speedometer and tachometer, which is surrounded by a “metal-like” insert for the entire width of the panel. The door panel pockets could use recesses for bottles, and the “small things” compartment in front of the transmission selector is too small with or without an ashtray. It is assumed that, for example, the phone can be placed in a recess on the upper console or under the “handbrake”, but in the first case it will pop out at the first turn, and in the second the place for the shelf itself is not chosen in the most convenient way.

The steering column is adjustable only in height. The interior elements fit well, however, during operation, an annoying creak randomly appeared and disappeared in the cabin, presumably from the rear shelf or the attachment of one of the seats.

In a car warmed up in the sun, a specific “aroma” of leatherette seats is clearly felt.

The font of the dashboard scales is small, but at night the readings are read well.

The handlebar is medium thickness, soft, and in my opinion, even more comfortable than in the Haval H2 standing a class above, which we had a week before the Jack. On the left spoke are the keys for controlling cruise control and working with phone calls, and on the right - media system control: volume, mute, source selection and switching songs / radio stations. Empirically, it turned out that the cruise control in the S2 is the simplest and it is impossible to increase or decrease the speed with the “rocker” on the steering wheel. This element only allows you to activate or deactivate the system, and the control speed is set by the gas pedal.

The driver's seat is adjustable in height in a good range - from the lowest to the highest position, you need to make a lever at the base of the pillow 21 move up! Landing behind the wheel is slightly complicated by a heavily littered body pillar, but if you do not raise the seat to the highest possible position, you can work out and get used to a safe trajectory of getting into the car in a few approaches. However, what is really missing is seat heating and steering column adjustment for reach - in order to set the correct distance to the steering wheel, you have to move the seat forward too much, while resting your knee on the center console or sit with your arms outstretched. In part, this ergonomic disadvantage is compensated by the tilt-adjustable folding central armrest and soft seats with tenacious sidewalls.

I liked the regular media system with graphics, speed of work and worthy both for budget car the sound of the speakers (there are six of them in the S2 of the highest configuration). In the settings, basic sound adjustments are available, including balance, connecting a phone via Bluetooth, reading from USB, AUX, radio and, suddenly, tire pressure and temperature. By the way, despite the presence of the corresponding button, there is no navigation, and it is impossible to display an image from the smartphone screen on the screen of the head unit. Unfortunately, under the sun's rays, almost nothing is visible on the display, but it can be completely "turned off" by touching the icon in the upper left corner - an indispensable function at night. Also noteworthy is the pleasant "lunar" backlighting of the dashboard and keys, and the good image quality from the rear view camera. Let it be without dynamic markings, but it really helps out when maneuvering in reverse— view back in the S2 is limited by the design features of the body in the trunk area.

Landing on the second row is complicated by protruding arches and doorways that are seriously limited in height. Of the amenities, one can only note pockets in the backs of the front seats, an almost imperceptible central tunnel and a good supply of legroom. At the same time, the passengers behind do not have their own ceiling lamp and armrest, and I would like to tilt the indivisible back a little more. By the way, you can only fold it out of the trunk by simultaneously pressing two buttons on the sides.

The central armrest has two fixed working positions - horizontal, and also with a slight inclination to the variator selector. The design is very simple and convenient. You can reach the display of the media system without shifting your hand.

There are no problems with access to the chair adjustments.

Access to the second row is complicated by a narrow and low doorway.

JAC S2 got 2 makeup mirrors.

The declared volume of the trunk is 450 liters. On "paper" this is 30 liters more than Chery Tiggo 2 and 130 liters more than Renault Sandero Stepway, although subjectively, in terms of the capacity of the compartment, all three are approximately on the same level. The floor is covered by a flimsy raised floor, under it is a full-fledged spare wheel for steel disc and body metal without a hint of soundproofing. Alas, there are no hooks or organizers on the walls and the back of the second row does not fold into a flat floor with the formation of a step. In addition to the spare wheel, a jack and a cunning folding key are hidden underground, which is described in more detail in the video version of the test drive.

How it rides

The very first kilometers behind the wheel of the S2 indicated a lack of soundproofing wheel arches, floor and engine shield - noisy even at city speeds, and on the highway it's completely unpleasant. Although on this account there was an assumption about the excessive loudness of the Wanli stock tires. At the same time, the car passes small and medium bumps, joints, seams and not too broken rail crossings without unnecessary shaking, slightly inferior in energy intensity Chery pendants Tiggo 2, which is not afraid of forest paths and speed bumps are almost invisible. The very easy-to-handle steering wheel is good in the bustle of parking lots and actively responds to turns, but is still uninformative in motion. In addition, sharp maneuvers at speeds above 100 km / h are accompanied by serious, although not critical, rocking.

With all this, the S2 reacts vividly to pressing the gas and cuts the city traffic well, especially if you keep the tachometer needle above 2.5 thousand rpm. The variator is complemented by a sport mode with manual shifting of virtual gears, which you don’t want to use due to sharp jumps in speed without a noticeable effect in dynamics. Departure to the track showed that the engine speed at 120 km / h is kept around the 3000 rpm mark. If desired, you can drive up to 150 km/h without losing control of the road on a straight line, but this mode does not promise comfort in terms of sharply increasing fuel consumption and acoustic parameters - strong noise from the road and the engine.

Speaking of "appetite". Consumption in urban mode, depending on the day of the week and the use of air conditioning, averaged from 7.0 to 10.0 liters with the declared 6.5 l / 100 km in the combined cycle, and it should be noted that we got the car with a total mileage of about 400 km and no break-in did not pass. If you do not try to overtake everyone, you can get about 8 liters per "hundred" in the city.

Remaining

The Chinese auto industry is rapidly progressing, and the JAC S2 is another confirmation of this. It is not without flaws, but still at its price it seems interesting car, for when you need an everyday car for a quiet move around the city between work and home. First of all, because of the CVT, with which it is comfortable to move through traffic jams, moderate appetite and comfortable front seats. To this we can add good ground clearance and boring design. He would also have a heated steering wheel and seats, and solve the problem with sound insulation, it would have been a very worthy hatchback for its class.

Specifications JAC S2 CVT Intelligent

Engine	Four-cylinder petrol
Volume, cu. cm	1499
Number of cylinders/valves	4/16
Maximum power, hp at rpm	112/6000
Torque, Nm at rpm	165/4500
Transmission	Variable speed drive
Drive unit	Front
Maximum speed, km/h	175
Brakes front/rear	Disc ventilated/disc
Tires	205/55 R16
Fuel consumption, l/100 km
Combined (manufacturer's data)	6.6
Volume fuel tank, l	42
Trunk volume, l	450
Curb weight, kg	1175
Length/width/height, mm	4100/1780/1580
Clearance, mm	200

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