When shopping for a new vehicle, you have a choice between a few different body designs. Most of us know what a convertible is, or a pickup truck, or even a hatchback. But what, exactly, is the difference between a coupe and a sedan? Is one better than the other?
Features of Sedans and Coupes
A Little History
The word “coupe” comes from the French coupé meaning “cut.” The term was originally applied to horse drawn carriages (carrosses coupés) that seated only two people, effectively cutting out the rear facing seats.
A sedan is a kind of human-powered transport. First appearing in ancient times, these enclosed boxes could seat one individual, who was then lifted off the ground and carried by two or more people using attached poles. The word was first applied to a motor vehicle around 1912, when Studebaker marketed two of its models as Sedans.
A wheel-less vehicle with room for only one person hardly sounds like an appropriate description of the cars we call sedans. However, the name was likely used for the opulence that historical sedans called to mind. After all, the chairs were reserved for the very wealthiest of individuals, including pharaohs and emperors. Who doesn’t want to feel like royalty when driving a car?
The Three Box Design
In both a coupe and a sedan, the passenger cabin, trunk, and engine bay are in three separate compartments, or “boxes.” This is known as a “three-box design.” This configuration differs from, say, a station wagon, which typically combines the passenger and cargo volumes (a two-box design).
Two Doors vs Four Doors
One of the easiest ways to tell the difference between a coupe and a sedan is the number of doors. Very simply, sedans have four doors, and coupes have two. In the past, this was a fairly reliable differentiator. These days, however, many brands are borrowing various elements to achieve a cross-over effect.
For example: the sloping roof that was once a distinctive characteristic of a coupe is now employed on various car models, including sedans. In some cases, these vehicles are even marketed as “four door coupes.”
The Mercedes Benz GLC Coupe is an example of this new mashup trend. Not only does it have four doors, but it has G-class SUV driving specs and a liftgate that opens onto a shared cargo and passenger space. What is happening? How can an SUV also be a coupe?
It really comes down to two things: marketing and buyer trends. To many, the word “coupe” embodies a specific, sporty look reminiscent of zippy European racers. It is that definition that Mercedes is using when attaching the word “coupe” to an SUV or hatchback. Something as simple as a low-slope roof can give a dramatic face lift to a tired profile, and Mercedes knows how to market that subtle change in one word.
Sedan Size vs Coupe Size
So far, we have identified the three-box design and a certain number of doors as ways to distinguish between a coupe and a sedan. According to the Society of Automotive Engineers, however, the number of doors is actually irrelevant. Rather, it comes down to total interior cubic feet. 3-box cars with less than 33 cubic feet of room are classified as coupes; cars with more than 33 cubic feet of room are sedans.
So Which is Better? Coupe or Sedan?
Given what we know about the flexibility surrounding the use of these terms, deciding whether a coupe or sedan is better ultimately rests with the buyer. If you like the look of it and it suits your needs, who cares what it is called?
Test Drive a GLC 300 at Mercedes Benz of Littleton
Ready to test drive a trendy mashup of luxury and sport? Visit our dealership at Mercedes Benz of Littleton and get behind the wheel of one of our gorgeous GLC 300 models. These SUV’s are incredibly smooth to drive and gorgeous to look at. And, at starting prices of less than $50,000, they are also some of the most affordable luxury Mercedes vehicles at our dealership. Stop by or go online today to get started.
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