2017 Toyota Yaris iA and 2017 Kia Sportage at 2017 Chicago Auto Show
Photo: The News Wheel
Sedans used to be the vehicle of choice for families over the past century. Now, the crossover SUV dominates the market as the family vehicle of choice. But is it better to buy a used sedan or a used crossover when you’re shopping for your next vehicle? Should parents ever consider buying a sedan anymore instead of an SUV? Should single adults buy a crossover if they don’t have children? These are the questions we hope to answer.
Choosing the Right Vehicle: A guide to knowing which vehicle type is your best fit
Pictured: 2020 Kia Rio
Photo: Kia
Sedans have been the tried-and-true form of transportation for many families over the 20th century, and there are a handful of reasons that used cars are still preferable to some people.
Lower resale cost
More people want to buy used crossovers instead of used sedans. This reduced demand for used cars reduces their resale cost by as much as 50%, meaning you can buy a used car for much less money than a used crossover.
Familiarity
Many people have grown up driving sedans and feel most comfortable sticking to what they know. The handling, visibility, maneuvering, and seating position all feel natural to some drivers, who would prefer to stick with a used car.
Greater stability
Sedans have a lower center of gravity than crossovers do, which gives them greater stability on slick surfaces, better handling around curves, and more surefootedness when doing sporty maneuvers. That’s why sedans and coupes still make the best sports cars.
Private, secured trunk
Do you transport a lot of valuable small items? Used sedans have enclosed trunks that keep your belongings out of sight. Conversely, crossovers have exposed cargo space that is visible to passersby through the windows — unless you add a cargo shade, which makes it very obvious that you’re stowing valuables.
Longevity
Sedans have a great track record of lasting for 150,000+ miles with proper care. While true SUVs (body-on-frame) can last just as long, unibody crossovers don’t have the same glowing track record. Their added weight puts more stress on the engine, the suspension, and frame without the bolstered underpinnings that true SUVs have.
Style appeal
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, yet many beholders tend to find sedans far more appealing than crossovers. Most compact SUVs have bland, boring designs that looks boxy and utilitarian; they’re the accustomed ride for parents. Sedans are athletic, youthful, and appealing in their sweeping, aerodynamic bodies. In other words, a premium sedan looks dazzling; a premium crossover still just looks like a crossover.
Fits into tighter spots
Do you often park in tight spots? Used sedans are better at fitting in small household garages, tight parking garages, narrow street parking, etc. While this depends entirely on the class/measurements of the used crossover vs. the used sedan, compact cars are notably smaller than compact SUVs.
Better gas mileage
Crossover SUVs and sedans share the same platforms and thus tend to share the same engines; so, the added weight and worsened aerodynamics of used SUVs result in worse MPG rates, whereas used sedans get better fuel economy.
Research Used Cars: The best used sedans for families
Pictured: 2018 Hyundai Tucson crossover
Photo: Hyundai
Ground clearance
The undercarriage of a used crossover is a few inches higher above the ground than a used sedan’s underside is. This makes a huge difference if you drive on roads with lots of potholes, speed humps, high driveway curbs, and gravel terrain. There’s more suspension travel, too, to handle the ups and downs, so this results in a softer ride.
Cargo space
Used crossovers allow you to stack more boxes behind the backseat — up to the ceiling, which used sedans cannot do. That makes their cargo capacity notably larger. Just remember that those boxes are visible through the windows!
Visibility
The driver sits higher above the road in a used crossover compared to down low in a used sedan. This higher line of sight provides better visibility in traffic. Plus, you’re not sitting down at eye level of other vehicles’ headlights at night like you are in a sedan.
Easier to get in
Pre-owned crossovers are the perfect height for elderly folks and people with back pain to ride in because they can sit and stand without having to squat down. Plus, loading a kid into a car seat is far easier in a taller vehicle.
Chair-like seating posture
The seats in crossover SUVs are taller and allow passengers to bend their legs naturally at the angles, resulting in a chair-like seating posture. This is better on your knees and more comfortable on long rides than half-bending your legs in a sedan.
Greater availability of AWD
More used crossovers were produced with optional all-wheel drive than sedan models. That’s because designers offset the higher center of gravity on crossovers by enhancing their stability with torque to both axles.
More models on the market
Crossovers in recent production far outnumber sedans in production, which means you’ll find many more used crossovers for sale to choose from. This makes it easier to find one with the features, colors, engine, drivetrain, and price you want — whereas you may have to take what you can get when searching for a used sedan.
Ultimately, there is no perfect answer for choosing between a used sedan versus a used crossover SUV. They each have their benefits and drawbacks. You have to weigh both options when deciding on the next pre-owned vehicle you intend to buy.
Research Used SUVs: The most popular SUVs to buy used
Aaron is unashamed to be a native Clevelander and the proud driver of a Hyundai Veloster Turbo (which recently replaced his 1995 Saturn SC-2). He gleefully utilizes his background in theater, literature, and communication to dramatically recite his own articles to nearby youth. Mr. Widmar happily resides in Dayton, Ohio with his magnificent wife, Vicki, but is often on the road with her exploring new destinations. Aaron has high aspirations for his writing career but often gets distracted pondering the profound nature of the human condition and forgets what he was writing… See more articles by Aaron.
