What is the Difference Between a Coupe and a Sedan?

Sedans and coupes have more difference than just the amount of doors.
Written by Alexandra Maloney
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
If you’re in the
car-buying
market and not too knowledgeable about the automotive world, there are probably a few unfamiliar terms that have come up while you’ve been browsing. For drivers looking for a smaller car (not an SUV or truck), there are two main options: a coupe and a sedan. But, what are they?
The main difference between the two cars is that a sedan has four doors while a coupe has two. But, as the car world has evolved, both styles of car have, too, and they’ve developed their own unique personalities. 
Jerry
, your favorite
super car app
, breaks it down. 

What is a coupe?

A coupe is a car with two doors, a fixed roof, and a three-box design. But, while all coupes meet this criteria, they can be vastly different in style, design, engine, interior, and more.
Car and Driver
characterizes the coupe segment further by breaking up the style of car into conventional three-box coupes, targas, and hatchbacks, all of which have two doors.
As Car and Driver points out, the diversity of coupes can be as vast as comparing the practical, reliable, two-door
Honda Civic Si
with its 1.5-liter four cylinder, 200 hp engine to the sporty, luxury Infiniti Q60, that is supported by a twin-turbo 3.0 liter V6 engine with 300 hp.
Overall, if you’re looking for a sportier, cooler look on the roads, a coupe is worth looking into to see if it's the car for you. But keep in mind, it isn’t a practical style of vehicle for children or many passengers. Prices of coupes vary drastically depending on the car brand, model, and more, as do the prices of a sedan.  
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What is a sedan?

The conventional sedan has four doors and three separate sections of the car: the driver cabin, passenger cabin, and cargo space. Sedans are typically regarded as more practical family cars because they have additional room for passengers and cargo alike. 
But, as
MotorBiscuit
discusses, measuring cargo, passenger or driver space between cars can be tricky, especially between different manufacturers. That’s because different manufacturers use different measurement standards. Even with this in mind, it’s no secret that generally speaking across the board sedans are more spacious than coupes. 
Many different car brands produce sedans. Although SUVs are becoming increasingly more popular, you won’t have an issue finding a sedan on most car lots—new or used. 

What’s the best way to buy a car?

After learning about the differences between a coupe and a sedan, you might already have one in mind for you. But before you commit to one style, remember this tip. The best way to buy a car is to test drive multiple options, and purchase the car that feels best to you when you drive it.
Once you test drive both a sedan and a coupe, then you can evaluate your needs and make an informed purchasing decision. Next, of course, comes car insurance for your new vehicle. That’s where
Jerry
comes in. 
Jerry is an app that compares car insurance rates to find the lowest one possible for you. It’s free and fast. All you have to do is enter some basic information and watch the low insurance rates come in, so you can save on car insurance.
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