Where have all the small to medium sedans gone?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Where have all the small to medium sedans gone?

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#3158703 12-Nov-2023 18:24

BlargHonk: If she's not looking to buy brand new, then something like this could be a go?
2022 Toyota Corolla SX sedan

https://www.toyota.co.nz/used-vehicles/detail/2964037/

Yes can't really go wrong with a near new 'Signature class' toyota

kiwifidget

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#3160876 18-Nov-2023 17:35

Does someone from Stuff lurk in here???

Nov 18 Motoring Quiz.

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Mehrts

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#3161081 19-Nov-2023 10:19

The hatchback vs sedan talk has me wondering if some people don't realise that some cars that look like sedans can come in hatchback form, although sometimes these are referred as "liftbacks".

Hatchbacks aren't limited to only being smaller boxy type cars such as a Suzuki Swift.

I had an older Ford Mondeo in hatchback form, and the amount of easily accessible boot space was insanely massive for the medium sized car it was. Now that I've got a sedan, packing things into the boot space requires more Tetris skill even though it's still a very large space.

Pic showing hatchback vs sedan versions of same car model.

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Technofreak

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#3169494 7-Dec-2023 23:19

Mehrts:

The hatchback vs sedan talk has me wondering if some people don't realise that some cars that look like sedans can come in hatchback form, although sometimes these are referred as "liftbacks".

Hatchbacks aren't limited to only being smaller boxy type cars such as a Suzuki Swift.

I had an older Ford Mondeo in hatchback form, and the amount of easily accessible boot space was insanely massive for the medium sized car it was. Now that I've got a sedan, packing things into the boot space requires more Tetris skill even though it's still a very large space.

Pic showing hatchback vs sedan versions of same car model.

That's a liftback. With the tailgate closed they are almost impossible to tell from a true sedan. A hatch back has a much squarer profile more like a station wagon.

I've always had sedans, though my latest vehicle was marketed as a liftback. It has folding rear seats and if you remove the 'parcel tray' you have nearly as much load space as a wagon while retaining the sedan looks.

Sedans have a lower C of G and therefore generally better handling and ride due to less body roll.

One big advantage for some people of a sedan or a liftback is the enclosed boot space. This is quite important for some people as they can place valuable objects in there out of site of prying eyes and potential thieves. I know some companies prefer them when hiring a vehicle as their staff can place items like laptops in there out of site.

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Bung

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#3169504 8-Dec-2023 06:57

Technofreak: Sedans have a lower C of G and therefore generally better handling and ride due to less body roll.

One big advantage for some people of a sedan or a liftback is the enclosed boot space. This is quite important for some people as they can place valuable objects in there out of site of prying eyes and potential thieves. I know some companies prefer them when hiring a vehicle as their staff can place items like laptops in there out of site.

At "normal" road speeds I don't think the C of G argument matters with most crossover SUV. I find potholes more limiting than corners.

Unless the seats don't fold a boot space isn't that secure. I've seen video of thieves in a carport breaking the rear door windows and flipping the seat forward to check the boot space. Some vehicles with spacesaver spare tyres have room under a false floor that's not obvious.

Technofreak

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#3169648 8-Dec-2023 10:34

Bung:

Technofreak: Sedans have a lower C of G and therefore generally better handling and ride due to less body roll.

One big advantage for some people of a sedan or a liftback is the enclosed boot space. This is quite important for some people as they can place valuable objects in there out of site of prying eyes and potential thieves. I know some companies prefer them when hiring a vehicle as their staff can place items like laptops in there out of site.

At "normal" road speeds I don't think the C of G argument matters with most crossover SUV. I find potholes more limiting than corners.

Unless the seats don't fold a boot space isn't that secure. I've seen video of thieves in a carport breaking the rear door windows and flipping the seat forward to check the boot space. Some vehicles with spacesaver spare tyres have room under a false floor that's not obvious.

It also depends of what roads you drive on. I drive over the likes of Mt Messenger, the Paraparas, the Kaimais, SH43 etc enough to appreciate the handling qualities of a sedan.

I agree, using an enclosed boot space isn't a guarantee you won't be broken into but it is a fact that keeping valuables out of site significantly reduces the chance of theft.

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tripper1000

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#3169743 8-Dec-2023 13:20

People feel safer in SUV's.

People secretly know they (or their spouse) is a rubbish driver, so compensate with a taller/bigger vehicle.

Why else would SUV's be over-represented in single-vehicle fatalities.

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Technofreak

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#3169857 8-Dec-2023 20:46

tripper1000:

People feel safer in SUV's.

People secretly know they (or their spouse) is a rubbish driver, so compensate with a taller/bigger vehicle.

Why else would SUV's be over-represented in single-vehicle fatalities.

Those statistics kind of dispell that safety illusion.

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Hammerer

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#3169872 9-Dec-2023 01:39

Bung:

Technofreak: Sedans have a lower C of G and therefore generally better handling and ride due to less body roll.

One big advantage for some people of a sedan or a liftback is the enclosed boot space. This is quite important for some people as they can place valuable objects in there out of site of prying eyes and potential thieves. I know some companies prefer them when hiring a vehicle as their staff can place items like laptops in there out of site.

At "normal" road speeds I don't think the C of G argument matters with most crossover SUV. I find potholes more limiting than corners.

Unless the seats don't fold a boot space isn't that secure. I've seen video of thieves in a carport breaking the rear door windows and flipping the seat forward to check the boot space. Some vehicles with spacesaver spare tyres have room under a false floor that's not obvious.

Many SUV drivers can’t maintain “normal” road speeds on windy NZ roads. We are regularly delayed by SUV drivers who can’t drive at the speed limit and don’t realise how drivers in vehicles with a lower centre of gravity can take corners more easily.

Rikkitic

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#3169912 9-Dec-2023 11:20

Hammerer:

Many SUV drivers can’t maintain “normal” road speeds on windy NZ roads. We are regularly delayed by SUV drivers who can’t drive at the speed limit and don’t realise how drivers in vehicles with a lower centre of gravity can take corners more easily.

Why the big hurry? I drive an AWD sedan and while I can corner like a rally driver, I have absolutely no need or wish to do so. Slow down and enjoy the lovely New Zealand scenery.

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Technofreak

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#3169921 9-Dec-2023 11:50

Rikkitic:

Hammerer:

Many SUV drivers can’t maintain “normal” road speeds on windy NZ roads. We are regularly delayed by SUV drivers who can’t drive at the speed limit and don’t realise how drivers in vehicles with a lower centre of gravity can take corners more easily.

Why the big hurry? I drive an AWD sedan and while I can corner like a rally driver, I have absolutely no need or wish to do so. Slow down and enjoy the lovely New Zealand scenery.

Fair point. However if you're traveling below the speed limit and there's traffic behind you let them past ASAP.

I drive some routes with great scenery regularly. While I appreciate the scenery I'm on the road to get to my destination. I don't enjoy being held up by someone taking their time to soak up the scenery or someone who has to travel slowly either because of the way their vehicle handles or they aren't a confident driver.

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Rikkitic

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#3169944 9-Dec-2023 12:05

Technofreak:

Fair point. However if you're traveling below the speed limit and there's traffic behind you let them past ASAP.

I drive some routes with great scenery regularly. While I appreciate the scenery I'm on the road to get to my destination. I don't enjoy being held up by someone taking their time to soak up the scenery or someone who has to travel slowly either because of the way their vehicle handles or they aren't a confident driver.

Fair point back to you. That is simple courtesy. Of course you should pull over for traffic if you are in the way. But there are still many roads in this country with 100 kmh speed limits on which no-one in their right mind, regardless of vehicle, would ever want to do 100 kmh on. Common sense, not the speed limit, should be the deciding factor here.

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alasta

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#3169948 9-Dec-2023 12:22

I drive a CX-30 which is marketed as an 'SUV', but it's really just a Mazda3 with a bit of extra interior space and without the stupidly low ground clearance of the latter. I didn't buy it because of an illusion that it's safer - I bought it because it's practical and has a small footprint.

I'm not sure what you would define as slow cornering, but I do pull over to let traffic past as required.

rb99

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#3169950 9-Dec-2023 12:25

Where did they go ? - eaten by SUVs, quite possibly literally considering how much some of them weigh.

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rb99

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#3170110 9-Dec-2023 17:44

Rikkitic:

Hammerer:

Many SUV drivers can’t maintain “normal” road speeds on windy NZ roads. We are regularly delayed by SUV drivers who can’t drive at the speed limit and don’t realise how drivers in vehicles with a lower centre of gravity can take corners more easily.

Why the big hurry? I drive an AWD sedan and while I can corner like a rally driver, I have absolutely no need or wish to do so. Slow down and enjoy the lovely New Zealand scenery.

Not an issue of my hurry or racing. These drivers simply don’t have the capability to drive the road at indicated speeds because their vehicle doesn’t handle well enough for their driving ability.

The slowest of these drivers drive as slow as half the speed limit and much slower than indicated all weather speeds when they are cornering in dry weather. They are clearly not confident on the bends because they find it easy enough to travel above 100kmph on the straight parts. This behaviour often means that they cannot be passed safely.

Also they don’t usually pull over to let faster vehicles pass them - no courtesy. I have seen over 50 vehicles in a line behind such drivers. Thankfully, that time they were driving in the other direction.

We were recently involved in a highway accident where we were the only vehicle still drivable and the only vehicle with occupants who didn’t have a trip to the hospital in a helicopter or ambulance. Our low centre of gravity and sure-footed AWD allowed us to avoid hitting any of the three wrecks in front of us, although we were still hit from behind despite managing to get off the road.

I have a full-time AWD hatchback and would buy an AWD sedan - I wouldn’t mind a Subaru WRX but have no real use for the additional capabilities it has.

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