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When it comes time to buy your next car, you will have to make a few important decisions, including what brand you want to buy and the body style. Some people prefer sedans while others prefer SUVs. This is largely a matter of personal preference since you can find the same features and amenities on either style of vehicle. To figure out which is right for you, consider a few key areas where one excels over the other.

Versatility and Seating Space

In terms of versatility, even a small SUV tends to take the lead over a sedan. Both body styles will typically have split and folding rear seats, but SUVs will have more spacious cargo areas, as well. Their taller roofs also provide extra headroom, something many drivers appreciate. Like sedans, most small SUVs will only have seating for five passengers due to space constraints. However, you can find the occasional small SUV with an available third row, something that can be very useful for families.

Safety

When comparing the safety of a small sedan and SUV, you need to consider several factors. SUVs tend to do better at protecting their passengers and resisting damage in collisions because they are larger. Because of their higher center of gravity, however, they are more prone to rollovers than sedans. If you don’t value either rollover or crash safety more than the other, then you will just want to make sure you get a new vehicle with the latest safety features.

Ride Height and Going Off-Road

If you put a small sedan and a small SUV side by side, it is instantly clear that the SUV has a higher ride height. This is perfect for those who like to see further along the road in the front of them since it gives you an extra few inches. The lower ride height of sedans makes them much easier to get into, particularly if you are elderly or have a mobility impairment.

The taller ride height of SUVs also means that they tend to have better ground clearance than sedans. This makes it much easier to take them off-road over terrain that a sedan would struggle with. SUVs are also more likely than sedans to offer all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, although the majority of sedans will offer it, as well.

Fitting in Small Spots

Drivers who have to frequently maneuver into small spots or fit in a short parking space will definitely want to go with a sedan over an SUV. Between their lower height and overall smaller exterior, it tends to be easier to maneuver sedans.

Fuel Economy

While SUVs excel off-road, sedans such as the Chrysler 200 do much better in terms of fuel economy. Improving technology has helped change this to some extent, but sedans still consistently go further on each drop of fuel than their SUV counterparts. That being said, you can probably find a hybrid SUV that is more efficient than a sedan of a similar size classification.

Choosing Between Them

Either a sedan or small SUV can be great. Sedans maximize fuel economy, ease of entry, and maneuverability while SUVs are better for tough terrain, versatility, and letting you see your surroundings.