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The ever-changing demands of the car market led vehicle makers to create varied shapes of cars. Nowadays, you have numerous options when renting or buying a car, making it difficult to determine which one aligns with your needs. Estates and saloons are among the two most popular vehicle designs. This ‘saloon vs estate’ article examines the differences between both car types.
Saloon cars are known for their more traditional and stylish appearance, while estate cars are longer and have more spacious luggage compartments. Keep reading to learn more about these cars, including their pros and cons.
Table Of Contents
The Difference Between A Saloon And An Estate Car
To help you better understand the difference between a saloon and an estate car, we’ll take some time to explain the key features of both cars.
What Is A Saloon?
A saloon is a four-door car that has a separate boot for luggage. These cars, which are also known as sedans, come in different sizes. Saloon cars have three compartments, which are the engine bay, the cabin and the boot.
The separated boot in a saloon helps keep road noise out of the cabin for a quieter drive.
Saloons are popular among people who need a car that is easy to drive. They’re typically smaller than SUVs and crossovers, which makes them easy to manoeuvre, and they typically have seating space for between four and five people.
The Toyota Camry, Mercedes Benz C-Class and Honda Civic are great examples of saloons.
What Is An Estate Car?
An estate car is a type of car that looks like a hatchback from the front but has an elongated cargo compartment. Estate cars, also called station waggons, are known for their large cargo areas, which makes them a popular choice for families and anyone who moves a lot of items frequently.
You can identify an estate by its roofline, which slopes towards the rear end of the vehicle. Estate cars also often have foldable rear seats that you can bend over to create extra cargo space. They are often regarded as five-door cars because they have a boot opening that links to the back seats. Read more about 5-door cars in our other article.
Some estates have smart boot lids that you can open by waving your foot underneath the bumper when your hands are full.
Some of the popular estate models include the Subaru Outback, Volvo V90 and Ford Focus Estate.
Saloon Vs Estate Car
It’s time to dive into the details. To see how all these cars compare in terms of their features, we’ll examine their pros and cons.
The Pros & Cons Of A Saloon
We’ll start with a saloon car. Here are the major pros and cons of hiring or buying a car with a saloon body type.
Pros
- Style: Saloons are known for their sophisticated designs. This type of vehicle body is popular among luxury cars. Also, the sleek, aerodynamic lines of saloons give them an elegant appearance. Saloons also signal prestige, as you’ll see that they’re popular among people with chauffeurs.
- Comfort & Passenger Space: Although saloon cars typically do not carry more than four or five passengers, their seating arrangements ensure that everyone is comfortable. They’re also often equipped with comfort and convenience features like climate control and advanced sound systems to ensure the most awesome experience.
- Manoeuvrability: Saloons are generally shorter than estates, which makes them easier to manoeuvre. They also feature advanced driver assistance systems.
- Fuel Economy: Saloons tend to be more fuel efficient than estates. We’ll explain how they compare to estates in this regard later in this article.
- Performance: Saloon cars offer good handling and performance on the road. They often have responsive steering, and most models are equipped with a front-wheel drive system, which provides balance. You also have a wide range of options, extending to the top in terms of horsepower and engine size.
Some luxury saloons come with rear-wheel drive because it provides a more engaging driving experience.
Cons
- Cargo Capacity: Saloons generally have a small, segregated boot space, which can be a drawback when you need to transport large or bulky items.
- Visibility: Saloons have lower seating positions, which can affect your view of the road.
The Pros & Cons Of An Estate
Now let’s get down to the pros and cons of an estate.
Pros
- Cargo Space: The cargo space of estate cars is their biggest selling point. These cars have very spacious boots due to their extended rear sides. The large boot area makes estate vehicles great family cars because they allow you to carry a lot of cargo when travelling.
- Passenger Space: In addition to having large cargo spaces, estates also have spacious passenger rooms. Although this vehicle type is not as popular as a luxury car like the saloon, it has enough room for the passengers to stretch and sit comfortably.
- Versatility: The large cargo area makes estate cars very flexible. They are great for families and people who frequently transport a lot of cargo. Estate vehicles also have unique back seats that you can fold to create extra space in the boot.
- Off-road Performance: Station wagons have great stability and handling due to their long wheelbases and low centre of gravity. This feature is particularly important for anyone who frequently drives on rough terrain.
- Safety: Estates have solid construction and excellent safety records. We’ll further discuss their safety levels in comparison to saloons below.
- Easy Access: Estate cars have boot lids that open like doors to grant you access to the cargo area. You can even access the back seats of the car from this rear door. Find out more about this in the article, ‘Is a boot a door’.
Cons
- Size: The large interior space makes a station wagon large on the outside. As a result, these cars are more difficult to park and drive on narrow roads.
Tip: Look out for estate cars with parking sensors to ease the difficulty of parking.
- Engine: Despite their large size, estate cars usually have similar engines to saloons. This causes the acceleration and top speed of the vehicle to suffer. They are, however, luxury vehicles with this type of body that have powerful engines.
Fuel Considerations: Which Car Type Consumes Less Fuel?
Generally speaking, saloons have a slightly better fuel economy. You can’t overlook a vehicle’s weight when it comes to fuel economy, and this is what gives a saloon the edge when examining the fuel efficiency of the two car body types. Saloons are slightly smaller and weigh less than estate vehicles.
Also, saloons have a more aerodynamic body style. This design helps reduce wind resistance, leading to better fuel efficiency. However, that difference is not significant, and this is just a generalisation as fuel consumption is based on many factors, in addition to modern vehicles being overall more and more efficient.
Tap into SDVH’s fleet today and explore our diverse range of vehicles. We offer everything from automatic Ford Focus to a Mondeo saloon.
Safety Considerations: Which Car Type Is Safer?
Both saloons and estates come with various safety features, such as airbags, anti-lock brakes and stability control. They also have similar results in safety tests. However, an estate has an advantage during rear collisions due to its larger rear side, protecting the passengers at the back. Also, estates are usually a bit heavier, which is generally better in collisions and can even have a higher driving position – better for road visibility.
However, safety features ratings depend on the specific make and model, so generalised debates don’t provide a clear answer.
Estates are popular with dog owners as they have a low boot lip, which makes it easier to load animals in.
Who Should Hire Or Buy A Saloon?
A saloon car is great for anyone who wants a car for personal use and favourises style and aesthetics over practicality. Saloons provide a comfortable ride due to their relaxed seating and have enough space for both passengers and cargo space for the usual amount of everyday cargo.
Saloons are also a good choice for business travellers who need a vehicle for their trips or daily commute. They offer a proper balance of elegance, functionality and comfort. Overall, any car buyer who doesn’t need too much space and prefers a fancy body style will be happy with a saloon.
Who Should Hire Or Buy An Estate Car?
If you’re looking to hire or buy a practical car with lots of space, an estate car is the ideal choice. This type of car obviously isn’t as stylish as a saloon, but it has other unique features that help it stand out. For one, estates have more cargo space, which makes them great for anyone who frequently travels with a lot of luggage.
Estates also have off-roading capabilities. This feature, combined with their cargo space makes them perfect for road trips with family or friends. Modern estate cars also have advanced features designed to ensure comfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Car Type Is Better For Long-Distance Drives: An Estate Or A Saloon?
An estate is better for long-distance drives than a saloon. Estate cars generally have more cargo space, which makes them great for carrying more luggage or equipment. They’re also good for off-road use and are a bit heavier and bigger, which can be useful in collisions for which there is a higher risk on long-distance drives.
Do Saloons Consume Less Fuel Than Estates?
Yes, saloons consume less fuel than estates. Both car types have similar fuel efficiency. However, an estate is slightly longer and weighs more than a saloon car, which contributes to its fuel consumption. Saloons also have an aerodynamic body style, which reduces wind resistance and helps increase their fuel economy. However, this is just a generalisation and cars are more and more similar and efficient regarding fuel consumption.
Why Do Some People Prefer Estate Cars Over Saloons?
Some people prefer estate cars over saloons because they are more practical. They have a sloping roofline, which extends to the tail end to create more cargo space. Estate cars also have spacious interiors, as well as enough leg and head room, to ensure that you enjoy a comfortable ride.
Is A Sedan A Saloon Or An Estate?
A sedan is a saloon car. ‘Sedan’ is just another term used to refer to saloon cars. While the term ‘saloon’ is more popular in the UK, Americans prefer to use ‘sedan’. A sedan or saloon refers to a car with four doors and a three-compartment body. Saloons have an engine bay, a cabin and a separate boot compartment.
Are Estates Longer Than Saloons?
Yes, estates are longer than saloons. Estates have an extended rear section, which contributes to their overall length. The increased length contributes to the boot space of the vehicle, making estates great for anyone who transports a lot of cargo. However, the difference is generally not too big, and the exact length of an estate or a saloon depends on the model.
Conclusion
We have come to the end of your saloon vs estate comparison. By now, it’s evident that no one clearly holds the upper hand over the other. While saloons are more stylish and tend to be more fuel-efficient, estate cars are more practical and spacious. So, when next you need to buy or hire a vehicle, you know which type of car is most suitable for your needs.
