Car enthusiasts these days are attracted to cars promising good fuel economy. Whereas, automakers are striving to come up with more fuel-efficient technologies. Talking about fuel efficiency, both sedans and Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), have been incredibly popular among car enthusiasts.
You might already have a preference, but finding the best fit for your budget is a bit complicated. Comparing the fuel economy of two vehicles is not a simple task as there are various factors at play. While SUVs are larger, some sedans may have more powerful engines and other specs that increase fuel consumption.
For a fair comparison, it is important to understand the basic difference between the two of the most popular body types, and then compare an SUV and sedan with relatively similar classification and price range.
This guide will provide a comprehensive SUV vs sedan fuel economy comparison to help you understand which of these two can fit your budget.
Basic Difference Between SUV and Sedan
Among the various car types, SUVs and sedans are by far the most distinguishable. Both these cars have proven to be an effective way of transportation offering unique advantages to their owners.
Sedan
A sedan has a traditional three-compartment configuration separate for engine, passenger, and boot space. It has four doors and can seat up to five passengers. Different automakers design a sedan car body type in sizes ranging from small, medium, large, or compact.
Some of the most popular used sedans in the UAE include Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, and Toyota Corolla. You can find these used for sale in the UAE through the following listings:
- Pre-owned Toyota Camry for sale in the UAE
- Pre-owned Mercedes-Benz S-Class for sale in the UAE
- Second-hand Nissan Altima for sale in the UAE
SUV
SUVs can seat up to 8 passengers, provided that they are large-sized with sufficient cargo space. They are usually 4WD vehicles with high-ground clearance and high-performance features that make them a popular option for off-roading trips as they can easily traverse tough terrains. It is why SUVs are quite popular in the UAE.
The most popular used SUVs in the UAE include Nissan Patrol, Toyota Land Cruiser, Land Rover Range Rover, Ford Explorer, and Mitsubishi Pajero. If you are interested in buying these used SUVs in the UAE, then you can buy them from the following listings:
- Second-hand Nissan Patrol for sale in the UAE
- Used Toyota Land Cruiser for sale in the UAE
- Pre-owned Land Rover Range Rover for sale in the UAE
- Used Mitsubishi Pajero for sale in the UAE
Factors Affecting Fuel Economy of SUVs and Sedans
Fuel economy is commonly referred to as the distance travelled by car in a specific quantity of fuel. The lesser fuel a car uses, the more would be its fuel economy. Therefore, choosing a fuel-efficient car or adopting fuel-efficient driving techniques can lessen your fuel expenses. In this case, both SUVs and Sedans have been popular choices in the UAE.
There are multiple factors which affect the fuel economy. However, we will discuss the top 4 factors and compare both car types against them, to determine which is more fuel-efficient.
1. Displacement
It is the consumption of air volume by an engine per revolution. It is expressed in litres. So, the more the air volume is consumed while the engine is running, the more energy/fuel is required by the engine.
While many vehicles are powered by a four-cylinder or V6 engine, sports cars or bigger trucks are equipped with V6 or V8 engines. The more cylinders an engine has, the more air volume is required, consequently, more fuel is consumed. Therefore, four-cylinder engines are considered more fuel-economic than higher engines.
For instance, among the popular sedans in the UAE, Toyota Corolla is more fuel-efficient due to its 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine as compared to Mercedes-Benz S-Class equipped with a 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 engine.
Similarly, Toyota Fortuner EXR is an SUV equipped with 2.7-litre, four-cylinder engine and is more fuel-efficient than the new Toyota Land Cruiser 2022 GXR with a 4.0-litre V6 engine.
2. Weight
The weight of a car influences the amount of energy it requires to move, which ultimately impacts fuel consumption. So, the more a car weighs, the higher the fuel it will consume to get it moving. Sedans are usually lighter in weight than SUVs. Therefore, when comparing the fuel economy of SUV vs sedan based on weight, sedans are considered more fuel-efficient than SUVs.
Even if sedans aren’t lighter in weight, they have a low centre of gravity due to lesser ground clearance as compared to an SUV. Vehicles, like sedans, with a low centre of gravity, are designed for fast manoeuvring and consume less fuel.
3. Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics plays a major role in fuel consumption, especially at a higher speed. It is the science of how air moves around and inside the object.
No matter what the speed of a car is, some energy is always required to move a car through the air. This energy is required to overcome air resistance, also called drag. The drag is measured in terms of a drag coefficient. It increases proportionally with the car’s speed, which ultimately has a more pronounced impact on car acceleration, fuel efficiency, top speed, and handling.
Therefore, automakers spend considerable money and time to make a car aerodynamically efficient by modifying a car’s exterior elements. To achieve the least drag, some tweaks like the following can be done to a vehicle.
- Adding a small grill to the front to reduce frontal pressure
- Decreasing ground clearance to reduce airflow under the car
- Installing rear screens
This in turn reduces drag and the car consumes lesser fuel, regardless of the speed it is moving with. For instance, Toyota Prius is a renowned fuel-efficient sedan due to its low drag coefficient. The low drag coefficient in Toyota Prius is achieved through its unique teardrop shape that offers minimal resistance. Similarly, Tesla Model X is a unique SUV with a streamlined body with minimal drag. However, in the SUV vs sedan fuel consumption comparison, sedans consume less fuel as they are more aerodynamically efficient.
4. Mechanical Resistance
Mechanical resistance is the amount of energy a vehicle requires to move the various components in a drivetrain. All these components in turn contribute to moving the car. As some energy is lost in overcoming mechanical resistance, the initially generated horsepower never makes it to the wheels. Automatic transmissions have more mechanical resistance than manual transmissions, therefore, manual transmissions deliver better acceleration and fuel economy.
Hyundai Elantra N and Chevrolet Camaro are among those SUVs having a manual transmission, therefore, exhibit low mechanical resistance and better fuel economy.
Fuel-efficient SUV vs Fuel-efficient Sedan
Both the SUVs and sedans have their own set of pros and cons, however, when talking solely about fuel economy, we can narrow down our search for the most fuel-efficient car, based on the SUV vs sedan mileage comparison below.
The 2022 Ford Escape Hybrid PHEV is difficult to beat in terms of fuel efficiency since it gives a mileage of 44 kilometres/litre, whereas, 2021 Tesla Model 3 is the most fuel-efficient sedan till now giving a mileage of 60 kilometres/litre.
Keeping in view the above-mentioned factors affecting fuel economy, sedans can be considered more fuel-efficient than SUVs due to their lightweight, low centre of gravity, and efficient aerodynamics.
Nevertheless, with this guide, you can also decide better which car is best for you in the SUV vs sedan fuel economy comparison. If you are planning to switch to a modern car with high-tech features, then you can buy one from the used cars for sale in the UAE.
Stay tuned to the UAE’s top auto blog for more information on fuel economy in cars.
Related Posts
