Sedan vs SUV: Which is best for a family car?

One of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make is the one to start a family. One of the next biggest decisions you’ll make is how you’re going to transport said family. 

We’re at a point in time when there’s never been more choice when it comes to cars: there’s better safety and technology included as standard than ever before, and design is becoming increasingly schmick regardless of your price point. Fuel, electric, hybrid – even powering your car has become more complicated. 

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As a relatively new mum myself who did this same dance just over a year ago, I know just how overwhelming this decision can be. 

So take my virtual hand, let’s take a deep breath together and start by making the most fundamental decision: SUV or sedan? There are pros and cons to both, of course, but once you’ve clarified which is better suited to your needs, then you’re already that much closer to choosing the right family car for you.

Once upon a time, sedans were the car to have on Australian driveways. In the last decade, however, SUV sales have skyrocketed and as a result the scales have tipped: in 2012, half of all new car purchases were a sedan. As of 2023, that number has dwindled to only one in five. Given this sales dip, it’s not surprising that when it comes to choosing a family car, sedans are increasingly overlooked for no good reason. 

Much like an SUV, sedans can range right from the pint-sized (think a Mazda 2) through to the very large (BMW 7 Series). They’re characterised by their ‘three box’ bodies: the front box houses the engine, the second box houses the passengers, and the third box is home to the boot. 

Sedans are lighter and arguably more agile than an SUV, and have the upper hand when it comes to stability. Because they’re low to the ground, they don’t have any wobble and are therefore less likely to lose their balance when swerving, turning a corner and changing direction, and more likely to recover in the event of an emergency manoeuvre.

The sedan versus SUV safety debate extends to pedestrians too. It may seem like an obvious statement, but the larger the vehicle, the increased likelihood of a serious injury. Studies out of Monash University Accident Research Centre showed that large SUVs were more likely to inflict fatal injuries at the site of an accident over any other vehicle. 

In fact, the state of Victoria even wanted to introduce a levy on larger SUVs in a bid to curtail the increased number of fatal road accidents that have happened since 2020. 

With that in mind, I took a look at the ANCAP website to see which sedans have the highest combined safety ratings as of November 2023. Amongst some other high performers, the BYD Seal has an Adult Occupant Protection rating of 89 per cent and a Child Occupant Protection rating of 87 per cent. If you’re looking for a touch of luxury, the Mercedes-Benz EQE received 95 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection and 92 per cent for Child Occupant Protection.

Most mass-market sedans have front-wheel drive as standard, but some – like the Polestar 2 or Subaru WRX – offer all-wheel drive as well, so you can opt for the drivetrain that best suits your lifestyle. There are also some sportier sedans that offer rear-wheel drive, like the Alfa Romeo Giulia or Tesla Model 3, which means while they may not be so adaptable in adverse weather conditions, they sure can be more fun to drive.

I get that the exhilaration factor isn’t likely to be a high priority on the family car shopping list, but sedans do offer something that much more exciting once you’ve finished the school run. Acceleration, braking and speed are all that much more tangible in a sedan, and if you pick a slightly sportier model such as the Audi A3, then you’ve got yourself a dynamic little number that still fits the weekly shop and a cumbersome pram. 

Speaking of prams, let's talk about one of the downsides of sedans: their boots. While sedans often feature sizeable boots on paper (for example, the Audi A6 offers a 530-litre boot, which rivals most medium SUVs), the dimensions can be limiting when it comes to transporting large or tall objects like furniture and house plants.

Naturally, given the closed-off nature of sedan boots, they also cannot accommodate family pets. Most but not all sedans allow you to fold the rear seats – which can be handy for longer objects – but you'll still be constrained by the height of the boot, and may not find the space as accommodating as that of a hatch or SUV.

Finally, let’s talk cost. Sedans tend to be less expensive than their SUV stablemates given their size and because there is simply less demand for them. They typically return a lower fuel consumption than SUVs thanks to their smaller stature, and are generally cheaper to insure too.

For example, I compared comprehensive insurance quotes between a Kia Cerato sedan and a Kia Sportage medium SUV. I was quoted $1081 annually for the Cerato by one leading insurer. The same insurer quoted $1670 for the Sportage, using exactly the same personal details each time. Having a family is an expensive exercise, so I'm all for finding cost efficiencies where I can. 

There’s no doubt about it: Aussies love Sports Utility Vehicles – or SUVs as they’re more commonly known. As of October 2023, 519,851 SUVs have been sold in Australia this year – that’s 58 per cent of all 2023 vehicle sales. Compare this to one decade ago when Australians bought a record-breaking 1,135,227 cars: SUVs held only 29 per cent of the market. 

It’s not difficult to understand why the humble SUV has gone stratospheric. There are approximately 150 different varieties of SUV in the market at present, and that doesn’t even touch upon the different grades within each model line-up. Diversity alone means there’s an SUV option for every new-car buyer, regardless of whether you have a family or not.

Starting super-tiny you’ve got the light SUV, which might suit a smaller family with limited parking – think the Ford Puma, Drive’s Light SUV of the Year for 2023. At the other end you’ve got the large SUV that can easily accommodate a brood of six or more – we’re rather partial to the Toyota Kluger.

With this breadth of scale comes a very fluid price range that suits every price bracket. The pint-sized Suzuki Ignis, for example, is Australia’s most affordable SUV at $20,490 before on-road costs. Meanwhile, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan (sorry, ‘high-sided vehicle’, as Rolls-Royce prefers the car to be called) is just a casual 37 times the price of the Ignis at $754,000. 

Given SUVs are taller cars, they are widely considered easier to get in and out of than a lower-seated car, and they’re also kinder to their passengers than other vehicles. Higher ceilings and generous cabins typically offer more comfort for back-seat travellers, and they don’t feel the pinch of a tapered roof the way sedan passengers might. 

Aside from cabin space, accompanying storage is usually ample and crucially boot size is capacious, though of course these are determined by what category size SUV you’ve opted for. Often, large seven-seat SUVs have a smaller boot when all three rows are in play, so keep in mind that if you're able to sacrifice the extra row of seating, you could win back some more cargo space.

Finally, there’s no getting around it: SUVs are the most functional option for an active family. Many are built with all-wheel drive or four-wheel-drive drivetrains to handle off-roading, and many are able to tow caravans or trailers, though I should call out here that you should always check your owner’s manual first to confirm exactly what weight your car can tow, whether braked or unbraked.   

Deciding what’s going to move your precious cargo from A to B is no easy choice, and fortunately today's new cars – regardless of size or shape – are generally of such a high standard that you’re unlikely to go wrong. 

Understated and overlooked, a sedan might be your best bet if you have a smaller budget: the majority of sedans are more affordable than SUVs and running costs will likely be lesser in the long run. It’s also the obvious choice if you want something a bit more thrilling on the road. From a driving and handling standpoint, sedans have a little more dynamic edge to them, and aesthetically they make an interesting counterpoint in a sea of SUVs.

An SUV, however, is definitely better suited if you have a larger crew of passengers and baggage. With more space and storage and generally more comfort than a sedan, an SUV is the more practical option if you know your family is likely to make long road trips or  carry freight – be that camping equipment, boats or caravans. If you opt for an SUV with all-wheel-drive capabilities, then it’s just as suitable for an off-road camping trip as it is the school run. 

My recommendation? Make a shortlist of both vehicle types before you commit and test-drive a few. And if your kids are old enough to speak, then bring them along for the ride. There’s nothing like the brutal honesty of a child to make it a quick decision.