Quote:
Originally Posted by gemi_kk
=> Monocoque SUV's are basically SUV's and they are lighter, so this makes them more easy to control in some exceptional situations.
Agree. Monocoques by design are more stable, body roll is much lesser since the entire chassis is a rigid, single unit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gemi_kk
=> Lighter body implies better life of tires, suspension and other wear and tear parts. (Might not be completely true if the quality of spares is not good.)
Agree. And as you say, depends upon the quality of spares as well as original parts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gemi_kk
=> The body is light, so the engine required would be smaller so more FE.
Requirement is low, agree. But one could still have a big engine for insane power-to-weight figures! Kidding 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gemi_kk
=> The body is light, so the engine would be small so should be easy for repairs and other tasks.
As mentioned above, depends on the engine complexity. Which in turns increases the smaller the engine gets.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gemi_kk
=> More space inside cabin and in bonnet so more DIY could be done.
If you meant for two cars with same external dimensions but one being mono and other being BoF, I guess that'd be true. Not sure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gemi_kk
=> Better visibility at night as the driver would be sitting a bit above.
Again, depends on design. All SUVs are basically built to offer a higher seating position. The Skoda Yeti is touted as an SUV, yet the Tata Nano is taller than it at its highest point (had once seen a nose-to-tail pic in one of the threads on TBHP itself).
Quote:
Originally Posted by gemi_kk
=> Expensive spares as it is considered as an SUV.
Brand-dependant. Are you comparing mono vs BoF in this regard? If yes, I don't see any difference, since for a given manufacturer, mono will get the same/similar engine as the Body-on-Frame, so same/similarly priced spares. If you weren't comparing that way, well, Tata spares will always be cheaper than Range Rover. And with platform- and part-sharing nowadays, one may find many similar components in the sedan and SUV offerings of the same manufacturer.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gemi_kk
=> Does monocoque chasis will be able to hold tight in case of an accident? (read low weight.)
Did you mean emergency maneuvering or crash safety? Either way, I'd say mono is better than BoF.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gemi_kk
=> Braking would be weak because of vehicle is big and not aerodynamic. so more load on pads and other areas.
Didn't quite catch you. How would aerodynamics affect braking? In fact, weaker aero would mean greater air resistance, in turn helping the vehicle to stop better. But that's in theory. Due to the relatively soft tune of SUV suspension systems, there's a lot of wallowing and pitching involved. But here I'd say monocoques get my vote. More stable by design.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gemi_kk
=> Emergency maneuvers. again, i am not sure.
Monocoque all the way.
PS: As I said earlier, it all depends on customer requirements. You have mostly mentioned high speed runs in your considerations. That's not what Body-on-Frames are built for. They're for low-speed, high-fun, go-anywhere capabilities.
Its the capabilities that differ, so a disadvantage for Monocoques is and advantage for BoF's, and vice versa. I suggest the thread title should rather be just "Monocoque vs Body-on-Frame" or something similar.
FAQs
Monocoque SUVs are significantly lighter and thus, all other things being equal, offer better performance & fuel efficiency. They also have superior ride comfort and road dynamics. They say that monocoque SUVs are safer because of more effective crumple zones (though there are always exceptions to the rule).
What are the disadvantages of monocoque? ›
Although the resulting structure is stiff in bending this will reveal its greatest weakness – structural instability. A monocoque structure has a great tendency to fail in buckling or crippling, something easily demonstrated by a person standing on top of an empty aluminum beverage can.
What are the advantages of a monocoque body? ›
The monocoque car will handle and hold the road better than a vehicle with a separate chassis. By its nature, a monocoque body provides better secondary safety (crash safety).
What is monocoque SUV? ›
Monocoque or Unibody frame SUVs are the talk of the town in the auto industry these days. Although this frame construction was considered to be better suited for sedans and hatchbacks, it is slowly creeping its way into the genre of bigger vehicles. The Monocoque Frame has a unitized frame and body construction.
Is monocoque chassis good? ›
Better handling
The monocoque chassis has a higher level of rigidity, making cars with this chassis easier to control. Therefore, SUVs with monocoque chassis are comfortable to drive in urban areas.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of monocoque structures? ›
In a monocoque construction of a tank there are no seams and welds that are structural weak points that a round can penetrate the armour this would make it harder to penetrate it, but it does increase the weight ( i think) and from this it decreases the power to weight ration of a tank and the track traverse resitance ...
What is one big problem with a monocoque structure? ›
Since no other bracing members are present, the skin must carry the primary stresses and keep the fuselage rigid. Thus, the biggest problem involved in monocoque construction is maintaining enough strength while keeping the weight within allowable limits.
What are the advantages of monocoque chassis? ›
The lightweight nature of monocoque chassis designs improves performance metrics such as acceleration, handling, and fuel efficiency, making them highly desirable in performance-oriented applications.
What cars use a monocoque? ›
List
| Model | Manufacturer | Class |
|---|
| EB110 | Bugatti | Sports car |
| SLR McLaren | Mercedes-Benz | Sports car |
| KZ1 | Ascari | Sports car |
| One-77 | Aston Martin | Sports car |
38 more rowsMore reliable safety: If you're looking for safety as the priority, unibody frames are safer when collisions vs Body on frame. They are safer due to crumple zones which are sears designed to crumple and absorb during a crash to protect the driver and passengers.
Ladder Frame
Ladder frames are one of the oldest yet most reliable car chassis frames out there. Ladder frames are constructed by fitting 2 long beams perpendicular to 2 short beams.
Which vehicle is better monocoque or ladder on frame? ›
The ladder frame chassis is the oldest design in the automotive industry. It has been phased out over the years in favour of the monocoque chassis due to safety, weight and rides dynamics advantages. A ladder frame is easier to work on to carry out damage repairs as it is a separate structure from the body.
What is the difference between a monocoque and a chassis? ›
A monocoque is a shell around the car made by using both chassis as the frame in a single construction. This is the most commonly used chassis right now due to the number of advantages of has over the other two chassis.
When did cars stop being body-on-frame? ›
Most small passenger vehicles switched to unibody construction by the end of the 1930s.
What are the benefits of body-on-frame? ›
Body on frame construction allows for a larger amount of “flex” in the vehicle, allowing the car to tackle uneven terrain and surfaces without damaging it. The chances of warping the frame are significantly lower than in a unibody frame car since it's not a single unit with the chassis.
What is the disadvantage of structural frame? ›
They are more expensive to build than traditional wood-frame buildings. And they require specialised knowledge and equipment to construct, making them difficult to assemble in remote locations. Despite these drawbacks, steel-framed buildings continue to be a popular choice for construction projects worldwide.
What is the opposite of monocoque? ›
What Is Space-Frame Design? Essentially, the space frame can be considered the opposite of a monocoque.
Why is semi-monocoque better than monocoque? ›
What is the difference between monocoque and semimonocoque structure in aircrafts? A: A monocoque structure uses its outer shell to support stresses and loads applied to it, whereas a semi-monocoque structure has an internal "skeleton" of supports and braces to keep its shape rigid and strong.
What is the disadvantage of body on frame construction? ›
There are disadvantages to a body-on-frame platform. It usually results in a heavy vehicle, negatively impacting fuel economy. The frame's shape may restrict interior space, and automakers find it more difficult to engineer "crumple zones," which dissipate force in a collision.
