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Car classification

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Car classification is a somewhat subjective subject, as many vehicles fall between classes or even outside all of them. Not all car types are sold in all countries and names differ in some cases between British and American English. The following are commonly used classifications within the Wikipedia. Where applicable, the relevant EuroNCAP classifications are shown.

Contents

North America EuroNCAP Segment Example
Microcar
Smart Fortwo
 - Supermini A class Fiat Panda
Subcompact B class Ford Fiesta
Compact Small family car C class Ford Focus
Mid-size Large family car D class Volkswagen Passat
Full-size E class Chrysler 300
Luxury Executive car F class Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Sports
Porsche 911
Convertible
BMW 3-Series
Roadster Roadster BMW Z4
 - Small MPV B class Opel Meriva
 - C class Renault Scénic
Minivan MPV D class Toyota Previa
Mini SUV Small Off-Roader B class Daihatsu Terios
Compact SUV D class Honda CR-V
Mid-size crossover SUV E class BMW X5
Mid-size SUV Large Off-Roader E class Jeep Grand Cherokee
Full-size SUV F class Cadillac Escalade

Smart
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Smart

Microcar

See main article: Microcar
Straddling the boundary between car and motorbike, these vehicles have engines of only a few hundred ccs, typically seat only 2 people, and are generally unorthodox in construction. Many only have three wheels. They are especially associated with post-war Europe, where their appearance led them to called Bubble cars. A contrast to the traditional microcar is the modern Smart Fortwo.

Examples of microcars:

Hatchback

See main article: Hatchback

City car

See main article: City car
A city car is a small car intended for use in urban areas. Unlike microcars, city car's greater speed and occupant protection allow relative safety in mixed traffic environments and in all weather conditions. While it may be capable of freeway speeds this is not the main purpose of the car.

In Japan, a specially restricted type of these (under 3.40m long) are called the keicar, where taxes and insurance are lower.

Examples of city cars:

Ford Fiesta
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Ford Fiesta

Supermini / Subcompact car

See main article: Supermini car
See main article: Subcompact car
This class, known as superminis in Europe and subcompact cars in North America, covers the not-so-small hatchbacks and the smallest sedans. These vehicles are the smallest cars widely sold in the North American market. They have usually three, four or five doors and are designed to seat comfortably four adults and a child, but can take five adults. Current supermini hatchbacks are around 3.90m long and sedans 4.20m long.

In Europe, the first superminis were the Fiat 500 of 1957 and the Austin Mini of 1959. Today, superminis are some of the biggest selling cars in Europe.

Examples of superminis / subcompact cars:

This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Superminis'.

Small family car / Compact car

See main article: Family car
See main article: Compact car
Compact cars are usually referred to the longest hatchbacks or the smallest family cars. Nowadays they are about 4.25 m long, have room for five adults and their engines are usually around 1.6 L to 2.0 L.

Examples of hatchback small family cars / compact cars:

This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Small Family Cars'.

Sedan/saloon and station wagon / estate

See main article: Sedan (car)
See main article: Saloon
See main article: Station wagon
See main article: Estate

Family car

See main article: Family car
Longer than hatchbacks, they have room for five adults and a larger boot, depending on the size. The most popular layouts are sedan/saloon and station wagon / estate. This class makes up the largest percentage of vehicles in most developed countries.

Examples of sedan/estate small family cars / compact cars:

This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Small Family Cars'.

Examples of large family cars / mid-size cars:

This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Large Family Cars'.

Lincoln Town Car
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Lincoln Town Car

Executive car / Luxury car

See main article: Luxury car
An executive car or luxury car are typically four-door sedan/saloon cars. They are usually very roomy, powerful, and luxurious, which is a reason why they are more expensive than "standard" sedans.

Examples of mid-size executive cars / mid-size luxury cars:

Examples of large executive cars / full-size luxury cars: This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Executive Cars'.

Sportive cars

VW Golf GTI Cabriolet
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VW Golf GTI Cabriolet

Hot hatch / sport compact

See main article: Hot hatch
See main article: Sport compact
A hot hatch or sport compact is a high-performance hatchback based on standard superminis or small family cars, with improved straight line performance, handling and styling. Hot hatches make up a large section of the market for hatchbacks.

Examples of hot hatches:

Sports sedan / saloon

See main article: Sports sedan
These are high performance versions of sedans. Originally homologated for production based motorsports (touring cars) and like sedans, seats four people.

Examples of sports sedans / saloons:

A Honda NSX
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A Honda NSX

Sports car

See main article: Sports car
This small lightweight class combines performance and handling. Often inspired by racing vehicles. This class ranges from sporty vehicles such as the MX-5 to derivatives of true racing thoroughbreds such as the Lotus Elise.

Examples of sports cars:

Jaguar XK8
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Jaguar XK8

Grand tourer

See main article: Grand tourer
Larger, more powerful and heavier than sports cars, these vehicles typically have a FR layout and seating for four or 2+2. They are more expensive than sports cars but not than supercars, and often combine modern technology with hand-built construction.

Examples of grand tourers:

Lamborghini Gallardo
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Lamborghini Gallardo

Supercar

See main article: Supercar
They are ultra-high performance cars, typically very expensive, luxurious, and exceptionally fast. Supercars typically contain cutting-edge technology, and may be assembled partly or completely by hand.

Examples of supercars:

See also: List of supercars

Muscle car

See main article: Muscle car
The Muscle car is a peculiarly American type of sports car, popular from the 1960s until a combination of spiralling insurance costs and the 1973 energy crisis largely killed off the category. A smaller offshoot, the pony car, still exists in the form of the Ford Mustang. The epitome of brute-force power, these cars shoe-horned giant engines into mid-sized cars (by the then US standard) which were often, from the factory, inadequate to handle the power and performance; handling was subordinate to straight-line acceleration.

Examples of muscle cars:

Cabriolet / convertible

See main article: Cabriolet
See main article: Convertible
Also called an open saloon, roadster or drop-head coupe, this type of car has a roof (fabric, vinyl, metal or glass) which can be folded away. Convertibles were very popular in hotter places before the advent of automotive air-conditioning, but also in colder climates (so that in summer the driver can enjoy driving oper-air the few warm days). 2-seater convertible sports cars are commonly named roadster or spyders.

Examples of cabriolets / convertibles:

4x4

See main article: 4x4
Also know as off-roaders, there are two general trends among them: SUVs and crossover SUVs.

Military HMMWV
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Military HMMWV

SUVs

See main article: SUV
SUVs are off-road vehicles with a body-on-frame chassis, all-wheel drive and true offroad capability. SUVs have severe problems with crash incompatibility, and are typically of more primitive design than smaller cars. Combined with serious handling issues in some vehicles due to the high centre of gravity, this makes them a dangerous vehicle in inexperienced hands.

Examples of 4x4s / SUVs:

This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Large Off-Roaders'.

Crossover SUV

See main article: Crossover SUV
Crossover SUVs have a monocoque construction and relatively normal ground clearance. Some of them use electronic systems like traction control and pneumatic/hydraulic suspension, which give them good capability in many off-road situations, particularly sand and graded roads.

Examples of crossover SUVs:

This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Small Off-Roaders'.

Minivan / MPV

See main article: Minivan
See main article: Multi-purpose vehicle
Also known as people carriers, this class of cars resemble family cars but are taller with a shorter hood/bonnet and are designed for maximum practicality. The larger minivans may have seating for seven or eight people.

The increased height of these vehicles above a family car improves visibility for the driver (while reducing visibility for other road users) and may help access for the elderly or disabled. They also offer more seats and increased load capacity over their similar low-roof models.

Citroën Xsara Picasso
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Citroën Xsara Picasso

Examples of mini MPVs:

Examples of compact MPVs: Both categories are equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Small MPVs'.

Dodge Grand Caravan
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Dodge Grand Caravan

Examples of large MPVs / minivans:

This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'MPVs'.

Other

See also

External links

 

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.

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