Car classification

This article is about passenger car and pickup classifications. For commercial vehicle classifications, see Truck classification.

Governments and private organizations have developed car classifications that are used for a number of purposes. These include regulation, description and categorization, among others. The following are commonly used classifications in use worldwide:

Car classification/Vehicle Classification
Not Well Defined / Vernacular Defined by Law or Regulation Examples
Market Segment (American English) Market Segment (British English) Market Segment (Australian English)[1] US EPA Size Class[2] Euro NCAP Structural Category[3] Euro NCAP Class (1997 - 2009) Euro Market Segment[4]
Microcar Microcar, Bubble car N/A N/A — Quadricycle A-segment mini cars Bond Bug, Isetta, Mega City, Renault Twizy
Subcompact car
Economy car		 City car Microcar Minicompact Passenger car Supermini Citroën C1, Fiat 500, Hyundai Eon, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Renault Twingo
Supermini Light Car Subcompact B-segment small cars Ford Fiesta, Kia Rio, Opel Corsa, Peugeot 208, Volkswagen Polo
Compact car Small family car Small Car Compact Small family car C-segment medium cars Honda Civic, Mazda3, Peugeot 308, Renault Mégane, Toyota Corolla
Mid-size car Large family car Medium Car Mid-size Large family car D-segment large cars Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Peugeot 508, Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen Passat
Entry-level luxury car Compact executive car Medium Car above $60,000 N/A Acura ILX, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Audi A4, Lexus ES, Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Full-size car Executive car Large Car Large Executive E-segment executive cars Chevrolet Impala, Ford Taurus, Mazda Xedos 9, Hyundai Grandeur, Holden Commodore, first and second generation
Mid-size luxury car Large Car above $70,000 N/A Audi A6, Cadillac CTS, Chrysler 300, Tesla Model S, Acura TLX
Full-size luxury car Luxury car Upper Large Car above $100,000 N/A — F-segment luxury cars BMW 7 Series, Lincoln Town Car, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Porsche Panamera, Audi A8
Grand tourer Grand tourer Sports Car N/A — S-segment sports coupés Aston Martin DB9, Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari GTC4Lusso, Jaguar XK, Maserati GranTurismo
Supercar Supercar N/A — Bugatti Veyron, LaFerrari, Lamborghini Aventador, Pagani Zonda, Porsche 918 Spyder
Convertible Convertible N/A — BMW 6 Series, Chevrolet Camaro, Mercedes CLK, Volvo C70, Volkswagen Eos
Roadster Roadster Two-seater Roadster sports BMW Z4, Lotus Elise, Mazda MX-5, Porsche Boxster, Mercedes-Benz SLK
— Mini MPV N/A Minivan MPV Small MPV M-segment multi purpose cars Citroen C3 Picasso, Ford B-Max, Opel Meriva, Fiat 500L
MPV Compact MPV People Mover Chevrolet Orlando, Ford C-Max, Opel Zafira, Renault Scenic, Volkswagen Touran
Minivan Large MPV Large MPV Chrysler Town and Country, Kia Carnival, Citroën C4 Grand Picasso, Renault Espace, Toyota Sienna
Cargo van Van Van Cargo van — Chevrolet Express 1500 Cargo, Fiat Ducato/Ram ProMaster, Ford Transit, Renault Master, Volkswagen Transporter
Passenger van Minibus People Mover Passenger van — Chevrolet Express 1500 Passenger, Ford E350 Wagon, Mercedes-Benz Viano
Mini SUV Mini 4x4 Small SUV Small Sport Utility Vehicle Off-roader Small Off-Road 4x4 J-segment sport utility cars (including off-road vehicles) Daihatsu Terios, Ford Ecosport, Jeep Renegade, Peugeot 2008, Suzuki Jimny
Compact SUV Compact SUV Medium SUV Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Jeep Cherokee, Kia Sportage
Mid-size SUV Large 4x4 Large SUV Standard Sport Utility Vehicle Large Off-Road 4x4 Ford Expedition, Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Volkswagen Touareg, Volvo XC90
Full-size SUV Upper Large SUV Range Rover, Cadillac Escalade, Toyota Land Cruiser
Mini pickup truck Pick-up Ute Small Pickup Truck Pickup Pick-up — Chevrolet Montana, Fiat Strada, Renault Duster Oroch, Volkswagen Saveiro
Mid-size pickup truck Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, Mitsubishi Triton/L200, Nissan Navara, Toyota Hilux
Full-size pickup truck Pickup Standard pickup truck Dodge Ram, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra, Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra
Heavy Duty pickup truck Chevrolet Silverado HD, Ram Heavy Duty, Ford Super Duty
Special purpose vehicle — Limousine Special purpose vehicle — — — Lincoln MKT Livery

References

  1. ↑ Alborz, Fallah. "New Car Sales Figures June 2015". Car Advice. Car Advice. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  2. ↑ 40 C.F.R. 600 Subpart D §315-08
  3. ↑ NCAP Comparable cars
  4. ↑ Case No COMP/M.1406 - Hyundai / Kia: Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 Merger Procedure: Article 6(1)(b) Non-opposition Date: 17/03/1999