Fast Information About Varieties of Automobiles
- There are 10 normal varieties of automobiles.
- Some car-type definitions are murky.
- Pickup vehicles and SUVs outsell vehicles.
When shopping for a automobile, you’ll suppose that with a subject so simple as “varieties of vehicles,” there wouldn’t be a lot room for doubt or dialogue, proper? Not so quick. Parsing the several types of vehicles isn’t as simple because it sounds. There are some grey areas the place automobile varieties roughly overlap. For instance, the sports activities automobile and the coupe are two such classes, as are the convertible and the sports activities automobile. There are exceptions to each rule, and we’ll see extra as we undergo our listing. We shorthand “vehicles” to imply passenger automobiles.
In an effort to create readability, we now have damaged this listing into 10 automobile varieties. Our standards for every kind have extra to do with two or three defining traits than anything. For example, a coupe has two doorways, whereas a sedan has 4. As we transfer by way of the listing, we provide a number of subset examples of every kind, corresponding to subcompact, compact, midsize, and so forth.
What Are the Completely different Varieties of Automobiles?
There isn’t a single logical methodology for organizing an inventory like this; due to this fact, listed below are our classes in no explicit order apart from we group collectively vehicles, vans, SUVs, and vehicles.
Our 10 Varieties of Automobiles
| Sports activities Automotive | Hatchback | Coupe |
| Sedan | Convertible | Station Wagon |
| Minivan | Van | SUV |
| Pickup Truck |
1. Sports activities Automotive
The sports activities automobile section is a grey space with no hard-and-fast definition. As soon as upon a time, you solely referred to a two-seat convertible — just like the Mazda MX-5 Miata and the BMW Z4 — as a sports activities automobile. They needed to be small, sporty-looking, and enjoyable to drive. Not a lot anymore. Right now, the time period casts a wider internet to incorporate vehicles just like the Chevy Corvette. Furthermore, it will possibly even embrace automobiles with a small backseat, such because the Ford Mustang and Porsche 911.
Though out of the attain of most of us mortals, we’ll additionally embrace the “Exotics” on this grouping. These are high-priced, high-performance sports activities vehicles just like the McLaren GTS and Aston Martin DB12.
2. Hatchback
Usually, hatchbacks are smaller (subcompact or compact) with 4 passenger doorways plus a fifth door on the again instead of a trunk lid, which is why they’re typically known as 5-door vehicles. We’d lump the Subaru Impreza 5-Door, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Volkswagen Golf GTI into this group.
Nevertheless, typically they’ve three doorways just like the compact Mini Hardtop 2 Door. Evolving, although, the hatchback now has a number of greater, flashier entries just like the midsize Audi This autumn Sportback e-tron, which don’t look very like conventional hatchbacks.
3. Coupe
Coupes are an endangered species with the present examples just about relegated to luxurious manufacturers. As historically outlined, a coupe is a 2-door automobile with a tough roof and a backseat. For instance, the departed Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger have been coupes. For 2025, the Ford Mustang and Toyota GR86 are uncommon examples of mainstream coupes. Nevertheless, luxurious nameplates just like the Audi A5 and Mercedes-Benz CLE match into this mould. In fact, some fashions from the sports activities automobile group spill over into the coupe section, together with vehicles just like the Nissan Z and the beforehand talked about Mustang.
Then issues get a bit murky as a result of there’s a group of bigger 4-door hardtops with sloping rooflines that their makers erroneously name coupes. Yep, it’s a bit of bizarre. The Mercedes-Benz CLA and the BMW 4 Sequence Gran Coupe fall into this group. Stranger nonetheless, Mercedes-Benz additionally markets the GLC Coupe, which is a crossover.
What’s the Distinction Between a Coupe and a Sedan?
The normal distinction between a coupe and a sedan is the coupe has two doorways and the sedan has 4 doorways. Each show a three-box design in that the engine, passengers, and trunk are separated into their very own compartments. Up to now 20 years or so, carmakers have corrupted the coupe definition to incorporate automobiles with a coupe-like sloping roof, even when they’ve 4 doorways.
4. Sedan
There isn’t a lot ambiguity within the definition of a sedan. It has at all times been a 4-door hardtop with two rows of seats and a trunk. Though there are fewer and fewer sedans in the marketplace, they proceed to populate subcompact, compact, midsize, and full-size classes. Representing subcompact sedans are the Nissan Versa and Hyundai Accent. Included amongst compact sedans are the Honda Civic, Kia Forte, and Subaru WRX.
The midsize sedan area overflows with fashions, together with the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Chevy Malibu, Hyundai Sonata, and extra.
The roster of full-size mainstream sedans has principally emptied fully. One space the place sedans are nonetheless plentiful is the full-size luxurious section. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Genesis G90, BMW 7 Sequence, Lexus LS, and extra are nonetheless promoting in adequate numbers to maintain them off the cancellation listing.
5. Convertible
Whether or not the highest is delicate or laborious, the automobile is a convertible if the roof might be lowered or fully eliminated. Most of at the moment’s crop of convertibles have two doorways (Ford Mustang, and Mazda MX-5 Miata), however 4-door convertibles aren’t unprecedented. There have been a number of previously, and modern-day examples embrace the GMC Hummer EV, Jeep Wrangler Limitless, and Ford Bronco. And, like full-size sedans, nearly all of convertibles put on luxurious logos. The Mercedes-AMG SL, BMW Z4, and the Audi A5 are good examples. Once more, there may be some overlap between sports activities vehicles and convertibles.
6. Station Wagon
One other shrinking breed is station wagons. As a rule, station wagons are primarily based on a sedan. Nevertheless, somewhat than a trunk, they’ve an prolonged roofline and rear-door entry to the cargo space. Right now’s crop of wagons is generally midsize, together with the Volvo V60 and Audi allroad. We like wagons and want for his or her revival.
7. Minivan
Minivans elbowed station wagons out of the best way because the household livery of alternative earlier than SUVs kicked minivans apart. Minivans sometimes are one large field with three rows of seats, a rear hatch door, and sliding aspect doorways. Plus, they’ve front-wheel drive (FWD). Regardless of their practicality, minivans have virtually disappeared from the passenger-vehicle panorama. As soon as upon a time, almost each carmaker provided one. These nonetheless standing are the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and Kia Carnival.
8. Vans
Traditionally, vans are workhorses, typically listed below “Industrial” on carmakers’ web sites. The Chevrolet Categorical, GMC Savana, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and Ford Transit are rear-wheel drive (RWD). However, you’ve gotten the Ram ProMaster that’s front-wheel drive. Most supply cargo and passenger variations. Just like the minivan, vans are one-box designs; nevertheless, not all of them have sliding aspect doorways. With some fashions, you will need to entry the cargo space by way of a side-hinged rear door or double rear doorways.
9. SUV
By far, probably the most prolific automobile kind is the SUV. We’re utilizing “SUV” right here as an inclusive solution to speak about SUVs and crossovers. We may spend a few paragraphs distinguishing between the 2, however we’ll depart it at SUVs are constructed on heavier truck platforms and crossovers on lighter automobile platforms. Most SUVs are full-size, present rear-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive (4WD), and are engineered for heavy towing and excessive off-roading. Examples of huge SUVs embrace the Chevy Tahoe, Ford Expedition, Toyota Sequoia, Land Rover Vary Rover, and Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon. The Toyota 4Runner, Jeep Wrangler, and Dodge Durango signify midsize SUVs.
Though the phrases “SUV” and “crossover” are sometimes used interchangeably, crossovers are far more carlike than SUVs. Crossovers are often front-wheel drive; nevertheless, many supply all-wheel drive (AWD) as normal or as an choice. Amongst bigger crossovers are the Hyundai Palisade, Cadillac XT6, and Audi Q7. Midsize examples are the Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-EQ EQE, Buick Enclave, and Honda Pilot. In contrast to the SUV section, a number of smaller nameplates qualify as crossovers. For instance, the Nissan Rogue, Subaru Crosstrek, and Ford Bronco Sport are subcompact or compact crossovers.
What’s the Distinction Between an SUV and a Crossover?
The only reply is an SUV rides on a truck platform, and a crossover rides on a automobile platform. Digging a bit of deeper, an SUV has a physique bolted onto a ladder body. It’s both rear-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive. It excels in towing and off-roading. However, a crossover makes use of carlike unibody building through which the physique and body are all one unit. Crossovers are sometimes both front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Crossovers are lighter, journey higher, and ship higher mileage. SUVs are more durable, can tow extra, and supply significantly better off-road efficiency.
10. Pickup Truck
There may be a number of floor to cowl when discussing pickup vehicles, so let’s get to it. Usually, a pickup truck has a cab with two or 4 doorways, one or two rows of seats, and an open cargo field behind the cab. It’s rear-wheel drive with 4-wheel drive as normal or elective. Its building consists of a physique bolted onto a metal body. Nevertheless, there are a few exceptions within the Honda Ridgeline and Hyundai Santa Cruz, that are car-based pickups. Each are on front-wheel-drive platforms. The Ridgeline, nevertheless, not gives front-wheel drive. It solely comes with all-wheel drive, whereas the Santa Cruz gives all-wheel drive as an choice.
Full-size pickups, like these constructed by Ford, Chevrolet, and Ram, are available light- and heavy-duty variations. These are relative phrases. The Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and Ram 1500 are the light-duty variations. Representing the heavy-duty section are the Ford F-150 Tremendous Responsibility fashions, Silverado HD, and Ram HD.
Competing within the midsize area are vehicles just like the GMC Canyon, Toyota Tacoma, and Nissan Frontier. We’ll additionally add the Honda Ridgeline to this group. The Hyundai Santa Cruz is extra of a compact pickup; nevertheless, Hyundai classifies it as a “sport journey automobile.” Be that as it could, we’re tossing it into the pickup section.
