How Many Kinds of Cars Are There?

There isn’t a single universal number: by common consumer categories there are roughly 12–15 core body styles, about 6–8 propulsion types, three primary drivetrain layouts, and 5–7 size segments depending on the region. In practice, the answer varies with the classification system used—design (body style), technology (powertrain), mechanical layout (drivetrain), or market segment.

The Many Ways We Classify “Kinds” of Cars

People often mean different things when they ask how many kinds of cars exist. Automakers, regulators, dealers, and drivers categorize vehicles by shape and purpose (body style), what powers them (propulsion), how power reaches the wheels (drivetrain), and where they sit in the market (size/segment). Each lens yields a different, legitimate count.

Body Styles Most Commonly Recognized Worldwide

Body style groups cars by shape and function. While modern design blurs lines—especially with crossovers—these are the principal categories you’ll see in showrooms and reviews.

• Sedan (saloon): Four doors, separate trunk.
• Hatchback: Rear hatch with a shared cargo/passenger space.
• SUV: Taller stance, extra ground clearance; some with off-road hardware.
• Crossover (CUV): Car-based SUV; emphasizes comfort and efficiency.
• Coupe: Traditionally two doors and a sporty profile (some modern “four-door coupes”).
• Convertible/Cabriolet: Retractable roof, soft or hard top.
• Wagon/Estate: Extended roofline and cargo area behind the rear seats.
• Liftback/Fastback: Sloped rear with a hatch, blending sedan and hatchback traits.
• Minivan/MPV: People carrier with sliding doors, often three rows.
• Pickup truck (light-duty): Enclosed cabin with an open cargo bed.
• Van (compact/cargo/passenger): Boxy, maximizing interior volume; commercial or family use.
• Sports car/Grand tourer (GT): Performance and handling focused.
• Supercar/Hypercar: Extreme performance, often limited-production and high price.
• Microcar/City car (including Japan’s kei cars): Ultra-compact urban vehicles.

Many models straddle categories (e.g., coupe-SUVs or wagon crossovers), which is why estimates usually cite a range—roughly a dozen to 15 core body styles in everyday use.

Propulsion (Powertrain) Types

Propulsion explains how a car is powered. The mix is changing quickly as electrification spreads, but these are the mainstream types you’ll encounter globally today.

• Gasoline internal-combustion engine (ICE)
• Diesel internal-combustion engine (ICE)
• Alternative-fuel ICE (ethanol/flex-fuel, CNG, LPG, and emerging synthetic e-fuels)
• Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV, including mild and full hybrids)
• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)
• Range-extended EV (EREV/series hybrid)
• Battery electric vehicle (BEV)
• Hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV)

That yields about 6–8 mainstream propulsion categories. Battery-electric sales are expanding rapidly—around 18% of global new car sales in 2023, with continued growth expected through 2025—while technologies like hydrogen ICE are in pilot or niche phases.

Drivetrain Layouts

Drivetrain describes which wheels are driven and how, affecting handling, traction, and efficiency.

• Front-wheel drive (FWD)
• Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
• All-wheel drive (AWD)/4×4 (full-time or part-time)

Most mass-market cars are FWD for packaging and efficiency; performance and luxury models often use RWD or AWD. Dual-motor EVs are popularizing electric AWD with precise torque control.

Market Size/Segment Systems

Regulators and the industry group cars by size and market position. The exact labels differ by region, but the buckets are broadly similar.

United States (EPA passenger-car classes)

The EPA uses interior volume to classify passenger cars for fuel-economy labeling.

• Two-seater
• Minicompact
• Subcompact
• Compact
• Midsize
• Large

Crossovers and SUVs may be categorized as “light trucks” for regulatory purposes even when consumers consider them family cars, which complicates simple counts.

Europe (industry lettered segments)

European segments are descriptive market groupings rather than legal definitions, but they are widely used by automakers and analysts.

• A-segment: City cars
• B-segment: Superminis
• C-segment: Compacts
• D-segment: Mid-size
• E-segment: Executive
• F-segment: Luxury
• J-segment: SUVs/crossovers
• M-segment: MPVs/minivans
• S-segment: Sports/GT

Because these are market conventions, boundaries can shift over time as models grow or new niches emerge (for example, coupe-styled SUVs within the J-segment).

Japan (vehicle size/number classes)

Japan ties categories to exterior dimensions and engine displacement, which also affect taxes and regulations.

• Kei: Micro vehicles up to 660 cc and strict size limits
• Small/Compact (“5-number”): Moderate size and displacement
• Regular/Standard (“3-number”): Larger dimensions or engines

Kei cars form a uniquely strong segment in Japan, illustrating how local rules shape “kinds” of cars in different markets.

If You Need A Number

Because “kind” depends on the lens, here’s a practical way to translate the question into counts used by consumers and analysts.

• Body styles: approximately 12–15 core types in global use
• Propulsion: roughly 6–8 mainstream types sold today
• Drivetrain: three primary layouts (FWD, RWD, AWD/4×4)
• Market size/segments: typically 5–7 buckets per regional system

These ranges capture the majority of vehicles without overcounting niche or overlapping categories, and they reflect how the industry actually communicates with buyers.

Why There’s No Single Count

New technologies (electrification, software-defined platforms) and design mashups (crossover everything) continually stretch definitions. Marketing also plays a role: the same model might be pitched as a hatchback in one market and a crossover in another. As a result, any fixed number will either miss nuance or double-count overlapping labels.

Summary

There is no definitive number of “kinds of cars.” By widely used frameworks, expect about a dozen-plus body styles, 6–8 propulsion types, three main drivetrains, and 5–7 size segments in common circulation. The exact tally depends on how you choose to classify—and the auto industry keeps inventing new niches that blur the lines.

Which is the no. 1 richest car?

The Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail is considered the #1 richest and most expensive car in the world, with an estimated price of $30 million to $32 million. This ultra-exclusive vehicle is part of Rolls-Royce’s Coach Build series, featuring unique, hand-crafted designs, including a rare Black Baccara rose-inspired interior with over 1,600 pieces of wood.
 
Key features of the Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail:

• Ultimate Luxury: It’s described as a moving embodiment of human ingenuity, extreme luxury, and a one-of-a-kind creation. 
• Bespoke Design: Each car is a custom project, with only four units planned for worldwide production, making it highly exclusive. 
• Intricate Craftsmanship: The interior woodwork alone took almost two years to complete, featuring a unique rose burst design with 1,603 individual wood pieces. 
• Unique Details: The car is inspired by the Black Baccara rose, with hand-painted rose petal detailing and a color-shifting exterior. 
• Powerful Engine: It is powered by a twin-turbocharged V12 engine. 
• Collector’s Item: It’s not just a car but a rolling trophy and a testament to extreme luxury and craftsmanship. 

What are the 10 most popular cars?

Top 10 Most Popular Cars in the World

1. Toyota Corolla. Maintaining its leadership for 4 consecutive years!
2. Toyota Camry. Another “leading” model from Toyota is the representative and more comfortable Camry.
3. Honda CR-V.
4. Toyota RAV4.
5. Ford F-Series.
6. Hyundai Tucson.
7. Chevrolet Silverado.
8. Tesla Model 3.

What is the only 7 car in the world?

What car has only 7 models in the world? Only 7 Bugatti type 41 or “Royale” motor cars have ever been made.

How many types of models are in a car?

What separates the types of vehicles? Car types include hatchbacks, sedans, SUVs, MUVs, coupes, and convertibles and pickup.