The Complete Guide to Car Categories in 2025

Cars are grouped in multiple ways: by body style (sedan, SUV, hatchback), size/segment (A–F in Europe; subcompact to large in the U.S.), propulsion (gas, hybrid, electric), drivetrain/layout (FWD, RWD, AWD), purpose/market positioning (economy, luxury, performance), and regulatory class (light-duty, commercial). No single global list exists, so understanding these overlapping systems is the key to knowing “all the categories of cars.”

Body Styles Most Drivers Use

Body style is the most familiar way to categorize cars because it describes shape, doors, roofline, and typical use. These labels often guide purchase decisions, insurance, and parking or cargo expectations.

• Sedan (saloon): Four doors and a separate trunk; common for families and fleets.
• Hatchback: Two or four doors plus a rear hatch; flexible cargo space in a compact footprint.
• Wagon/Estate: Elongated roof with a rear hatch; sedan-like ride with extra cargo capacity.
• Coupe: Typically two doors with a sloping roof; style-forward, often sportier.
• Convertible/Cabriolet/Roadster/Targa: Retractable or removable roof; roadster is usually two-seat.
• Liftback/Fastback: Sloped rear with a lifting tailgate; blends sedan look with hatch utility.
• Shooting Brake: Wagon-like roofline on a coupe/sporty base; niche, style-led.
• Minivan/MPV/People Carrier: Sliding doors and three rows; maximized passenger space.
• Microvan/Kei Van: Very small van format (notably in Japan); urban delivery and people mover.
• SUV: Taller ride height; traditionally body-on-frame off-roaders, now also unibody family haulers.
• Crossover (CUV): Unibody SUV-like cars; combine hatchback/wagon practicality with SUV stance.
• Off-roader/4×4: High-clearance, durable drivetrains (e.g., locking differentials, low-range transfer case).
• Pickup Truck: Open cargo bed; in midsize, full-size, and heavy-duty forms; some unibody “compact” pickups exist.
• Van (cargo/passenger): Boxy, maximized volume; used for trades, delivery, shuttles.
• City car/Microcar: Extra-small footprint for dense cities; includes some quadricycles.
• Ute (Australia)/Bakkie (Southern Africa): Coupe-utility or pickup-style vehicles tailored to local markets.

These styles frequently overlap—e.g., a “coupe-SUV” blends fastback styling with SUV height—so manufacturers often mix labels to signal both form and function.

Size and Segment Classes (Regional Taxonomies)

Europe (Informal Letter Segments)

In Europe, widely used but unofficial letter segments group cars by size and market position rather than exact dimensions. They help compare vehicles across brands and countries.

• A-segment: Mini/city cars.
• B-segment: Small cars (superminis).
• C-segment: Compact/medium cars.
• D-segment: Mid-size/large family cars.
• E-segment: Executive cars.
• F-segment: Luxury flagships.
• J-segment: SUVs and crossovers (subcompact to full-size tiers within).
• M-segment: MPVs/minivans.
• S-segment: Sports cars and grand tourers.

These letters describe market positioning; exact dimensions and interior volumes still vary across models and generations.

United States (EPA/NHTSA Consumer Classes)

In the U.S., the EPA groups passenger cars by interior volume index, while light trucks (SUVs, pickups, vans) are categorized by type and sometimes by drivetrain. This supports fuel economy and regulatory reporting.

• Passenger cars by size: Minicompact, Subcompact, Compact, Midsize, Large (based on interior volume).
• Station wagons by size: Small, Midsize, Large (interior volume-based).
• SUVs: Small/Standard (often listed as 2WD or 4WD); typically counted under “light truck.”
• Minivan: Family-oriented vans; also under “light truck.”
• Pickups: Small/Standard (light-duty, generally GVWR Classes 1–3).

EPA size classes aid consumer comparisons, but trucks and SUVs are further shaped by GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) and drivetrain, which can affect regulations and taxes.

Japan and Special Categories

Japan uses engine displacement, exterior dimensions, and tax brackets to define categories that also influence license plates and parking rules. Similar “micro” categories exist in other regions for urban mobility.

• Kei cars: Strict limits on size and 660 cc engines; lower taxes, ideal for cities.
• Compact vs. Regular class: Based on width/length/engine (reflected in 5-number/3-number plates).
• Micro-mobility/Quadricycles: L-category vehicles (also in the EU as L6e/L7e) for low-speed, urban use.

These categories often determine ownership costs and parking eligibility, making them highly influential in urban markets.

Powertrain and Energy Source

Another major way to categorize modern cars is by how they’re powered. Electrification has expanded choices beyond traditional gasoline and diesel engines.

• Internal Combustion Engine (ICE): Gasoline, diesel, flex-fuel (ethanol blends), and biodiesel-compatible options.
• Mild Hybrid (MHEV): 48V systems assist the engine but cannot drive the car electrically for long.
• Full Hybrid (HEV): Engine and motor can power the car; energy recaptured via regenerative braking.
• Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV): Larger battery you can charge; electric-only range plus an engine for longer trips.
• Range-Extended EV (EREV): Primarily electric drive with an engine acting as a generator in some designs.
• Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV): Fully electric; single- or multi-motor; DC fast-charging capable.
• Fuel-Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV): Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity onboard; water vapor as tailpipe output.
• Alternative Fuels: CNG/LPG, hydrogen ICE pilots, and synthetic e-fuels (emerging, niche in 2025).

Powertrain categories increasingly overlap with body styles—e.g., electric SUVs—so shoppers often weigh range, charging speed, and efficiency alongside form factor.

Drivetrain Layout and Traction

Layout (where the engine/motors sit) and which wheels are driven affect handling, traction, and packaging. EVs add new multi-motor configurations.

• Driven wheels: FWD (front), RWD (rear), AWD/4WD (both; full-time or part-time with selectable modes).
• Engine placement: Front-engine, mid-engine, rear-engine (performance and balance considerations).
• EV motor setups: Single-motor (FWD or RWD), dual-motor (AWD), tri-/quad-motor with torque vectoring.

These categories are crucial for performance, towing, and weather capability, and they often define sub-badges (e.g., “xDrive,” “quattro,” “4MATIC,” or “Dual Motor”).

Purpose and Market Positioning

Automakers also position vehicles by intent and audience, combining features and brand cues to match expectations on comfort, performance, and price.

• Economy/Value: Low purchase and running costs; basic equipment.
• Mainstream/Family: Balanced price, space, safety, and tech.
• Premium/Luxury/Executive: Higher-grade materials, refinement, brand prestige.
• Performance/Sports: Hot hatch, sports car, grand tourer (GT), muscle car, supercar, hypercar.
• Utility/Work: Fleet vehicles, police/taxi packages, tow-focused trims.
• Adventure/Overlanding: Off-road hardware, overland builds, camper conversions.
• Mobility-as-a-Service: Robotaxi prototypes/purpose-built shuttles (limited public sale).

Market positioning can apply across body styles—e.g., luxury SUVs or performance wagons—so it’s best viewed as a layer on top of form and size.

Commercial and Regulatory Classes

Regulatory frameworks group vehicles by weight and use to set safety, emissions, taxation, and licensing rules. These matter for ownership costs and business use.

• Light-Duty Vehicles (LDV): Passenger cars and light trucks (up to about 8,500–10,000 lb GVWR in the U.S.).
• Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV): Vans and pickups up to 3.5 tonnes GVW in the EU (common for trades/delivery).
• Medium/Heavy-Duty Trucks: U.S. Classes 4–8 (over 14,000 lb GVWR); beyond typical “car” scope but includes HD pickups/vans.
• UNECE M1: Passenger cars with up to eight seats plus driver; M2/M3 cover larger buses/coaches.
• Special Legal Categories: U.S. LSV/NEV (low-speed vehicles), EU L-category quadricycles—often for urban mobility.

Knowing the regulatory class helps explain differences in insurance, driver licensing, emissions testing, and where a vehicle can legally operate.

Emerging and Cross-Over Forms

Design and electrification trends have spawned blended categories that don’t fit neatly into traditional boxes.

• Coupe-SUVs and Fastback SUVs: Sloping-roof crossovers emphasizing style over maximum cargo.
• Lifted Wagons and All-Road Hatches: Added clearance and cladding for light trails.
• EV-Specific Shapes: Aero “fastback sedans” (often liftbacks), MPV-like EVs with flat floors and frunks.
• Micro EVs and Neighborhood Electric Vehicles: Urban-range, low-speed solutions.
• Van-Based MPVs and Campervans: Passenger-friendly or leisure conversions of cargo vans.

These hybrids show how customer tastes and new platforms continually re-mix categories, especially as EV packaging frees designers from engine-bay constraints.

How to Use These Categories

When someone asks “what category is this car?” consider the context: body style and size for shopping, propulsion and drivetrain for capability and efficiency, and regulatory class for taxes and business use. Most modern models occupy multiple categories at once—e.g., a midsize electric crossover SUV with dual motors and luxury positioning—so treat the labels as a helpful map rather than a single-box answer.

Summary

There is no single universal list of car categories. Instead, vehicles are classified by body style, size/segment (EU A–F/J/M/S; U.S. EPA interior-volume classes), propulsion (ICE, hybrid, PHEV, BEV, FCEV), drivetrain/layout (FWD/RWD/AWD; engine or motor placement), purpose/positioning (economy to hypercar), and regulatory class (light-duty, LCV, etc.). Understanding these overlapping systems lets you accurately place any model—from a kei hatchback to a luxury electric SUV—within today’s automotive landscape.

How are cars classified?

These classifications can be based on body style (e.g. sedan, coupe or hatchback), number of doors or seating capacity. Government departments often create classification systems for taxation or regulating vehicle usage (e.g. vehicles that require a specific license or are restricted to certain roads).

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.

How many categories of cars are there?

What are the five major types of cars? There are many different types of automobiles available in India, but the majority of them fall into one of seven categories: Hatchback, Sedan, SUV, MUV, Coupe, Convertible, and Pickup Truck.

What are the 6 types of cars?

Hatchbacks, sedans, SUVs, MUVs, coupes, convertibles, pickup trucks – you name it, we have it.