Examples of Automobiles

Automobiles include cars and light trucks such as the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Ford F-150, Tesla Model 3, Toyota RAV4, Jeep Wrangler, Hyundai Ioniq 5, BMW 3 Series, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Broadly, the term covers road‑legal, four‑wheeled passenger vehicles—sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs and crossovers, pickups, minivans, and light vans—powered by gasoline, diesel, hybrid, plug‑in hybrid, battery electric, or hydrogen fuel cells.

What Counts as an Automobile?

In common usage, “automobile” refers to a self‑propelled, road‑legal passenger vehicle with four wheels. It typically excludes motorcycles, buses, and heavy trucks but includes sedans, hatchbacks, wagons, coupes and convertibles, SUVs and crossovers, pickups, minivans/MPVs, and light commercial/passenger vans. The unifying traits are road registration, passenger orientation, and compliance with safety standards.

Common Body Styles with Current Examples

The following list groups automobiles by body style and highlights representative models that were widely available in global markets as of 2024. Availability can vary by country and model year.

• Sedans — Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Mercedes‑Benz E‑Class, BMW 3 Series
• Hatchbacks — Volkswagen Golf, Mazda3 Hatchback, Toyota Corolla Hatchback
• Station wagons — Volvo V60/V60 Cross Country, Mercedes‑Benz E‑Class All‑Terrain, Audi A4 allroad, Subaru Outback (wagon‑crossover blend)
• Coupes and convertibles — Ford Mustang, BMW 4 Series, Mazda MX‑5 Miata, Chevrolet Corvette
• SUVs and crossovers — Toyota RAV4, Honda CR‑V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Ford Explorer, BMW X5, Mercedes‑Benz GLE
• Off‑road SUVs — Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco, Toyota Land Cruiser (returned to the U.S. for 2024), Land Rover Defender
• Pickup trucks — Ford F‑150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ram 1500, Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger
• Minivans/MPVs — Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Pacifica (includes plug‑in hybrid variant)
• Vans (light commercial/passenger) — Ford Transit, Mercedes‑Benz Sprinter, Ram ProMaster
• Sports, super, and hypercars — Porsche 911, Nissan Z, Ferrari 296 GTB, Lamborghini Revuelto (PHEV), McLaren Artura (PHEV), Rimac Nevera (EV)

Together, these body styles cover the vast majority of passenger vehicles on public roads, from practical family movers to high‑performance exotics designed mainly for speed and handling.

Powertrains: Gasoline, Hybrid, Electric, and Hydrogen

Automobiles today span multiple propulsion types. The examples below illustrate popular models within each powertrain category, reflecting mainstream choices and newer technologies through 2024.

• Gasoline/diesel (ICE) — Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, BMW 3 Series, Ford F‑150
• Hybrid (HEV) — Toyota Prius, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Honda CR‑V Hybrid, Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
• Plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) — Toyota Prius Prime, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, BMW X5 xDrive50e, Jeep Wrangler 4xe
• Battery‑electric (EV) — Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, Ford F‑150 Lightning, Rivian R1T and R1S, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Volkswagen ID.4, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Cadillac Lyriq, Mercedes‑Benz EQS/EQE, BMW i4/iX, Porsche Taycan, Audi Q8 e‑tron
• Hydrogen fuel‑cell (FCEV) — Toyota Mirai, Hyundai Nexo

Powertrain choices affect running costs, range, emissions, and charging or fueling needs. Hybrids and PHEVs bridge conventional and electric motoring, while full EVs and FCEVs eliminate tailpipe emissions entirely.

Regional Best‑Sellers and Notable Models

Automobile preferences vary by market due to regulations, roads, fuel prices, and consumer tastes. The following examples reflect commonly reported favorites and high‑visibility models in recent sales rankings and coverage.

• United States — Ford F‑150, Toyota RAV4, Tesla Model Y, Chevrolet Silverado
• Europe — Volkswagen Golf, Dacia Sandero, Peugeot 208, Tesla Model Y
• China — BYD Qin Plus, BYD Song, Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, Tesla Model Y
• India — Maruti Suzuki Alto/K10, Maruti Suzuki Swift, Hyundai Creta, Tata Nexon
• Japan — Toyota Yaris, Toyota Corolla, Nissan Note, Honda N‑Box (kei class)

These models underscore how “typical” automobiles differ by region: compact hatchbacks and small crossovers in Europe and Japan, value‑focused compacts in India, and a mix of pickups and SUVs in the U.S., alongside rapidly growing EV segments worldwide.

How to Tell if a Vehicle Is an Automobile

While “motor vehicle” is a broader term, these criteria help distinguish what people generally mean by “automobile.”

1. Four wheels and road‑legal for public streets
2. Primarily designed for passenger transport or light cargo
3. Powered by ICE, hybrid, plug‑in hybrid, battery electric, or hydrogen fuel cell
4. Equipped with required safety features and registrable for public use

By contrast, motorcycles, buses, and heavy commercial trucks are motor vehicles but are not typically labeled “automobiles” in everyday use.

Frequently Referenced Model Examples by Category

Here is a quick reference roster by common shopping categories, featuring models broadly available as of 2024; exact availability and trims depend on the market.

• Affordable compact cars — Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte
• Family midsize sedans — Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata (2024 refresh), Subaru Legacy
• Compact SUVs — Toyota RAV4, Honda CR‑V, Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX‑5
• Three‑row SUVs — Toyota Highlander, Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, Ford Explorer
• Luxury sedans — Mercedes‑Benz S‑Class, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, Lexus ES
• Luxury SUVs — BMW X5, Mercedes‑Benz GLE, Lexus RX, Audi Q7
• City‑friendly EVs — Nissan Leaf, Mini Cooper SE, Chevrolet Bolt EV (ended after 2023 model year; remaining stock varies), BYD Dolphin (market dependent)
• Work vans — Ford Transit, Mercedes‑Benz Sprinter, Ram ProMaster

These examples capture familiar nameplates across budgets and needs, from commuter cars and family crossovers to luxury flagships and utility vans.

Summary

Automobiles are road‑legal, four‑wheeled passenger vehicles spanning sedans, hatchbacks, wagons, coupes and convertibles, SUVs and crossovers, pickups, minivans, and light vans. Representative examples include the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, BMW 3 Series, Toyota RAV4, Ford F‑150, Tesla Model 3/Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Jeep Wrangler, and Mercedes‑Benz E‑Class. They run on gasoline or diesel, as well as hybrid, plug‑in hybrid, battery‑electric, and hydrogen fuel‑cell systems. Preferences differ by region, but the categories above encompass the most common examples people mean when they refer to “automobiles.”

What vehicles are considered automobiles?

The term “automobile” includes any passenger car or station wagon. The term “new automobile” means an automobile the equitable or legal title to which has never been transferred by a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer to an ultimate purchaser.

What are automobiles?

A car, or an automobile, is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of cars state that they run primarily on roads, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport people rather than cargo. There are around 1.644 billion cars in use worldwide as of January 2025.

What are the different types of automobiles?

Classification Based on Number of Wheels and Axles:
Two-Wheelers: This includes motorcycles and scooters. Three-Wheelers: Examples are tempo and auto-rickshaws. Four-Wheelers: These are standard vehicles like cars, jeeps, buses, and trucks.

What are the examples of automobile?

There are different kinds of automobiles; passenger cars, cargo cars and cars for the construction of roads and buildings. Cars for racing such as F1 Grand Prix are produced with the most advanced technologies. Passenger cars are the automobiles to transport people. Taxis, buses, and private cars are passenger cars.