Every Car Type Explained: A Buyer’s Guide to New Car Classes
Navigating the new car market can feel like deciphering a new language. With so many different car types, body styles, and market sectors, it’s easy to get lost. This guide breaks down the key terms you’ll encounter when shopping for a new vehicle, helping you understand the distinctions between various car classes.
City Car
City cars are the smallest vehicles on the market, perfectly suited for navigating tight city streets and squeezing into compact parking spaces. They’re often referred to as A-segment cars, the smallest class available. Early examples of this type include the post-war bubble cars like the BMW Isetta and later, models such as the original Mini and the Fiat 500. The class saw a resurgence in the 1990s with the arrival of cars like the Fiat Cinquecento, Renault Twingo, and Ford Ka. While the rise of safety tech and electrification initially threatened the city car, budget-friendly models like the Dacia Spring, Leapmotor T03, and Hyundai Inster have kept them alive.
Supermini
Superminis are a step up in size from city cars. Cars like the Volkswagen Polo, Renault Clio, and the popular Dacia Sandero fall into this category. Coined in the 1970s with cars such as the Fiat 127, superminis were larger than the original city cars like the Mini. These cars usually come in three- or five-door hatchback versions, although the modern MINI, now considered a supermini itself, is also available as a convertible.
Family Hatch
The family hatchback segment includes the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, and Honda Civic. These cars were once best-sellers. The Ford Escort was the most popular car on UK roads from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s, and the Ford Focus held that position from the late 1990s to the late 2000s. The family hatch class generally includes three- and five-door hatchbacks, although the four-door saloon variants are less common now. These are often considered the base level for a family’s primary vehicle, offering sufficient rear legroom and boot space for a family of four.
Family Car
Mainstream family cars, once dominant in sales charts, have declined in recent years, replaced by compact executive cars and, more recently, mid-size SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles). Vehicles like the Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Vectra, and Renault Laguna were once common but today, you see models like the Skoda Octavia, cars that combine hatchback and crossover characteristics, like Peugeot 408, or the electric Hyundai Ioniq 6.
Compact Executive Car
This class represents a step up in prestige from regular family cars. The rise of leasing and hire purchase has fueled the market for cars like the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, and Mercedes C-Class. The 3 Series surpassed the Mondeo in sales some years ago, and the trend continues. Compact executives are also expanding into the electric vehicle market with models like the Tesla Model 3 and the BMW i4.
Executive Car
Executive cars once represented a significant status symbol. This class includes models like the BMW 5 Series, which require a greater financial commitment than the 3 Series. Like compact executives, executive cars are more commonplace today, with popular saloon and estate body shapes, often joined by large five-door fastbacks, such as the Audi A7. The Tesla Model S reshaped this segment in 2012. Most manufacturers now offer dedicated electric models, such as the BMW i5 and Mercedes EQE.
Luxury
Luxury cars retain their prestigious status, although the class has broadened. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is frequently described as one of the best cars in the world, while the Bentley Flying Spur and Rolls-Royce Phantom take luxury to the next level. While mostly saloons, luxury SUVs, such as the Range Rover, Bentley Bentayga, and Rolls-Royce Cullinan are now commonplace, as are luxury coupes like the all-electric Rolls-Royce Spectre.
SUVs
SUVs are incredibly popular in the UK. Originally specialized off-road vehicles offering additional comfort, have evolved to dominate the car market with consumers appreciating their tough looks and higher ride heights. SUVs are now available in various sizes, mirroring the more traditional market sectors mentioned above.
Small SUV
Small SUVs are typically based on superminis (B-segment). Their rapid rise in popularity, starting with the Nissan Juke in the 2010s, has led them to take over from superminis in many cases. For example, Ford no longer sells the Fiesta but still offers the Puma. Although they’re often more expensive, sometimes slower, and potentially less fuel-efficient than their supermini counterparts, buyers enjoy the styling, slightly elevated driving position, and modest increase in interior space.
Mid-size SUV
Medium SUVs serve as the MPV equivalents of family hatch and family cars. There isn’t a defined size for medium SUVs; they generally slot in between smaller models like the Juke and large SUVs like the BMW X5. From the Nissan Qashqai and Renault Scenic to the BMW X3 or Mercedes-Benz GLC, there’s plenty of prestige and performance on offer. The price range varies widely: the most affordable medium SUVs can be found under £30,000, while high-performance or electric versions can approach £100,000. Both five- and seven-seat layouts are commonly available.
Large SUV
Large SUVs cover a diverse range of models, from the simply big (BMW X5s and Audi Q7s) to the enormous by UK standards (such as the 5.2-meter long Mercedes GLS, or 5.4-meter Land Rover Defender 130). Most are heavy; kerb weights exceeding two tonnes are common, and some reach almost three tonnes, especially those with electric power and weighty batteries. These SUVs offer elevated seating positions, substantial interior space, ample performance, and luxury car features, with prices often exceeding £50,000 and extending into six figures.
Coupe SUV
This category emerged with the launch of the BMW X6 in 2008. BMW described the car as a “Sport Activity Coupe” to differentiate it from traditional SUVs, but today we call it a coupe SUV, regardless of how far it departs from the original ‘coupe’ concept. You’ll find them across all different sizes of SUVs, from the ‘small coupe SUV’ Volkswagen Taigo, to the X6 in the large coupe SUV class. They generally have a five-door SUV body with a roofline that slopes toward the rear of the car. Essentially, practicality is traded for style.
Crossover
Crossovers represent a less defined vehicle class. It often describes small and medium SUVs that are road-biased, which fits the definition of some of the SUVs mentioned above. It can also encompass vehicles like the Peugeot 408 and Citroen C5-X, which are taller than traditional saloons and hatches, but not quite SUVs. The class can also include jacked-up, plastic-clad versions of hatchbacks and estates, like the Fiat Panda 4×4, Subaru Crosstrek, and Audi A4 Allroad.
MPV
MPV stands for Multi-Purpose Vehicle. They’re sometimes referred to as people-carriers or minivans. These cars emphasize maximum interior space and passenger capacity. Most MPVs have six or seven seats, compared to the usual four or five. The category has decreased in the European market in the 2020s, as seven-seat SUVs have largely replaced them, but with less space efficiency. Today, the only ‘proper’ MPVs are van-based models.
Van-based MPV
The van-based MPV has survived as the most practical MPV. Several models are derived from commercial models. The Peugeot Rifter is based on the Partner van, the Volkswagen Multivan on the Transporter, and the Ford Tourneo Custom is mainly a Transit Custom with more seats and windows. While they appear similar to vans, they feature fancy trim and extra kit to feel more car-like. Benefits include practical sliding doors and expansive interior space for passengers and luggage.
Convertible
Convertibles allow drivers to enjoy the wind and sun while driving, although the former is often more prevalent in the UK. This category features any car with a folding or removable roof instead of a fixed roof. Many are based on existing cars; for example, a MINI Convertible is based on the MINI Cooper hatchback, featuring a fabric roof that retracts and folds behind the rear seats.
Roadster
Historically, a roadster is a two-seat, open-topped sports car. The term is often used interchangeably with ‘sports car’. All roadsters are two-seat open-top cars. Modern roadster examples include the Mazda MX-5 and Porsche 718 Boxster. Rear-wheel drive is not a pre-requisite. Roadsters do not need a roof; for example, the Morgan Super 3 has no roof.
Coupe
Historically, a coupe was a two-door car with one or two rows of seats. The luggage area was separate from the passenger space, with a lower and sleeker profile when compared to the car it’s based on; the BMW 4 Series is a sportier take on the 3 Series. Nevertheless, the definition isn’t hard and fast; over the decades, the name has been used liberally. You’ll find it on sloping-roofed saloons, such as the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, to hunchbacked SUVs, such as the Mercedes GLE Coupe.
Sports Car
The term ‘sports car’ is contested, but it refers to a car intended for driving enjoyment or performance. Hot hatches and supersaloons, despite their speed and based on more mundane vehicles, aren’t sports cars. Supercars are sports cars, though not all sports cars are supercars. Typically, a sports car’s performance is more accessible. The Mazda MX-5 is the modern sports car starting point, while the Porsche 911 or Lotus Emira tops the list before reaching the supercar realm.
Supercar
Defining a supercar is difficult, but there’s an element of ‘you’ll know it when you see it’. These high-performance, low-slung models often feature mid-engines (a Mercedes SLS AMG or a Ferrari 12Cilindri). Style is as important as performance for a supercar. Modern examples include the Ferrari , Lamborghini Temerario, Maserati MC20, Chevrolet Corvette C8, and McLaren Artura.
Hypercar
Hypercars have wilder styling, incredible performance, and technology, all combined with a high price tag. The Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1, and Porsche 918 Spyder set the modern template, and exclusivity plays a role. Examples include the Pagani Utopia , the Bugatti Tourbillon, and the Koenigsegg Gemera.
Track Car
Track cars are designed primarily for use on racing circuits without being fully fledged racing cars. Regular performance road cars, like the Porsche 911 GT3s, are suitable for track use, but a track car prioritizes on-track usage. Examples include ultra-high-end track cars such as the McLaren Senna GTR, Ferrari FXX-K, and Aston Martin Vulcan, none intended for road use.
Performance Car
This is a broad term encompassing models designed with performance in mind. It doesn’t mean straight-line speed alone (Volvo EX30 is not really a performance car). The term covers hatches, sports cars, supersaloons, supercars, hypercars, and track cars.
How Many Doors?
Several market sectors include vehicles with various body styles, so you will often see phrases like ‘five-door hatchback’ or ‘four-door coupe’. In general, an even number of doors (two-door coupe, four-door saloon) indicates the specific number of doors, with a separate luggage area like a traditional saloon. Odd numbers (three-door hatchback, five-door hatchback) mean two or four doors plus the tailgate, and a luggage area considered part of the passenger compartment.
Light Commercial Vehicles
Small Van
The small van market has changed. Supermini-based models or tall, upright vans are not as common, and the market is currently represented by models like the Citroen Berlingo, Renault Kangoo, Ford Transit Courier, or car-based models like the Toyota Corolla Courier. The load space and payload are less than in vans in the next class. Running costs should be lower too.
Medium Van
Medium vans are what typically come to mind when thinking of panel vans, such as the Ford Transit Custom. Cargo volume is usually between 6-9 cubic meters, or enough for two or three Euro pallets, with payloads of close to 1.5 tonnes.
Large Van
Large vans are the largest panel vans on the market, such as the Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Crafter, Renault Master, and the Ford Transit. Cargo space here tends to be from 15 cubic metres, and payloads are 2–3 tonnes, all with high roofs and long wheelbases.
Pick-up
Pick-up trucks vary globally, but the models on sale in the UK are classed as ‘mid-size’ trucks (Ford Ranger, Volkswagen Amarok, Toyota Hilux). A one-tonne payload is standard, along with a 3.5-tonne towing limit. Comfort and equipment levels have greatly improved, although they can still be agricultural to drive at times.
