Europe
Vehicle segments in Europe do not have formal characterization or regulations. Models segments tend to be based on comparison to well-known brand models. For example, a car such as the Volkswagen Golf might be described as being in the Ford Focus size class, or vice versa. The VW Polo is smaller, so it belongs one segment below the Golf, while the bigger Passat is one segment above.
This is a table listing several different methods of car classification.
Car classification
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| American English | British English | Euro Car Segment | Euro NCAP 1997 - 2009 | Euro NCAP | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microcar | Microcar, Bubble car | A-segment mini cars | Quadricycle | - | Bond Bug, Isetta, Mega City, REVAi/G-Wiz |
| Subcompact car | City car | Supermini | Passenger car | Ford Ka, Smart Fortwo, Toyota Aygo, Volkswagen Up | |
| Supermini | B-segment small cars | Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, Opel Corsa, Peugeot 207 | |||
| Compact car | Small family car | C-segment medium cars | Small family car | Chevrolet Citation, Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, AMC Pacer | |
| Mid-size car | Large family car | D-segment large cars | Large family car | Ford Mondeo, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Opel Insignia, Chevrolet Malibu, IKCO Samand | |
| Entry-level luxury car | Compact executive car | Acura TSX, Alfa Romeo 159, Mercedes C-Class, BMW 3 Series | |||
| Full-size car | Executive car | E-segment executive cars | Executive car | Ford Taurus, Ford Crown Victoria, Holden Commodore, Chevrolet Impala | |
| Mid-size luxury car | Lincoln MKZ, Lexus GS, BMW 5 Series, Jaguar XF, Volvo S80, Chrysler 300, Cadillac CTS | ||||
| Full-size luxury car | Luxury car | F-segment luxury cars | - | Lincoln MKS, Audi A8, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes S-Class, Cadillac DTS | |
| Sports car | Sports car | S-segment sport coupes | - | Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette, Porsche 911, Ferrari 458 Italia, Nissan Z-car, Lamborghini Gallardo | |
| Grand tourer | Grand tourer | - | Jaguar XK, Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, Maserati GranTurismo | ||
| Supercar | Supercar | - | Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari Enzo, Pagani Zonda | ||
| Convertible | Convertible | - | BMW 6 Series, Mercedes CLK, Volvo C70, Volkswagen Eos, Chevrolet Camaro | ||
| Roadster | Roadster | Roadster sports | Roadster | Audi TT, Honda S2000, Lotus Elise, Mazda MX-5, Porsche Boxster | |
| - | Mini MPV | M-segment multi purpose cars | Small MPV | MPV | Ford B-Max, Citroen C3 Picasso, Opel Meriva, Renault Modus, Renault Kangoo |
| MPV | Compact MPV | Ford C-Max, Renault Scenic, Citroën C4 Picasso, Opel Zafira, Škoda Roomster | |||
| Minivan | Large MPV | Large MPV | Ford S-Max, Ford Galaxy, Renault Espace, Peugeot 807, Chrysler Town and Country | ||
| Mini SUV | Mini 4x4 | J-segment sport utility cars (including off-road vehicles) | Small Off-Road 4x4 | Off-roader | Ford Ecosport, Daihatsu Terios, Mitsubishi Pajero iO, Suzuki Jimny, Jeep Wrangler |
| Compact SUV | Compact SUV | Ford Escape, Ford Kuga, Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, Chevy Equinox, Jeep Liberty | |||
| Mid-size SUV | Large 4x4 | Large Off-Road 4x4 | Ford Edge, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Volkswagen Touareg, Chevrolet Tahoe | ||
| Full-size SUV | Ford Explorer, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Range Rover, Toyota Land Cruiser | ||||
| Mini pickup truck | Pick-up | - | Pick-up | Pickup | Chevrolet Montana, Fiat Strada, Volkswagen Saveiro |
| Mid-size pickup truck | Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, Mitsubishi Triton/L200, Nissan Navara | ||||
| Full-size pickup truck | Ford F-150, Dodge Ram, GMC Sierra, Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra | ||||
| Full-size Heavy Duty pickup truck | Ford Super Duty, Chevrolet Silverado, Ram Heavy Duty | ||||
EuroNCAP applies a standard safety test to all new cars, the results are listed in separate categories to allow prospective vehicle purchasers to compare models of a similar size and shape:
- Superminis (including city cars)
- Small family cars (also for stand-alone saloon superminis, like the Dacia Logan)
- Large family cars (includes compact executive cars)
- Executive cars (for expensive cars over 4.80 m long)
- Roadsters
- Small off-roaders (similar to the North American crossover SUV category)
- Large off-roaders (similar to the North American SUV category)
- Small MPVs (both mini MPVs and compact MPVs)
- Large MPVs
Read more about this topic: Vehicle Size Class
Famous quotes containing the word europe:
“Of one thing I can assure you with comparative certainty, whoever wins, Europe will be economically ruined. This war is America’s great opportunity.”
—John Dos Passos (1896–1970)
“What helps it now, that Byron bore,
With haughty scorn which mock’d the smart,
Through Europe to the Aetolian shore
The pageant of his bleeding heart?
That thousands counted every groan,
And Europe made his woe her own?”
—Matthew Arnold (1822–1888)
“In Europe the object is to make the most of their land, labour being abundant: here it is to make the most of our labour, land being abundant.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)