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Car classification

Car classification

Sportive cars

A hot hatch or sport compact is a high-performance small car, usually a hatchback, based on standard superminis or small family cars, with improved straight line performance, handling and styling. Hot hatches make up a large section of the market for hatchbacks. In America, sport compacts are often built as sedans or coupes, rather than hatchbacks.

Examples of sport compacts:

  • Audi A3
  • Acura Integra/RSX
  • Chevrolet Cobalt SS
  • Dodge Caliber SRT-4
  • Ford Focus RS
  • Ford Escort RS Cosworth
  • Honda CRX
  • Honda Civic Si/Type R
  • Mazdaspeed 3
  • Mitsubishi Eclipse/Eagle Talon/Plymouth Laser
  • Nissan Sentra SE-4
  • Nissan Silvia/240SX
  • Peugeot 205 GTI
  • Renault 5 Turbo
  • Renault Clio 182
  • SEAT León Cupra R
  • Opel/Vauxhall Astra VXR
  • Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit GTI
  • Volvo C30

Sports sedan / saloon

These are high performance versions of sedans. Originally homologated for production based motorsports (touring cars) and like sedans, seats four people.

Examples of sports sedans / saloons:

  • Audi S4
  • Audi S6
  • BMW M3
  • BMW M5
  • Chevrolet Impala SS
  • Dodge Charger SRT-8
  • Lotus Cortina
  • Lotus Carlton
  • Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
  • Nissan Skyline GT-R
  • Subaru Impreza
  • Chrysler 300C SRT-8

Sports car

This small lightweight class combines performance and handling. Often inspired by racing vehicles. This class ranges from sporty vehicles such as the MX-5 to derivatives of true racing thoroughbreds such as the Lotus Elise.

Examples of sports cars:

  • AC Cobra
  • Austin-Healey 3000
  • Caterham Super Seven
  • Chevrolet Corvette
  • Dodge Viper
  • Honda S2000
  • Jaguar E-type
  • Lotus Elise
  • Mazda Miata/MX-5
  • Mazda RX-7
  • Nissan Z
  • MG MGB
  • Porsche 911
  • Saturn Sky
  • Toyota MR2
  • Toyota Supra

Grand tourer

Larger, more powerful and heavier than sports cars, these vehicles typically have a FR layout and seating for four or 2+2. They are more expensive than sports cars but not than supercars, and often combine modern technology with hand-built construction.

Examples of grand tourers:

  • Aston Martin DB9
  • BMW 6 Series
  • Cadillac XLR
  • Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
  • Jaguar XK8
  • Lamborghini Espada
  • Nissan 300ZX

Supercar

They are ultra-high performance cars, typically very expensive, luxurious, and exceptionally fast. Supercars typically contain cutting-edge technology, and may be assembled partly or completely by hand.

Examples of supercars:

  • Aston Martin Vanquish
  • Bugatti Veyron
  • Cadillac XLR-V
  • Chevrolet Corvette Z06
  • Ferrari Enzo
  • Ford GT
  • Honda NSX
  • Lamborghini Murciélago
  • McLaren F1
  • Porsche 959
  • Porsche 911 GT2

Muscle car

The Muscle car produced in the US and Australia. The first muscle cars appeared in the mid 1960s and died off in the US during the early 1970s due to a combination of spiralling insurance costs and the 1973 energy crisis. Muscle cars achieved continued popularity in Australia until the early 1980s. A smaller offshoot, the pony car, still exists in the form of the Ford Mustang. The epitome of brute-force power, these cars shoe-horned giant engines into mid-sized cars which were often, from the factory, inadequate to handle the power and performance; handling was subordinate to straight-line acceleration. Although modern high-performance American coupes and sedans with large engines are often called "muscle cars", they are very different in design and character from the muscle cars of old.

Examples of US muscle cars:

  • AMC Javelin
  • AMC Rebel
  • Chrysler 300
  • Chevrolet Camaro
  • Chevrolet Chevelle
  • Ford Torino
  • Dodge Charger
  • Mercury Cougar
  • Oldsmobile 4-4-2
  • Plymouth Barracuda
  • Plymouth Road Runner
  • Plymouth Superbird
  • Pontiac GTO

Examples of Australian muscle cars:

  • Holden Monaro
  • Valiant Charger
  • Ford Falcon

Cabriolet / convertible

Also called an open saloon, roadster or drop-head coupe, this type of car has a roof (fabric, vinyl, metal or glass) which can be folded away. Convertibles were very popular in hotter places before the advent of automotive air-conditioning, but also in colder climates (so that in summer the driver can enjoy driving oper-air the few warm days). 2-seater convertible sports cars are commonly named roadster or spyders.

Examples of cabriolets / convertibles:

  • BMW 3 Series
  • Chrysler Sebring
  • Fiat Barchetta
  • Ford Mustang
  • Lexus SC430
  • Mazda MX-5 / Miata / Eunos Roadster
  • Mercedes SLK
  • MGF
  • MINI
  • Toyota Camry Solara
  • Pontiac Solstice
  • Saab 9-3
  • TVR Tamora
  • Volkswagen Eos

4x4

Also know as off-roaders, there are two general trends among them: SUVs and crossover SUVs.

SUVs

SUVs are off-road vehicles with a body-on-frame chassis, four-wheel drive and true offroad capability. SUVs have severe problems with crash incompatibility, and are typically of more primitive design than smaller cars. Combined with serious handling issues in some vehicles due to the high centre of gravity, this makes them a dangerous vehicle in inexperienced hands. This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Large Off-Roaders'.

Examples of 4x4s / SUVs:

  • Chevrolet Tahoe
  • Cadillac Escalade
  • Ford Explorer
  • GMC Envoy
  • Humvee
  • Jeep Cherokee
  • Jeep Wrangler
  • Land Rover Defender
  • Range Rover
  • Nissan Patrol
  • Suzuki Sidekick
  • Suzuki Samurai
  • Toyota Land Cruiser

Crossover SUV

Crossover SUVs have a monocoque construction and relatively normal ground clearance. Some of them use electronic systems like traction control and pneumatic/hydraulic suspension, which give them good capability in many off-road situations, particularly sand and graded roads. This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Small Off-Roaders'.

Examples of crossover SUVs:

  • BMW X5
  • Chevrolet Equinox
  • Chrysler Pacifica
  • Ford Escape
  • Honda CR-V
  • Hyundai Tucson
  • Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  • Saturn Vue
  • Suzuki SX4
  • Toyota RAV4
  • Volvo XC90

Minivan / MPV

Also known as people carriers, this class of cars resemble family cars but are taller with a shorter hood/bonnet and are designed for maximum practicality. The larger minivans may have seating for seven or eight people.

The increased height of these vehicles above a family car improves visibility for the driver (while reducing visibility for other road users) and may help access for the elderly or disabled. They also offer more seats and increased load capacity over their similar low-roof models.

Examples of mini MPVs:

  • Fiat Idea
  • Hyundai Matrix
  • Opel Meriva
  • Peugeot 1007
  • Renault Modus

Examples of compact MPVs:

  • Chevrolet HHR
  • Chrysler PT Cruiser
  • Citroën Picasso
  • Ford Focus C-MAX
  • Opel Zafira - also Chevrolet, Holden, Subaru, or Vauxhall
  • Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix
  • Suzuki Aerio
  • Renault Scénic
  • Volkswagen Touran

Both categories are equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Small MPVs'.

Examples of large MPVs / minivans:

  • Chevrolet Venture
  • Chrysler Minivans such as Caravan, Voyager, and Town & Country
  • Fiat Ulysse
  • Ford Galaxy
  • Ford Freestar
  • Hyundai Trajet
  • KIA Sedona
  • Lancia Phedra
  • Honda Odyssey
  • Mitsubishi Space Wagon
  • Peugeot 807
  • Renault Espace
  • Ssangyong Rodius
  • Toyota Previa
  • Toyota Sienna
  • Pontiac Montana

This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'MPVs'.

Car classification

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