Vehicle class

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A vehicle class is a defined group of car models that compete with one another in terms of shape, size or price.

Different classification systems

Classification systems that are widespread in Germany and Europe and supported by official organizations are:

There are also other class assignments that are not supported or defined by an organization, but are still very common. A classification among limousines , station wagons and people carriers is quite possible, as the properties mentioned are closely related. In the case of convertibles and SUVs, there is no differentiation between purchase price and vehicle size. Size, weight and performance are constantly growing. Therefore, the vehicle classes must also be interpreted in the context of time.

American name British name EU commission Euro NCAP 1997-2009 Euro NCAP German designation ( Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt ) Vehicle models (selection)
Microcar Microcar, bubble car A: mini cars.
A: mini cars
Microcar (supermini) Passenger car Light vehicle Microcar Virgo , Renault Twizy
Subcompact car City car Microcar (minis) Aston Martin Cygnet , Citroën C1 , Chevrolet Spark , Daihatsu Cuore , Fiat 500 , Fiat Panda , Ford Ka , Hyundai i10 , Kia Picanto , Mitsubishi i-MiEV , Nissan Pixo , Opel Adam , Peugeot 107 , Renault Twingo , Seat Mii , Škoda Citigo , Smart Fortwo , Suzuki Alto , Tata Nano , Toyota Aygo , Toyota iQ , Volkswagen Fox , Volkswagen up! , e.GO Life
Supermini B: small cars
B: small cars
Small car Alfa Romeo MiTo , Audi A1 , BMW i3 , Chevrolet Aveo , Citroën C3 , Citroën DS3 , Dacia Sandero , Daihatsu Charade , Fiat Punto , Ford Fiesta , Honda Jazz / Honda Fit , Hyundai i20 , Kia Rio , Lada Kalina , Lancia Ypsilon , Mazda2 , Mini (BMW Group) , Mitsubishi Colt , Nissan Micra , Opel Corsa , Peugeot 207 , Renault Clio , Renault Symbol , Renault ZOE , Seat Ibiza , Škoda Fabia , Subaru Justy , Suzuki Swift , Tata Indica , Toyota Yaris , Volkswagen Polo
Compact car Small family car C: middle class
C: medium cars
Small family car Compact class Alfa Romeo Giulietta , Audi A3 , BMW 1 Series , Chevrolet Cruze , Citroën C4 , Dacia Logan , Fiat Bravo , Ford Focus , Honda Civic , Hyundai i30 , Kia cee'd , Lexus CT , Lancia Delta , Mazda3 , Mercedes-Benz A-Class , Mitsubishi Lancer , Nissan Leaf , Nissan Tiida , Opel Astra , Peugeot 308 , Renault Mégane , Seat Leon , Seat Toledo , Škoda Rapid , Škoda Octavia , Subaru Impreza , Suzuki SX4 , Toyota Auris , Volkswagen Golf , Volvo C30
Mid-size car Large family car D: upper middle class
D: large cars
Middle class (Large family car) Middle class Chevrolet Malibu , Citroën C5 , Ford Mondeo , Hyundai i40 , Kia Optima , Mazda6 , Opel Insignia , Peugeot 508 I , Peugeot 508 II , Renault Laguna , Samand , Seat Exeo , Subaru Legacy , Toyota Avensis , Toyota Prius , Suzuki Kizashi , Volkswagen Passat
Entry-level luxury car Compact executive car Middle class Alfa Romeo 159 , Audi A4 , Audi A5 , BMW 3 Series , Cadillac CTS , Infiniti G V36 / CV36 , Lexus IS , Mercedes-Benz C-Class , Saab 9-3 , Volvo S60
Full-size car (large car) Upper class (Executive car) E: upper class
E: executive cars
Upper class (Executive car) upper middle class Audi A7 , Buick Lucerne , Chrysler 300 , Dodge Charger (LX) , Ford Taurus , Holden Caprice , Holden Commodore , Honda Accord (USA) , Nissan Maxima , Toyota Avalon , Toyota Crown , Chevrolet Impala , Nissan Laurel
Mid-size luxury car upper middle class Audi A6 , BMW 5 Series , Cadillac CTS , Chrysler 300C , Jaguar XF , Lexus GS , Lincoln LS , Mercedes-Benz E-Class , Saab 9-5 , Škoda Superb , Volvo S80 , Hyundai Genesis
Full-size luxury car Luxury car F: luxury class
F: luxury cars
Upper class (Executive car) Upper class Audi A8 , Bentley Continental Flying Spur , Bentley Mulsanne , Bentley Brooklands , BMW 7 Series , Cadillac DTS , Hyundai Equus , Jaguar X351 , Lexus LS , Lincoln Town Car , Maserati Quattroporte , Mercedes-Benz 251 series , Mercedes-Benz S-Class , Porsche Panamera , Rolls-Royce Ghost , Rolls-Royce Phantom , SsangYong Chairman , Tesla Model S , Toyota Century , Volkswagen Phaeton
Sports car Sports car S: sports car
S: sport coupés
- Sports car Chevrolet Corvette , Ferrari 458 Italia , Lamborghini Gallardo , Nissan 370Z , Porsche 911 , Porsche Boxster
Grand tourer Grand tourer - Aston Martin Rapide , Bentley Continental GT , Bentley Azure , BMW 6 Series , Ferrari 612 Scaglietti , Jaguar XK , Maserati GranTurismo , Mercedes-Benz CL-Class , Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
Supercar Supercar - Bugatti Veyron , Ferrari Enzo , Pagani Zonda
Convertible Convertible - Chevrolet Camaro , Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class , Volvo C70 , Volkswagen Eos
Roadster Roadster Roadster sports Roadster Audi TT , Honda S2000 , Lotus Elise , Mazda MX-5 , Porsche Boxster , BMW Z4 , Tesla Roadster
- Leisure activity vehicle M: multi purpose vehicles (or MPV van)
M: multi purpose cars
Compact Van (Small MPV) Minivan (MPV) ( High-roof station wagon , van , utilities) Citroën Berlingo , Fiat Ducato , Fiat Fiorino , Fiat Scudo , Ford Tourneo Connect , Iveco Daily , Mercedes-Benz Sprinter , Opel Movano , Opel Combo , Peugeot Partner , Renault Kangoo , Škoda Roomster , Volkswagen Caddy , Volkswagen Crafter , Dacia Dokker
- Mini MPV Minivan Audi A2 , Fiat Idea , Ford B-MAX , Citroën C3 Picasso , Opel Meriva A.
Compact minivan Compact MPV, Midi MPV Compact van Mazda5 , Ford C-Max , Chevrolet Orlando , Kia Carens , Opel Meriva B , Opel Zafira , Peugeot 5008 , Toyota Verso , Volkswagen Touran
Minivan Large MPV Van (Large MPV) Large capacity van Chrysler Town and Country , Ford Galaxy , Honda Odyssey , Kia Carnival , Mitsubishi Grandis , Peugeot 807 , Mercedes-Benz Viano (639 series) , Seat Alhambra , Volkswagen Sharan
Mini SUV Mini 4x4 J: Sport utility vehicles
(including off-road vehicles) J: sport utility cars (including off-road vehicles)
Small Off-Road 4x4 Off-roader (SUV) Off-road vehicle ( Sport Utility Vehicle ) Dacia Duster , Daihatsu Terios , Fiat 500X , Fiat Sedici , Ford EcoSport , Honda HR-V , Jeep Wrangler , Lada Niva , Mini Countryman , Mitsubishi Pajero iO , Nissan Juke , Opel Mokka , Škoda Yeti , Suzuki Jimny
Compact SUV Compact 4x4 Audi Q5 , Chevrolet Equinox , BMW X1 , BMW X3 , Chevrolet Captiva , Kia Sportage , Ford Kuga , Honda CR-V , Hyundai ix35 , Jeep Liberty , Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class , Mitsubishi ASX , Nissan Qashqai , Toyota RAV4 , Opel Antara , Seat Ateca , SsangYong Korando , Volkswagen Tiguan , Porsche Macan
- Coupe SUV - Isuzu VehiCROSS , BMW X6 , Mercedes-Benz C 292
Mid-size SUV Large 4x4 Large Off-Road 4x4 Chevrolet Tahoe , Ford Explorer , Jeep Grand Cherokee , Land Rover Discovery , Mercedes-Benz M-Class , Mercedes-Benz GLE , Volkswagen Touareg , Porsche Cayenne
Full-size (large) SUV Cadillac Escalade EXT , Chevrolet Suburban , Jeep Commander , Mercedes-Benz GL , Range Rover , Tesla Model X , Toyota Land Cruiser , SsangYong Rexton , Bentley Bentayga , Audi Q7
Mini pickup truck Pick up - Pick up Pickup truck Pickup (flatbed truck) Chevrolet Montana , Fiat Strada , Mitsubishi Triton , Volkswagen Saveiro
Mid-size pickup truck Chevrolet Colorado , Ford Ranger , Mitsubishi Triton / L200, Nissan Navara
Full-size pickup truck Dodge Ram , Ford F-150 , GMC Sierra , Nissan Titan , Toyota Tundra
Full-size heavy duty pickup truck Chevrolet Silverado , Ford Super Duty
Light commercial vehicles Light commercial vehicles - - - Light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 t (utilities) Citroën Berlingo , Fiat Doblò Cargo , Fiat Scudo , Ford Transit , Škoda Praktik , Volkswagen Caddy , Mercedes-Benz Sprinter , VW Crafter

Classes of sedans and station wagons

The following classification is common in Europe for sedans and station wagons. It largely coincides with the segments of the Federal Motor Transport Authority . The prices are current market prices in Germany, outliers and niche models are not taken into account here.

Classes of people carriers

For a few years there has been a trend towards taller cars . With the same footprint, they offer significantly more space than corresponding limousines , as the passengers sit more upright. This means that a third row of seats can sometimes be accommodated. In addition, the height makes boarding easier. The sitting position is particularly preferred by older people.

The minibuses that are not derived from the passenger car have a long tradition . The vans with seven seats have been around since the 1980s and the high-roof station wagons became popular in the 1990s . The terms microvan , minivan and compact van are more recent and not yet clearly defined. They are based on the corresponding classes of sedans with which they often share the platform.

Classes of all-terrain vehicles

Convertibles

Open vehicles in all price ranges are grouped together as convertibles . In most cases there is a closed counterpart, whereby the price is higher than the corresponding sedan due to the design. A special subspecies is the two-seater roadster , an open sports car .

Sports car

Sports car refers to two-seater in all price ranges, occasionally with two rows of seats or emergency seats if they have the appropriate driving characteristics. In the new registration statistics , the breakdown statistics and the classification by the specialist press, these vehicles are assigned to a separate class. Subclasses of sports cars:

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ KBA, Directory for the systematisation of motor vehicles and their trailers, 7th edition, as of June 2012, Part A 1B
  2. European Commission classification (PDF file; 114 kB)
  3. http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/decisions/m5518_20090724_20310_en.pdf
  4. NCAP Comparable Cars