Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Car Classification shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Car Classification offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Car Classification at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Car Classification? Wrong! If the Car Classification is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Car Classification then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Car Classification? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Car Classification and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Car Classification wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Car Classification then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Car Classification site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Car Classification, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Car Classification, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories. Not all car types are sold in all countries and names for the same vehicle can differ by region. The following are commonly used classifications. Where applicable, the relevant EuroNCAP classifications are shown.
Microcar
Straddling the boundary between car and motorbike, these vehicles have engines under 1.0 liter, typically seat only two passengers and sometimes unorthodox in construction. Some microcars are three-wheelers, while the majority have four. Microcars can be associated with post-war
Europe, where their appearance led them to be called
Bubble cars. A contrast to the traditional microcar is the modern
Smart Fortwo.
Examples of microcars:
Hatchbacks, sedans and station wagons
City car
A city car is a small automobile intended for use in urban areas. Unlike microcars, a city car's greater speed and occupant protection are safer in mixed traffic environments and weather conditions. While city cars can reach
highway speeds, that is not their intended use. In Japan, city cars are called kei cars. Kei cars have to meet strict size and engine requirements: engines have a maximum displacement of 660 cc and the car's length must be under 3400 mm.
Examples of kei cars:
- Autozam AZ-1
- Daihatsu Copen
- Honda Beat
- Suzuki Cappuccino
Examples of city cars:
Supermini / Subcompact car
This class is known as
supermini in Europe,
subcompact in North America. These vehicles are the smallest cars sold in the North American market. Superminis have three, four or five doors and are designed to seat four passengers comfortably. Current supermini hatchbacks are approximately 3900 mm long, while sedans and station wagons are around 4200 mm long.
In
Europe, the first superminis were the
Fiat 500 of 1957 and the Mini of 1959. Today, superminis are some of the best selling vehicles in Europe.
In
Australia, motoring press tends to distinguish between a
light car such as the Daihatsu Charade or early models of the
Holden Barina, and slightly larger models such as the
Ford Fiesta which is considered to be a
small car. As the general size of vehicles in this class has gradually increased, the category of
light car has almost disappeared.
Examples of superminis / subcompact cars:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Superminis'.
Small family car / Compact car
Compact cars refer to the longest hatchbacks and sedans and station wagons with similar size. They are approximately 4250 mm long in case of hatchbacks and 4500 mm in the case of sedans and station wagons. Compact cars have room for five adults and usually have engines between 1.6 and 2.2 liters. These are the most popular vehicles in most developed countries.
Examples of hatchback small family cars / compact cars:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Small Family Cars'. In Australia, this class is generally referred to as being
Small-Medium sized cars.
Large family car / Mid-size car
Mid-size cars have room for five adults and a large trunk. Engines are more powerful than compact cars and six-cylinder engines are more common than in smaller cars. Car sizes vary from region to region; in Europe, large family cars are rarely over 4700 mm long, while in North America and Australasia they may be well over 4800 mm.
Examples of large family cars / mid-size cars:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Large Family Cars'. These are known in Australia as
Medium sized cars.
Full-size car / Large car
These term is used most in
North America and
Australia where it refers to the largest sedans on the market. Full-size cars may be well over 5000 mm long and are the roomiest vehicles.
Examples of full-size cars:
Compact executive car / Entry-level luxury car
These are luxurious equivalents to large family cars and compact cars. Powerful six- and eight-cylinder engines are common, but rear seat room and trunk space are more reduced than in "non-luxury" models since the extra room is needed to accommodate the larger engine.
Examples of compact executive cars / entry-level luxury cars:
This category is equivalent to the
EuroNCAP class 'Large Family Cars'.
Executive car / Mid-luxury car
An executive car or mid-luxury car is larger than a compact executive car/entry-level luxury car. They are usually very roomy, powerful and luxurious, making them more expensive than "standard" sedans.
Examples of executive cars / mid-luxury cars:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Executive Cars'.
Full-size luxury car
A full-size luxury car is typically a four-door sedan. These are the most powerful sedans, with eight and twelve-cylinder engines and have more equipment than smaller models.
Examples of full-size luxury cars:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Executive Cars'.
Sports cars and grand tourers
Hot hatch / sport compact
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 performance, car handling and styling. Hot hatches are very popular in
Europe. In North America, sport compacts are usually sold as sedans or coupés rather than hatchbacks.
Examples of sport compacts:
Examples of hot hatches:
- Citroen Saxo
- Fiat Punto
- Ford Escort
- Honda Civic
- MG ZR
- Nissan Almera
- Peugeot 205
- Renault 5
- SEAT León
- Vauxhall Astra
- Volkswagen Golf
Sports sedan / sports saloon
These are high performance versions of sedans. Originally homologated for production based motorsports (touring car racing) and like regular sedans, seats four or five people.
Examples of sports sedans / saloons:
Sports car
image:Honda NSX red.jpg
This small lightweight class combines performance and handling. Often inspired by racing vehicles, this class ranges from sporty vehicles such as the Mazda Miata to derivatives of true racing thoroughbreds such as the Lotus Elise.
Examples of sports cars:
Grand tourer
Larger, more powerful and heavier than sports cars, these vehicles typically have a FR layout and seating for four passengers (2 plus 2). These are more expensive than sports cars but not expensive as supercars. Some grand tourers are hand-built.
Examples of grand tourers:
Supercar
Supercars are ultra-high performance cars, typically very expensive, luxurious and exceptionally fast. Supercars typically contain cutting-edge technology and are usually assembled by hand.
Examples of supercars:
Muscle car
The
Muscle car term was coined in United States. Classic muscle cars appeared in the mid-1960s and disappeared because of the
1974 energy crisis and because of the Epa's air pollution test . Muscle cars became popular in Australia during the 1980s. These cars shoe-horned giant engines into mid-sized cars straight from the factory. Handling took a backseat to straight-line acceleration.
Examples of United States muscle cars:
- AMC Javelin
- Chevrolet Camaro
- Dodge Challenger
- Dodge Charger
- Ford Mustang
- Mercury Cougar
- Pontiac Firebird
- Pontiac GTO
Examples of Australian muscle cars:
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. 2-seat convertible sports cars are commonly named
roadster or
spyder.
Examples of convertibles:
Off-roaders
Sport utility vehicle
Sport utility vehicles are
off-road vehicles with a body-on-frame chassis,
four-wheel drive and true off-road capability. SUVs can be troublesome in crash incompatibility. A high center of gravity gives SUVs means SUVs rollover more easily than automobiles.
Examples of 4x4s / SUVs:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Large Off-Roaders'.
Crossover SUV
Crossover SUVs have a monocoque construction and lower ground clearance than SUVs. Some of them have
traction control and adjustable suspension to improve off-road capabilities.
Examples of crossover SUVs:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Small Off-Roaders'.
Minivans / Multi-purpose vehicles
Also known as people carriers, this class of cars resemble tall
station wagons. Larger minivans may have seating for up to eighth passengers.
Being taller than a family car improves visibility for the driver (while reducing visibility for other road users) and may help access for the
old age or disability. They also offer more seats and increased load capacity than hatchbacks or station wagons.
Examples of mini MPVs:
Examples of compact MPVs:
Both categories are equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Small MPVs'.
Examples of large MPVs / minivans:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'MPVs'.
Van
In some countries, the term 'van' can refer to a small
panel van based on a passenger car design (often the station wagon / estate model); it also refers to light trucks, which themselves are sometimes based on SUVs or MPVs. (But note that those retaining seats and windows, while being larger and more utilitarian than MPVs, may be called 'minibuses'.) The term is also used in the term 'camper van' — equivalent to a North American
recreational vehicle.
In the
United States, the term 'van' refers to vehicles that, like European minibuses, are even larger than large MPVs and are rarely seen being driven for domestic purposes — except for 'conversion vans'. These possess extremely large interior space and are often more intended for hauling cargo than people. Most vans use body-on-frame construction and are thus suitable for extensive modification and coachwork, known as conversion. Conversion vans are often quite luxurious, boasting comfortable seats, soft rides, built-in support for electronics such as television sets, and other amenities. The more elaborate conversion vans straddle the line between cars and recreational vehicles.
Examples of North American 'vans':
Examples of European 'vans':
See also
- ACRISS Car Classification Code
- Automobile
- Car safety and road safety
- Car body style
- List of recent automobile models by type
- Vehicle size class
- Truck classification
References
External links
Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories. Not all car types are sold in all countries and names for the same vehicle can differ by region. The following are commonly used classifications. Where applicable, the relevant
EuroNCAP classifications are shown.
Microcar
Straddling the boundary between car and motorbike, these vehicles have engines under 1.0 liter, typically seat only two passengers and sometimes unorthodox in construction. Some microcars are three-wheelers, while the majority have four. Microcars can be associated with post-war Europe, where their appearance led them to be called
Bubble cars. A contrast to the traditional microcar is the modern Smart Fortwo.
Examples of microcars:
- Isetta
- Messerschmitt microcar
- Subaru 360
Hatchbacks, sedans and station wagons
City car
A city car is a small automobile intended for use in urban areas. Unlike microcars, a city car's greater speed and occupant protection are safer in mixed traffic environments and weather conditions. While city cars can reach highway speeds, that is not their intended use. In Japan, city cars are called
kei cars. Kei cars have to meet strict size and engine requirements: engines have a maximum displacement of 660 cc and the car's length must be under 3400 mm.
Examples of kei cars:
Examples of city cars:
- Fiat Cinquecento
- Peugeot 107
Supermini / Subcompact car
This class is known as
supermini in
Europe,
subcompact in
North America. These vehicles are the smallest cars sold in the North American market. Superminis have three, four or five doors and are designed to seat four passengers comfortably. Current supermini hatchbacks are approximately 3900 mm long, while sedans and station wagons are around 4200 mm long.
In Europe, the first superminis were the Fiat 500 of 1957 and the Mini of
1959. Today, superminis are some of the best selling vehicles in Europe.
In
Australia, motoring press tends to distinguish between a
light car such as the
Daihatsu Charade or early models of the
Holden Barina, and slightly larger models such as the Ford Fiesta which is considered to be a
small car. As the general size of vehicles in this class has gradually increased, the category of
light car has almost disappeared.
Examples of superminis / subcompact cars:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Superminis'.
Small family car / Compact car
Compact cars refer to the longest hatchbacks and sedans and station wagons with similar size. They are approximately 4250 mm long in case of hatchbacks and 4500 mm in the case of sedans and station wagons. Compact cars have room for five adults and usually have engines between 1.6 and 2.2 liters. These are the most popular vehicles in most developed countries.
Examples of hatchback small family cars / compact cars:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Small Family Cars'. In Australia, this class is generally referred to as being
Small-Medium sized cars.
Large family car / Mid-size car
Mid-size cars have room for five adults and a large trunk. Engines are more powerful than compact cars and six-cylinder engines are more common than in smaller cars. Car sizes vary from region to region; in Europe, large family cars are rarely over 4700 mm long, while in North America and Australasia they may be well over 4800 mm.
Examples of large family cars / mid-size cars:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Large Family Cars'. These are known in Australia as
Medium sized cars.
Full-size car / Large car
These term is used most in North America and Australia where it refers to the largest sedans on the market. Full-size cars may be well over 5000 mm long and are the roomiest vehicles.
Examples of full-size cars:
- Buick Lucerne
- Chrysler 300
- Hyundai Grandeur
- Toyota Avalon
Compact executive car / Entry-level luxury car
These are luxurious equivalents to large family cars and compact cars. Powerful six- and eight-cylinder engines are common, but rear seat room and trunk space are more reduced than in "non-luxury" models since the extra room is needed to accommodate the larger engine.
Examples of compact executive cars / entry-level luxury cars:
- Alfa Romeo 159
- Audi A4
- BMW 3 Series
- Lexus IS
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- MG 7
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Large Family Cars'.
Executive car / Mid-luxury car
An executive car or mid-luxury car is larger than a compact executive car/entry-level luxury car. They are usually very roomy, powerful and luxurious, making them more expensive than "standard" sedans.
Examples of executive cars / mid-luxury cars:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Executive Cars'.
Full-size luxury car
A full-size luxury car is typically a four-door sedan. These are the most powerful sedans, with eight and twelve-cylinder engines and have more equipment than smaller models.
Examples of full-size luxury cars:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Executive Cars'.
Sports cars and grand tourers
Hot hatch / sport compact
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 performance,
car handling and styling. Hot hatches are very popular in
Europe. In North America, sport compacts are usually sold as sedans or coupés rather than hatchbacks.
Examples of sport compacts:
Examples of hot hatches:
Sports sedan / sports saloon
These are high performance versions of sedans. Originally homologated for production based motorsports (touring car racing) and like regular sedans, seats four or five people.
Examples of sports sedans / saloons:
Sports car
image:Honda NSX red.jpgThis small lightweight class combines performance and handling. Often inspired by racing vehicles, this class ranges from sporty vehicles such as the Mazda Miata to derivatives of true racing thoroughbreds such as the Lotus Elise.
Examples of sports cars:
Grand tourer
Larger, more powerful and heavier than sports cars, these vehicles typically have a FR layout and seating for four passengers (
2 plus 2). These are more expensive than sports cars but not expensive as supercars. Some grand tourers are hand-built.
Examples of grand tourers:
Supercar
Supercars are ultra-high performance cars, typically very expensive, luxurious and exceptionally fast. Supercars typically contain cutting-edge technology and are usually assembled by hand.
Examples of supercars:
Muscle car
The
Muscle car term was coined in
United States. Classic muscle cars appeared in the mid-1960s and disappeared because of the 1974 energy crisis and because of the Epa's air pollution test . Muscle cars became popular in
Australia during the 1980s. These cars shoe-horned giant engines into mid-sized cars straight from the factory. Handling took a backseat to straight-line acceleration.
Examples of
United States muscle cars:
Examples of Australian muscle cars:
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. 2-seat convertible sports cars are commonly named
roadster or spyder.
Examples of convertibles:
Off-roaders
Sport utility vehicle
Sport utility vehicles are off-road vehicles with a
body-on-frame chassis, four-wheel drive and true off-road capability. SUVs can be troublesome in crash incompatibility. A high center of gravity gives SUVs means SUVs rollover more easily than automobiles.
Examples of 4x4s / SUVs:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Large Off-Roaders'.
Crossover SUV
Crossover SUVs have a monocoque construction and lower ground clearance than SUVs. Some of them have traction control and adjustable suspension to improve off-road capabilities.
Examples of crossover SUVs:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Small Off-Roaders'.
Minivans / Multi-purpose vehicles
Also known as people carriers, this class of cars resemble tall station wagons. Larger minivans may have seating for up to eighth passengers.
Being taller than a family car improves visibility for the driver (while reducing visibility for other road users) and may help access for the old age or disability. They also offer more seats and increased load capacity than hatchbacks or station wagons.
Examples of mini MPVs:
Examples of compact MPVs:
Both categories are equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'Small MPVs'.
Examples of large MPVs / minivans:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class 'MPVs'.
Van
In some countries, the term 'van' can refer to a small
panel van based on a passenger car design (often the station wagon / estate model); it also refers to light trucks, which themselves are sometimes based on SUVs or MPVs. (But note that those retaining seats and windows, while being larger and more utilitarian than MPVs, may be called 'minibuses'.) The term is also used in the term 'camper van' — equivalent to a North American
recreational vehicle.
In the
United States, the term 'van' refers to vehicles that, like European minibuses, are even larger than large MPVs and are rarely seen being driven for domestic purposes — except for 'conversion vans'. These possess extremely large interior space and are often more intended for hauling cargo than people. Most vans use body-on-frame construction and are thus suitable for extensive modification and coachwork, known as conversion. Conversion vans are often quite luxurious, boasting comfortable seats, soft rides, built-in support for electronics such as television sets, and other amenities. The more elaborate conversion vans straddle the line between cars and recreational vehicles.
Examples of North American 'vans':
- Dodge Ram Van
- Ford E-Series#1992-Present
- GMC Savana
Examples of European 'vans':
See also
References
External links
Car classification - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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