The 10 Types Of Cars – What’s Your Style?

There are ten distinct types of cars, and knowing what sets them apart will make your car-shopping experience an easier, more pleasant experience.

With so many different styles, shapes, and sizes of cars to choose from, it’s easy for prospective car buyers to feel overwhelmed by the myriad of options available.

To make things simpler and help you become a more informed buyer, we have broken down all vehicle choices into ten major categories that cover all of the basic types of vehicles, making sure to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each one for added clarity.

The Different Types Of Cars

Sedans, SUVs, crossovers, pickup trucks, hatchbacks, coupes, sports cars, wagons, and minivans are the ten main types of vehicles. We looked at several key criteria in our detailed assessment of each one:

• Practicality aspects such as size and maneuverability, interior room, seating and cargo capacity, and ease of accessibility.
• Performance attributes such as power, fuel-efficiency, ride and handling, and off-roading and towing capabilities.
• Safety concerns such as the risk of rollovers, collisions, and other accidents, as well as occupant protection.
• Cost of Ownership factors such as average purchase price, fuel-efficiency, maintenance and repair costs, and insurance costs.

Sedan (Saloon)

Read our detailed sedan buying guide for a more comprehensive breakdown of the body style.

A sedan is a four-door vehicle with a cargo area (trunk) that’s positioned behind the farthest rear pillars, often enclosed and separated from the passenger cabin. The enclosed trunk provides added privacy and security for your valuables.

Sedans come in many different sizes, and there is a large variety of models to choose from. On the small end, you have subcompact models like the Kia Rio and Nissan Versa sedan. Next up are the compact sedans like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. 

Midsize sedans like the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, and Honda Accord were once the quintessential family vehicle before being displaced by crossover-utility vehicles, while large, full-size sedans like the Toyota Avalon and Dodge Charger offer the most interior and trunk space.

Luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Lexus, etc. also offer sedan models, with the likes of the S-Class, A8, 7-Series, and LS being very iconic nameplates. They also sell a range of smaller models.

Needless to say, there are many different classes and models of sedans to choose from, so you’re sure to find one that meets your needs.

Fun fact: The term sedan is related to the Italian word ‘sedia’, which means chair. People in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand call these vehicles ‘sedans’, while those in Britain and Ireland refer to them as ‘saloons’.

Sports sedans and other premium models notwithstanding, sedans are generally maneuverable, affordable, very good on gas; and have low maintenance and repair costs.

On the flip side, their enclosed, cut-off trunk limits their cargo space and they usually lack the power and durability to drive off-road or haul heavy loads. These are not the best vehicles for driving in harsh weather conditions such as heavy snow or rain.

Why Buy A Sedan

Mainstream sedans are ideal for individuals or families who value affordability, fuel-efficiency, and familiarity. Compact to full-size models can carry up to five people comfortable and cost-efficiently.

Sport-Utility Vehicle (SUV)

Looking to buy an SUV? You can learn more about these capable vehicle in our SUV buying guide.

Nowadays, the acronym ‘SUV’ is used to describe nearly any type of car with a boxed shape, raised ground clearance, and available all-wheel drive, such as crossovers. However, SUVs have traditionally been a distinct vehicle class with several unique features.

The difference between SUVs and crossovers, which share a close resemblance, can be great. Like sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons, crossovers are based on a car-like unibody platform, while an SUV is built on a body-on-frame platform (the type used by pickup trucks).

With a body-on-frame architecture, the vehicle’s body and frame are built separately and then placed together later on in the manufacturing process; with a “unibody”, the vehicle’s body and frame are one piece. 

Body-on-frame platforms are stronger and more rugged than unibody platforms, but also heavier, more rigid, and generally less space-efficient.

SUVs are bigger and taller than normal cars, with their higher roof and seating position giving the driver a better view of the road ahead. They have a two-box design similar to hatchbacks and station wagons, which maximizes both passenger and cargo room.

Their larger size and weight allows them to accommodate 5 to 9 passengers and their cargo.

SUVs also have raised ground clearance that makes getting in and out of the cabin and driving over rugged terrain easier. In fact, their rugged body-on-frame platform and boxed proportions make them the ideal type of vehicle for off-roading and driving in harsh weather conditions.

These vehicles usually pack big engines and power to go along with their larger size, giving them incredible hauling and towing capabilities. However, big engines are less fuel-efficient than smaller ones and release more CO2 emissions, hence why SUVs are known as gas-guzzlers.

While their large size provides a commanding view of the road, it makes them difficult to handle and park in tight spaces. Even worse, their higher center of gravity increases the risk of rolling over in a swerve.

These types of vehicles aren’t as smooth-riding as sedans, crossovers, and other car-based vehicles due to having a stiffer chassis and higher ground clearance, though their ride is becoming more car-like by the day thanks to innovations in engineering.

Despite having a higher risk of rollovers, SUVs are typically cheaper to insure than sedans and other car-based vehicles, no less because their large size and weight provide better protection for occupants during collisions. Even so, their higher MSRP and maintenance and repair costs make them more expensive to own.

Why Buy An SUV

SUVs are ideal for people who want a roomy and practical vehicle with pickup-like toughness and performance, particularly those who do frequent hauling, towing, and/or off-roading.

Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) 

Find out why crossovers are better than traditional SUVs and vice versa in our crossover vs SUV comparison guide.

A crossover is usually what people mean or conjure up in their mind when they say or hear the word “SUV”. After all, the two vehicle types look virtually identical on the surface.

But as we noted in our analysis of SUVs, crossovers can be markedly different underneath. That’s because whereas traditional SUVs are built on unibody platforms like pickup trucks, crossovers use a car-based platform like sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons.

Basically, a crossover is a conventional car made to look like an SUV, thus offering benefits of both classes of vehicles. 

Crossovers are more lumbering than sedans because of their taller height and extra weight. However, because they’re based on car platforms, they drive more comfortably and are easier to maneuver than SUVs.

A tall, boxy body makes them more practical than sedans. They are roomier, haul more cargo, and can be designed to carry seven or more people in relative comfort. 

If you don’t like crouching to get into a car, you’ll find that a higher floor height makes getting in and out of a crossovers a little easier.

Most models are offered with all-well drive, which combined with their extra ground clearance, makes crossovers better suited for driving in harsh weather conditions (heavy snowfall, floods, etc.) than sedans and other types of cars.

Unfortunately, being bigger and heavier than sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons means crossovers are anywhere from 20 to 40 percent less fuel-efficient, though their lighter car-based platform makes them more fuel-efficient than traditional, truck-based SUVs.

I’m terms of capabilities, having a car-based platform as opposed to a truck-based one gives them less towing and off-road driving capabilities than SUVs.

As with SUVs, their taller body reduces stability, making them more prone to rolling over. They also cost more to purchase than comparably-sized sedans.

However, crossovers cost less to insure largely due to their larger size and weight providing more occupant protection during collisions.

Why Buy A Crossover

Crossovers have displaced sedans to become the quintessential car, offering motorists most of the benefits of sedans but in a more practical, versatile, and capable package.

Pickup Truck

A pickup truck or pickup is a type of vehicle with an enclosed cab for passengers and an open cargo area with a tailgate (truck bed). In Australia and New Zealand, all varieties of pickup trucks are called utes, which is short for ‘utility vehicle’.

Whereas all the other classifications of vehicles with the exception of truck-based SUVs are built on a unibody platform, virtually all pickups have a body-on-frame architecture. In other words, their bodies are mounted to a separate steel frame as opposed to being integrated into the body’s construction as one single piece.

A pickup like the Honda Ridgeline is an exception to the rule. It’s essentially a car-based (unibody) crossover with the rear section of the roof lopped off to create an exposed cargo area.

Body-on-frame platforms are much heavier and stronger than unibody architectures and normally come equipped with powerful engines and some form of all-wheel drive. This makes pickup trucks more capable of handling rough terrain and carrying and towing heavier loads than other types of vehicles.

Truck beds are often large enough to provide unprecedented storage space that even the most spacious crossover, SUV, or minivan can’t compete with. However, they leave items exposed and vulnerable to theft and damage.

Unfortunately, pickup trucks tend to be exceptionally big and heavy, which makes them hard to maneuver in traffic and tight spaces. Bigger and thirstier engines combined with their heavier weight also translates to the worst fuel efficiency of any vehicle type.

You’ll have to spend more to buy a pick truck than other vehicles. For the same price as a basic model, you can get a well-equipped, brand new sedan or crossover with more features and gadgets.

You might be surprised to find out that truck insurance is more affordable than car insurance on average, though insuring very large pickups can be more expensive due to their higher price tags and cost of repairs.

Why Buy A Pickup Truck

If you’re someone who often has to move large items as part of your lifestyle or job, then a truck can be a good investment. They are a highly flexible tool for getting all sorts of work done.

Coupe

Should you buy a coupe over a sedan? Our coupe vs sedan comparison guide will help you decide.

A coupe is what you get when you remove a sedan’s rear doors. These cars typically have only two doors, a sloping or truncated rear roofline, a solid roof, and a trunk, though many have a liftback (hatch) design.

Examples include the Honda Civic Coupe, Audi A5, and BMW 4 Series, all of which are a derivative of an existing sedan or hatchback. Sports cars and supercars, as well as most convertibles, also tend to be coupes, but they are a separate class of vehicles

Automakers have recently started applying the word “coupe” to four-door cars or crossovers with low, sleek rooflines, such as the Mercedes-Benz CLS sedan and the funky BMW X6 SUV. But at AutoTribute, we still consider a coupe to be a two-door car.

Not only do coupes have many of the benefits of sedans, particularly a lightweight and low center gravity for better acceleration, stopping, ride stability, and fuel-efficiency, but they tend to also have a more stylish appearance and better driving dynamics.

Because the rear seating area isn’t a priority, most of the cabin space is dedicated to the front passengers, granting them more leg and knee room than a sedan’s front passenger area. Their two doors are wider than a sedan’s front doors, making for easier ingress and egress. 

More often than not, the rear passenger area is so cramped that it’s practically unusable for adults, and the absence of rear doors makes getting in and out a challenge.

Coupes also tend to have a smaller cargo area and are usually more expensive than hatchbacks and sedans of similar specs, despite being less practical. They are also the most expensive vehicle class to insure after luxury sports cars.

Why Buy A Coupe

Two-door coupes are sportier, more stylish but less practical versions of sedans, making them ideal for individuals or childless couples who don’t normally drive with many people or haul many things.

Sports Car / Supercar

All traditional sports cars are coupes, but not all coupes are sports cars. That’s because unlike your mainstream coupe, sports cars are usually optimized for power, handling, and an exhilarating driving experience.

Indeed, these vehicles are the sportiest, hottest, coolest-looking cars on the market. They sit low to the ground, are superlative in their handling and power output, and have very engaging styling.

The Porsche 911, Corvette, Nissan GT-R, and Mazda Miata are very iconic sports cars, but you can stretch the definition to include upstarts like the Toyota 86, evergreen muscle cars like Ford Mustang, and performance-tuned versions of popular German models like the BMW 4-Series (M4) and Audi A5 (RS5).

On the extreme end of the spectrum are supercars, hypercars, and other exotic two-door dream cars with sky-high price tags such as the Aston Martin Vantage and Ferrari 488 GTB, cars that understandably get gazes everywhere they are driven.

Related: Supercar Vs Hypercar Vs Megacar – Learn The Difference

Because sports cars aren’t as widely produced or purchased as other types of cars are, they are rarer and become more valuable in later years. That largely explains why the vast majority of collector cars are sports cars of one variety or another.

Sports cars have a few major shortcomings that are deal-breakers for most people. They are expensive and generally only have two-seats (one for the driver and the other for the front passenger). The rear seating area that some models come with is almost always too small and cramped to be usable.

Their high-performance engines consume more fuel than regular engines of comparable size, making them one of the least fuel-efficient car types. 

Finally, sports are expensive to insure. They have a high price tag and high maintenance and repair costs; their exclusivity makes them prone to theft; and their boosted performance tempts drivers to drive recklessly, increasing the risk of accidents.

Why Buy A Sports Car

Sports cars provide a far superior driving experience than any other type of car, offering unparalleled driving thrills. They are ideal for those individuals who like eye-catching styling, have a need for speed and engaging handling, and don’t care too much about practicality and fuel efficiency.

Hatchback

Read our hatchback vs SUV comparison guide to see why hatchbacks may be the better vehicle for you.

A hatchback is a type of car with a squared-off roof, a hatch-type rear door that often opens upwards, and a cargo area that isn’t closed off to the passenger compartment. This body style is very popular in Europe.

The term hatchback has traditionally meant a utilitarian small car (especially in the U.S. and Canada) like the Volkswagen Golf, Kia Soul, and Mazda3; however, hatch-style cargo doors are also used on crossovers and SUVs, as well as many sports cars and some sedan-looking vehicles such as the Tesla Model S and Audi A7. 

For the sake of this guide, take a hatchback to mean a utilitarian small car. 

Hatchbacks offer more cargo space than sedans of similar size thanks to their space-maximizing squared-off roof, with their lift-up hatch providing easier access. Factor in the split-folding rear seatbacks that they usually come with and you can turn these small cars into cargo-hauling machines.

Unfortunately, the same squared-off design makes them slightly less aerodynamic and, therefore, fuel-efficient. They are also usually only offered in higher-spec, more expensive trims than their sedan equivalent.

Although their maintenance and repair costs are pretty low, their insurance cost is comparable to sedan insurance, which is one of the highest in the industry. 

Finally, North America’s aversion to the body style means there isn’t a wide selection to choose from in the region. That isn’t the case in hatchback-loving Europe.

Why Buy A Hatchback

Hatchbacks are extremely practical passenger vehicles. Their high, squared-off roof, hatch-style cargo door, and foldable rear seats make them very capable cargo-haulers, so consider getting one if cargo space is a top priority.

Station Wagon (Estate)

Wagons or “estates”, as they are known in Europe, are for all intent and purposes larger and longer hatchbacks. In other words, they are mid- to full-size sedans with squared-off roofs; a wide-opening, hatch-style rear door; and a cargo area that’s opened to the passenger compartment.

The Subaru Outback and Volvo V60 are prime examples of the wagon archetype.

Wagons offer incredible space and practicality, making them great for moving around people and their gear. Their rear cargo space is as big as similarly-sized crossovers and SUVs, if not bigger.

Unlike crossovers and SUVs, this spaciousness doesn’t come at the great expense of performance or economy. Well designed, low-riding wagons are far more aerodynamic than high-riding utility vehicles, translating to better overall fuel economy. Moreover, their driving dynamics are more inline with sedans, and a lot of them are offered with all-wheel drive.

Station wagons are more expensive than sedans but cheaper than crossovers and SUVs. They are also one of the cheapest classes of vehicles to insure.

Yet, despite their apparent benefits, these cars are among the least popular due to the general public viewing them as boring, bulky, and uncool family-hauling sofas on wheels. 

While they still enjoy a strong following in Europe, the selection of models is slim to none elsewhere around the world, especially in the United States and Canada.

Why Buy A Wagon

The station wagon combines the spaciousness and versatility of crossovers and SUVs with the driving dynamics of a sedan, making it an excellent option for practical-minded car buyers who regularly move around a lot of people and things and aren’t too concerned with keeping up appearances.

Convertible

Convertibles are an increasingly rare breed of cars. With these types of vehicles, the roof can be opened up to leave the passenger cabin open to the elements. 

Most convertibles have a fully powered fabric roof that folds up and down, though a few have to be manually lowered by hand. Retractable hardtops are also fairly common, while certain models such as the Corvette, Porsche 911 Targa and Mazda MX-5 Miata RF feature a quasi-convertible roof setup called “targas”.

Regardless of the roof design, all convertibles can be driven with or without the roof in place, making them ideal for mild climates and warm seasons. 

Most convertibles are two-door sports cars, so they usually have a lot of power and are fun-to-drive. In fact, it can be said that convertible sports cars provide the most visceral and exhilarating driving experience of any vehicle type as a result of combining open-air driving with pulse-pounding performance.

On the flip side, they are the least practical and passenger-friendly type of car. The issue of having only two doors and a smaller cabin than traditional cars is compounded by the fact that their removable or retractable roof is often stowed in the cargo area, reducing or eliminating what little cargo room there was in the first place.

Additionally, convertibles are heavier, less fuel-efficient, and more expensive to repair than their sports car equivalents due to their folding-top mechanisms adding complexity and weight.

Although today’s convertibles have rollover bars or similar head protection as fixed roof vehicles, and their low center of gravity makes the risk of roll-over accidents minimal, your odds of surviving a roll-over in these bad boys are considerably lower than surviving in vehicles with a hardtop.

That’s because the added rigidity of a solid roof enhances the structural integrity of a car’s body, providing much better protection in a crash.

Finally, cloth-top models are susceptible to theft, seeing as thieves can easily slice through the cloth roof and make off with your valuables. 

A lower safety rating, higher cost of repairs, and higher risk of theft make convertibles more expensive to insure and own than most other types of cars.

Why Buy A Convertible

Convertibles are not very practical —  there is no way around that fact. But then again, not all car purchases are made for practical purposes. Consider getting one if you like stylish, fun-to-drive cars and relish the feeling of the wind on your skin as you drive.

Minivan

Are SUVs better family vehicles than minivans like most people believe? Find out in our minivan vs SUV comparison guide.

Minivans, all multi-purpose-vehicles (MPV) as they are known in Europe, are the ultimate people-mover. Despite being called minivans, they are anything but “mini.”

That’s because this class of vehicle place function above all else, offering the most passenger and cargo room. Like crossovers and SUVs, they feature a box-body configuration,  a high roof, and, in most cases, a lifting rear hatch. Unlike those vehicle types, they have sliding doors for rear passengers.

Sliding doors open wider than conventional car doors, allowing you to load larger items.

Minivans also have a low ground clearance that makes it easier to ingress and egress and load up groceries and luggage, as well as adjustable second and third-row seats that can often be configured, removed, or even folded into the floor to create a huge open cargo bay.

Though less maneuverable than sedans, they are easier to drive and deliver better gas mileage than traditional SUVs due to being built on a car-based, unibody platform rather than a truck-based, body-on-frame chassis. 

Minivans are also more affordable, cheaper to maintain, and have lower insurance rates. In fact, an  AAA study found that the cost to drive a minivan in the United States is approximately $9,753 annually, while a large sedan will cost you around $10,831. For SUVs, the cost is $11,039 per year.

​The downsides of minivans are that they are typically more expensive than sedans and other car-based vehicles and all-wheel drive is not offered on most models. They are not ideal for driving off the beaten path or in harsh weather conditions.

Also, driving one is considered uncool, explaining why the segment has all but disappeared in recent years, having been unfairly displaced by three-row crossovers and SUVs. Only a handful of minivan models remain in North America, so the pickings are slim.

Why Buy A Minivan

Even though minivans are considered uncool, they remain the best means of transporting people and their cargo. If you have a large family, frequently move a lot of people and things around, and/or live in a region that doesn’t require all-wheel drive, a minivan is more space- and cost-efficient alternative to a three-row crossover or SUV.

Types Of Cars FAQs

In this section, we answer the most commonly-asked questions about the different vehicle classes.

What’s The Difference Between A Crossover And An SUV?

The main defining feature between the two vehicle types is simple: A crossover uses a car platform, while an SUV is based on a truck chassis. In other words, crossovers us a “unibody” architecture in which the body and frame of the vehicle are one piece, while SUVs have a design in which the body is bolted onto a frame.

Is An SUV A Truck?

Unlike crossovers, which use car-like unibody platforms, traditional SUVs have a body-on-frame design just like pickup trucks. In fact, in several countries such as the United States, SUVs are classified as light trucks rather than cars. 

Are Sedans Dead? Are Sedans Disappearing? 

Not only has the popularity of sedans drastically waned, but crossovers have effectively replaced them as the new normal. But despite their declining sales, we strongly believe there will continue to be a market for them for years to come.

There are still many people who prefer sedans or find the large size and higher price of crossovers to be unappealing. The Toyota Camry and Honda have been perennial top-sellers in North America for decades and continue to sell in very large numbers.

What Is The Cheapest Type Of Car To Insure?

Minivans are generally the cheapest class of vehicles to insure, followed by crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks in that exact order. Sports cars (especially high-end models) are the most expensive to insure due in large part to their powerful engines and other performance features, which make them more prone to getting into accidents.

Conclusion 

With so many different types, sizes, and shapes of vehicles on the market today, finding the one that ticks all the right boxes can seem like a herculean task. We hope that our breakdown and analysis of the different types of cars has made the task easier by making you a more informed buyer.