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Vehicle Size Class





NORTH AMERICA


Vehicle size classes in use in North America categorize Automobile s by their relative Length s and Volume s. Widely used vehicle size classes include:

Microcar / Supermini /minicompact

Smart

Subcompact Car


Compact Car


Mid-size Car


Full-size Car


Minivan


EUROPE


Vehicle segments in Europe don't have formal characterization or regulations. Models are attributed a segment based on comparison to generalist brands models. For example, a car the size of a Volkswagen Golf would be its competitor. The VW Polo is smaller, so it belongs one segment below the Golf, while the bigger Passat is one segment above.

Generally:

MPV s are usually atributed to the B, C and D segments, according to the models they are based on. For example, the Opel Meriva belongs to the B segment (called Mini MPV s), the Ford Focus C-MAX ] is a C-segment MPV (or compact MPV), and the Renault Espace corresponds to the D segment (a large MPVs).

Off-road vehicles and SUV s are considered a segment apart from normal, as are Light Commercial Vehicle s. While classification is more confusing in this case, reporters use to compare different 4x4s the size, off-road capabilities and engine power.

High-performance Sports Car s and Supercar s are not part of a normal classification, due to their nature as overpriced exotic vehicles, although some Coupé s and Cabriolet s are based on regular models and included in the same segment as the base model.

For safety ratings, the EuroNCAP uses nine categories:
  • Superminis (it includes city cars)

  • Small family cars (also for stand-alone Saloon superminis, like the Dacia Logan )

  • Large family cars

  • Executive cars (for expensive cars over 4.80m long)

  • Roadsters

  • Small off-roaders (similar to the Northmerican Crossover SUV category)

  • Large off-roaders (similar to the Northmerican SUV category)

  • Small MPVs (both mini MPVs and compact MPVs)

  • Large MPVs



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