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Vehicle size classes are a way of classifying cars. The common North American parlance is word-based, while English-speaking European writers also use words to describe car sizes. In parts of Asia, segment letters are sometimes used.


NORTH AMERICA


USA regulations


American government defined class size under Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40--Protection of Environment, Section 600.315-82 Classes of comparable automobiles. Passenger car classes are defined based on interior volume index or
seating capacity, except the ones classified as special vehicle. A two seater is classified as a car with no more than two designated seating positions. Others as follows:

Nonpassenger automobiles are defined as small pickup trucks, standard pickup trucks, vans, and special purpose vehicles. Pickup trucks is separated from car line based on gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). For pickup
truck car lines with more than one GVWR, the GVWR of the pickup truck car line is the arithmetic average of all distinct GVWR's less than or equal to 8,500 pounds available for that car line.

Special purpose vehicle is defined as automobile with GVWR less than or equal to 8,500 pounds which possess special features that are more appropriately classified separately from typical automobiles or which do not meet the definitions of above mentioned classes.

Interior volume index is calculated differently for different vehicle classes:

  • For passenger automobiles, it is calculated for each car line which is not a two seater. For car lines with more than one body style, the interior volume index for the car line is the arithmetic average of the interior volume indexes of each body style in the car line.

  • For all body styles except station wagons and hatchbacks with more than one seat (e.g., with a second or third seat) equipped with seatbelts as required by DOT safety regulations, interior volume index is the sum, rounded to the nearest 0.1 cubic feet, of the front seat volume, the rear seat volume, if applicable, and the luggage capacity.

  • For all station wagons and hatchbacks with more than one seat (e.g., with a second or third seat) equipped with seatbelts as required by DOT safety regulations, interior volume index is the sum, rounded to the nearest 0.1 cubic feet, of the front seat volume, the rear seat volume, and the cargo volume index.


All dimensions and volumes shall be determined from the base vehicles of each body style in each car line, and do not include optional equipment.

Front seat volume is calculated as product of:
  • Effective head room-front

  • Average of shoulder and hip room-front, if hip room is more than 5 inches less than shoulder room; Shoulder room-front, if hip room is not more than 5 inches less than shoulder room

  • Maximum effective leg room-accelerator


Rear seat volume is calculated for vehicles within a rear seat equipped with rear seat belts (as required by DOT), as product of:
  • Effective head room-second

  • Average of shoulder and hip room-second, if hip room is more than 5 inches less than shoulder room; Shoulder room-second, if hip room is not more than 5 inches less than shoulder room

  • Minimum effective leg room-second


For passenger automobiles with no rear seat or with a rear seat but no rear seat belts, the area to the rear of the front seat shall be included in the determination of usable luggage capacity.

Cargo volume index is calculated as follows:
  • For station wagon, it is the product of Shoulder room-second, Cargo height, Cargo length at belt-second.

  • For hatchback, it is the product of:

  • ---Average cargo length, the arithmetic average of Cargo length at second seatback height-hatchback and Cargo length at floor-second-hatchback

  • ---Shoulder room-second

  • ---Second seatback to load floor height.



Canada regulations


Cars are divided into six classes based on interior volume. An interior volume index is calculated from the combined passenger and trunk or cargo space. Pickup trucks, special purpose vehicles and vans are segmented in their own respective classes.

The above definitions of vehicle classed are not defined in Canadian regulations, but by Fuel Consumption Guide published by Natural Resources Canada .

Other vehicle classes are listed in On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations (SOR/2003-2), officially published in Canada Gazette Part 2, Vol. 137 No. 1:

In case of light-duty trucks, all 3 conditions must be met, otherwise it is classified as heavy-duty vehicle. In addition, light-duty must also be:
  • designed primarily for the transportation of property or that is a derivative of a vehicle that is designed for that purpose;

  • designed primarily for the transportation of persons and has a designated seating capacity of more than 12 persons; or

  • available with special features that enable it to be operated and used off-road, the special features being four-wheel drive and at least four of the following characteristics, that are calculated when the vehicle is at curb weight and on a level surface with the front wheels parallel to the vehicle's longitudinal centerline and the tires are inflated to the manufacturer's recommended pressure:

  • ---an approach angle of not less than 28 degrees

  • ---break-over angle of not less than 14 degrees,

  • ---a departure angle of not less than 20 degrees,

  • ---ground clearances of not less than 17.8 cm under the front and rear axles, and

  • ---a ground clearance of not less than 20.3 cm under any point other than the front or rear axle.


Medium-duty passenger vehicle is classified as a heavy-duty vehicle and that is designed primarily for the transportation of persons but does not include any vehicle that
  • is a truck that is incomplete because it does not have a primary load carrying device or container attached;

  • has a seating capacity of more than 12 persons;

  • is designed to seat more than 9 persons behind the driver; or

  • is equipped with an open cargo area (for example, a pick-up truck box or bed) of 183 cm in interior length or more or with a covered box not readily accessible from the passenger compartment.


Motorcycle is classified as an on-road vehicle with a headlight, taillight and stoplight that has two or three wheels and a curb weight of 793 kg or less, but does include a vehicle that has an engine displacement of less than 50cc, or that, with an 80 kg (176 pound) driver:

  • cannot start from a dead stop using only the engine; or

  • cannot exceed a speed of 40 km/h on a level paved surface.



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.

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 (includes Compact Executive Car s)

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

  • Roadsters

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

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

  • Small MPVs (both mini MPVs and compact MPVs)

  • Large MPVs



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