CLASSIFICATION OF CARS BASED ON SIZE

HATCHBACK

A car which has a hatch door at its back which opens upwards and hinged at roof level.

• Identification:

1. The rear door is more vertical.
2. Usually of two box design.
3. Generally have 3 pillars namely A, B, C.

*Meaning of Two Box Design: - Total volume of the car is segregated into two:- 

i. The volume for the engine.

ii. The passenger and boot space are combined to make a single volume.

• Characteristics:

1. Also can be defined as three door or five door cars (in case of two doors and four doors for passenger area respectively) as the hatch is also counted as a door.
2. Passenger comfort and volume are prioritized over cargo.

SEDANS (Saloon as said in the UK) 

A car which has a separate volume for boot space and passenger area.

• Identification:

1. Three box design.
2. Have 3 pillars namely A, B, C.
3. Boot space lid is after C pillar.

• Characteristics:

1. Offers minimum storage capacity among all other car types.
2. Usually, they are four doored.

*Three box design meaning there are separate compartments for the:-

1. Engine
2. Passenger
3. Cargo

COUPE

 A closed two-door car with a fixed roof.

• Identification:

1. Must have two long doors usually two seaters but can be four-seaters.
2. Bonnet area is longer and rear is compact.
3. Generally, three boxed cars having 3 pillars.

• Characteristics:

1. They are basically a variant of Sedans with higher performance.
2. All two-door two-seaters with the solid roof are coupes.

VAN

These cars can be identified by a short hood and its boxy shape.

• Identification:

1. Bigger than any other car types.
2. Box type appearance.

• Characteristics:

1. Large interior space is available for both passengers and cargo.
2. Often is of Monocoque chassis.

PICKUP TRUCK

A car having an enclosed cab for passengers and extended open bed with the low sides for cargo.

• Identification:

1. Cargo space is open.
2. Cargo area has low sides.

• Characteristic:

Purposely made to transport heavy loads.

STATION WAGON

A car with flexible passenger seats behind which there is cargo compartment accessible through the tailgate.

• Identification:

1. They are two boxed in design.
2. Has four pillars namely A, B, C, D.
3. Cargo area is windowed.
4. The roof is extended unbroken to cover up the total cargo space.

Convertible

A car in which the roof can be folded down or removed partially or in its entity.

• Identification:

1. A long bonnet.
2. A compartment for the retractable roof to be housed.

• Characteristics:

1. All two-seater convertible cars are roadsters, which made focusing on high speed.
2. Spyder is a fancy word for convertible cars.

MUV/SUV

Both look a lot like each other and have a similar design like Station Wagon (can also be referred as a special kind of station wagon) but differ in their functionality. Usually, all MUV/SUV are four-wheel drive.

• Identification:

1. High roof.
2. Height is more than Station Wagon but less than Van.
3. Longer Bonnet than Van but shorter than a Wagon.
4. More ground clearance so higher center of gravity and higher seating position as well.

SUV: 

Cars which are designed to be used for all road conditions on road and off road as well.

MUV:  

These are designed to create utility with a flexible interior layout.