In today’s market, the average consumer has a plethora of vehicles to choose from and different models of cars available for purchase. There are cars for virtually any purpose you can think of, whether off-roading, long road trips, or essential everyday use.
Today, cars are classified into nine major categories depending on their body shape and features. Referred to as the ”Body Style”, cars can be differentiated according to their shape, size, number of doors, height, etc.
If you ask, ”What type of car is best for a long road trip?” or ”What car should I buy so I can go off-roading?”, this article is just for you!
12 Popular Types of Cars that You Can Choose for Ride
Read further to discover various car types and their names, car body types, and the answer to the question- ”What is the Most Popular Type of Car?”
1. Sedan
The Sedan is one of the most popular and commonly seen car types today. A Sedan is a small to medium-sized car with four doors and a single, conventional trunk.
It is of a three-box body configuration, separating the vehicle into three main sections- the passenger section, the engine, and the trunk.
The Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Honda Accord, and the Dodge Charger are examples of this car type.
2. Coupe
The Coupe is a car type that is often confused with a Sedan due to its small shape and sleek design. However, unlike a Sedan, the Coupe is a two-door car with a solid roof that cannot be detached.
The Coupe also has a three-box body configuration. Examples of a Coupe include the Ford Mustang, Audi A5, Chevrolet Corvette, and the Porche Boxster.
3. Minivan
Minivans are large cars and are often a family favorite due to their large interiors and capacity. Minivans are tall, boxy cars with sliding doors.
They also have a rear hatch that opens to a large trunk or cargo bay. The passenger seats are adjustable and removable and can be removed to increase the size of the cargo bay.
Examples of this car type include the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica.
4. SUV
The Sports Utility Vehicle, commonly referred to as an SUV, is a large car, more significant than the Sedan but smaller than the Minivan.
SUVs are tall and boxy cars that are much more elevated from the ground than their Sedan counterparts. These cars have higher ground clearance and larger wheels than Sedans.
They have a large cargo bay and can have three rows of passenger seats. Most SUVs are four-wheel drives.
Examples of this car type include the Nissan Kicks, Hyundai Kona, Ford Expedition, and the Chevrolet Tahoe.
5. Convertible
Convertibles are small, sleek cars that may have either two doors or four doors. The most defining characteristic of a Convertible is its retractable roof.
Convertibles generally have a powdered fabric roof than can be folded. However, there are also convertibles with retractable hardtop roofs.
Examples of this car type include the Porsche 911 Targa, Corvette, and the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF.
6. Jeep
The Jeep is an American automobile company known for its four-wheel drives and SUVs, as well as people also consider Jeep as a car type because of its unique body shape.
Today, Jeep produces five main models- The Jeep Renegade, Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Compass, Jeep Commander, and Jeep Cherokee KL.
These are popular SUVs, four-wheel drives, and off-roading vehicles. They are medium to large-sized cars with four doors and a trunk. The body of this type of car looked like SUV but it has big wheels compared to other SUV styles.
7. Pick Up Truck
The Pick Up Truck is a hybrid between an SUV and a Truck. Pick Up Trucks consist of a passenger cabin and a large cargo bed at the rear.
They are all-wheel drives or four-wheel drives. They come in two main categories- full-sized and mid-sized. The Honda Ridgeline is an example of this car type.
8. Hatchback
The Hatchback is a small, compact Sedan that consists of a squared roof and a flip-up hatch door that leads to a cargo bay instead of a regular trunk.
They consist of four doors and a three-box type configuration. Hatchbacks have a more accessible cargo area and carrying capacity than their Sedan counterparts.
Examples of this car type include the Kia Rio, Volkswagen Golf, Audi A7, and Kia Stinger.
9. Station Wagon
Station Wagons are larger cars with a longer body and larger interiors than Sedans. Instead of a regular trunk, they have an extended roof and a flip-up hatch door in the rear.
They have a higher ground clearance than their Sedan counterparts and have a body cladding similar to SUVs.
Examples of this car type include the Audi A4 Allroad and Subaru Outback.
10. Mini
Mini is a British automobile company that BMW owns. Mini is known for producing small hatchbacks and convertibles with their unique stying.
Popular models of this car type include the Mini Cooper Hatch, Mini Clubman, Mini Convertible, Mini Roadster, and Mini Coupe.
11. Electric Car
Electric Cars are a technological marvel of the modern-day. Unlike conventional vehicles, electric cars use a battery and electric motor instead of a combustion engine.
There are different types of electric cars. An extensive battery pack powers the electric motor. This battery pack must be charged by plugging into an external charging outlet called the ”Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment”.
Electric Cars are considered to be an eco-friendly option because it does not emit exhaust and does not make use of conventional fuel like petrol and diesel.
The most popular Electric Car Company today is Tesla Inc.
12. Sports Car
Sports Cars are sleek, aerodynamically efficient coupes and convertibles made to be superfast cars.
They are very low cars and are generally expensive high-end cars. Most sportscars have only two passenger seats, but some may have small rear passenger seats.
Examples of this car type include the Ferrari 488 GTB, the Aston Martin Vantage, and Dodge Challenger.
Next time you ask, ”Which Type of Car is the best for a long drive?”, remember that you have a wide range of cars to choose from, ranging from SUVs to Minivans. If you have a big family, a Minivan or an SUV may be the best option. If you are looking to splurge on a supercar and gather looks of admiration, a sportscar may be what you’re looking for! Today’s market has a car type to accommodate all your requirements, be it space, speed, elevation, or even environmental considerations.
