Cars come in all shapes and forms. From sedans to pickup trucks, each body type offers unique characteristics, and differ in terms of passenger and storage capacity, among other factors. Some come with powerful engines, while others have four-wheel-drive to aid with all-terrain driving, and sportier models may feature outstanding design traits like a retractable roof.
Read on to find out more about the unique characteristics of 7 of the most popular car types.
A sedan, also known as a saloon, is the most traditional car type. It is characterized by its three-box design, with the engine at the front, passenger cabin in the middle, and a separate trunk compartment at the rear. It tends to have an elongated silhouette due to its extended front engine and back trunk sections.
Sedans generally offer a seating capacity of four or five people including the driver, and three or four passengers. They typically have four doors for easy entry and exit.
Sedans come in varying sizes, from subcompact sedans to full-sized sedans. They are an evergreen and classic car design that is great for first time car buyers who want something that offers enough space to transport four or five people, and have a decent sized trunk for carrying items.
Examples of Sedans: Toyota Corolla Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Lexus IS, Lexus ES, Lexus LS, Honda Civic, BMW 3 Series, Hyundai Avante and Elantra, Nissan Sentra, Kia Forte and Mercedes-Benz C-Class
A coupe is generally characterized as a sporty car with two doors, and a three-box shape with a sloping roofline, although in recent times there have been variations like the ‘four-door coupe’ and ‘coupe-SUV’ which are a combination of sedan or SUV mixed with coupe design traits.
Some coupes offer seating for only two people, the driver and one passenger, while a few others include a back seat and thus can fit up to four or five people. But with only two doors, access to the back seats in a coupe is a bit trickier than a sedan.
Coupes come in many sizes, from compact coupes to large luxury cruisers. They are ideal for couples without children who generally don’t need to transport more than two people on a regular basis. Most coupes have a decent sized trunk as well which can accommodate large bags for vacations, for example.
Examples of Coupes: Toyota Supra, Lexus RC, Lexus LC, BMW 4 Series, Ford Mustang, BMW Z4, Chevrolet Camaro
A convertible is a car where the roof can be folded away, giving users an open top driving experience. Most convertibles are based on coupes, although there is a small selection of convertibles that are based on SUVs, while some convertibles are standalone models with no hard top counterpart.
Many convertibles offer seating for just two people, the driver and one passenger, as the folded down roof takes up a significant amount of space. Although, a small number of larger convertibles offer a back seat that can accommodate two more passengers. Having to accommodate the folded roof means that trunk space is generally smaller than most cars as well.
Most convertibles come with a soft folding top that is generally made from fabric and plastic, but there are a number of convertibles where the folding hard top roof is made of metal and glass.
Examples of Convertibles: Lexus LC Convertible, BMW 4 Series Convertible, Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, BMW Z4, Mercedes-Benz SLK
A hatchback is generally a small car with a two-box design. It typically has its engine in front, followed by its passenger cabin area, but no visible ‘trunk’ that can be seen externally. As such, hatchbacks appear compact in size, with a rear upward lifting tailgate (often called a ‘door’) at the back offering access to the cargo area.
Hatchbacks can have three or five doors, and generally offer seating for up to five passengers. By nature of their design, hatchbacks are usually small in size, and thus are perfect for newer drivers who want something that’s easy to drive and park.
Despite their compact dimensions, many hatchbacks offer lots of practicality and versatility, as they often have rear seats that can fold down to accommodate bigger items. The tailgate also has a larger opening for easier access to the trunk area as compared to a sedan.
Examples of Hatchbacks: Toyota Yaris, Suzuki Swift, Honda Jazz, Volkswagen Golf, Renault Megane, Lexus UX
SUVs, or sport utility vehicles, can trace their origins to the rugged military vehicles that were first developed for use in World War II. Over time, these off-road vehicles have evolved into family-friendly cars that are suitable for all-round daily use.
The main defining characteristic of SUVs are their raised ride height, and most SUVs are taller than regular cars. Many of them feature a long two-box design, with an engine in front and a large passenger compartment. However, there are a few SUVs which feature a sportier coupe-like design, and a small selection of SUVs which are convertibles as well.
SUVs come in many shapes and sizes, and are suitable for those who want a very practical and spacious vehicle that can do most things well. Some SUVs have all-wheel-drive capability which means that they can actually go off-road, but many SUVs these days only have two-wheel-drive like regular cars.
Examples of SUVs: Toyota Corolla Cross, Suzuki Jimny, Toyota RAV4, Toyota 4Runner, Suzuki Vitara, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Defender, Land Rover Discovery, Range Rover, Lexus RX, Lexus NX
MPVs, or multi-purpose vehicles, are cars that are designed primarily to accommodate large families. Most MPVs can seat up to seven passengers, with some larger ones offering even more seats, making them ideal for those who need to transport more people than what regular cars can carry.
MPVs tend to look like vans, but they differ from vans in that they are designed to carry people from the outset, as opposed to vans which are meant for delivering goods. As such, MPVs offer car-like features, like comfortable seats, and numerous storage spaces throughout the cabin to accommodate items like toys and water bottles, making them perfect for families with kids.
MPVs come in various sizes, but many MPVs tend to be on the larger side in order to fit in seven seats in the interior. They do come at the expense of trunk space, although the seats can be folded down if required. Some MPVs come with sliding rear doors, which add extra convenience in offering access to the rear cabin area.
Examples of MPVs: Toyota Sienna, Nissan Quest, Kia Sedona, Kia Carnival, Honda Odyssey,
Once a workhorse vehicle for rural drivers and families everywhere in the world, the modern pickup truck has evolved into a rugged and stylish large vehicle that also serves as recreational transportation. A pickup truck is essentially identified by the inclusion of a load-carrying flatbed at the rear half of the vehicle.
There are single cab trucks, with just two doors and a pair of seats or sometimes a bench for three, and double cab trucks that have four doors and a full two rows of seats to hold up to five passengers.
There is also a more specialized body style commonly called the extra cab. The cabin has only two doors but also a small bench behind the front seats. Getting into the second row requires folding the front seats forwards like in a two-door coupe. The advantage of this design is that it allows for a longer load-carrying bed at the rear, but the truck still has the ability to carry more than two passengers in the cabin.
Pickup trucks come in a wide variety of drivetrain configurations from basic two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive with lockable differentials for serious offroad driving. Most also feature very comfortable, car-like interiors that have been suitably beefed up to withstand muddy camping trips into the wilderness, or just days out carrying heavy equipment. Customization options for pickup trucks are plentiful and it’s rare to find one that hasn’t been customized to what the driver needs.
Examples of pickup trucks: Toyota Hilux, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra, Nissan Frontier, Volkswagen Amarok, Isuzu D-Max, Ford F150, GMC Canyon, GMC Sierra, Honda Ridgeline, Jeep Gladiator
