This article is about the classification of cars. Classification may be based on the body build or the market segments.





So going into the detailed explanation of cars based on body type,the first one comes as follows


  • MPV

                 Multi-Purpose Vehicle, Also known as MUV (Multi Utility Vehicle) in British English. It is designed to transport passengers and has seats in two or three rows.



                 MPV's have a 'one-box or 'two-box body configuration, a high roof, a flat floor, and some of them may have a sliding door for rear passengers. It has only one compartment with Engine, Cabin space, Boot space.


 Again, these are classified into three types


1.MINI MPV

                Mini MPV is the smallest one of MPV's. And Fiat 500L, Honda Fit/Jazz, Hyundai ix20, Kia Venga, Ford B-Max comes under this category.


 2. COMPACT MPV

                Compact MPV is the middle size of MPV's. And  Renault Scenic, Volkswagen Touran, Citroën C4 Picasso comes under this category.


3. LARGE MPV

                Large MPV is the largest size of MPV's. And Citroën Grand C4 Space Tourer, Renault Grand Scenic, SEAT Alhambra, Volkswagen Sharan comes under this category.



  • HATCHBACK

                 A car with a door at the back that opens upwards. It is the most common body type for city cars and economy cars. Coming to INDIA, these are the highest selling cars body style. It is a "Two-box" Car. The engine in one box, while cabin and boot space in one separate compartment.



                When describing the body style, the hatch is often counted as a door, therefore a hatchback with two passenger doors is called a three-door and a hatchback with four passenger doors is called a five-door.  Alto 800, Alto K10, Grand i10, Elite i20, Tiago, etc are some examples of  a Hatchback



  • SEDAN

                 Sedan, also known as Saloon in British English, is a very common vehicle used for passenger transportation. It has a" Three-Box " body configuration where the  Engine, Cabin Space, and Boot Space in all three separate compartments.


                  The sedan style of the body includes close-coupled sedan, club sedan, convertible sedan, fastback sedan, hardtop sedan, notchback sedan, and sedanet/sedanette.Honda City, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz.



                  Volkswagen Vento, Skoda Rapid, Skoda Octavia,BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Toyota Corolla comes under this category.

  • SUV

                    Sports Utility Vehicles have 4x4 wheel drive with high ground clearance and huge body built. It combines the elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles. But in India, many cars with a heavy body built and high ground clearance come in 4x2 wheel drive and are also termed as SUV's.



 Here are a few examples of SUV 's—

Jeep Cherokee, Volvo XC60, Kia Sportage, Ford Escape, Nissan Rogue, Hyundai Tucson, Toyota RAV4.

Based on the market segments.




  • Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) classifies cars according to body style, length, and engine size.

    GROUPSegmentLength (mm)Engine Displacement (Litre)
    A
    (Includes Cars like Hatchbacks, Sedans, Estates, Notchbacks, Coupes & Roadsters)    		Micro<3200Upto 0.8
    Mini<3600Upto 1.0
    Compact3600 to 4000Upto 1.4
    Super Compact4000 to 4250Upto 1.6
    Mid Size4250 to 4500Upto 1.6
    Executive4500 to 4700Upto 2
    Premium4700 to 5000Upto 3
    Luxury> 5000Upto 5
    Coupe/ RoadsterN.AN.A
    GROUPSegmentLength (mm)Price
    B
    (Includes Utility Vehicles, Multi Utility Vehicles, and Sports Utility Vehicles    		UV 1<4400,up to Rs. 15 lakhs
    UV 24400-4700up to Rs. 15 lakhs
    UV 3>4700up to Rs. 15 lakhs
    UV 4>4700Between Rs. 15 to 25 lakhs
    UV 5>4700Above Rs. 25 lakhs
    C
    (Includes Vans – Hard Tops & Soft Tops)    		V1Hard Top VansUpto 10 Lakhs
    V2Soft Top VansUpto 10 Lakhs