The term “body style” is an all-encompassing label used to describe the size, shape, and characteristics of a vehicle. For example, sedans and pickup trucks are two popular vehicle body styles in the United States. At Car and Driver, we separate vehicles into eight primary body styles, making them easier to categorize (and easier for you to shop).Within those eight broad body styles are a host of different variations that get even more specific—think luxury versus non-luxury, compact versus full-size. Not sure where the car you’re interested in fits? We’ve broken down all of the main vehicle types and their subcategories to help you understand the body style basics.
SedansSedans are what most people picture when they think of a traditional passenger car. Sedans have four doors and incorporate a three-box design (jargon for a design with a distinct hood, passenger compartment, and trunk). Sedans come in multiple types and sizes, ranging from fuel-efficient and small compact to luxurious and large full-size options.
Subcompact SedansThe smallest sedans in the U.S. are subcompact in size. Among non-luxury options, just one remains: the Nissan Versa. The luxury subcompact segment is more flush with options. This subset includes the Audi A3 and Mercedes CLA-class.Mercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz CLA-class.Compact SedansCompact sedans are larger than subcompacts but smaller than mid-size models. Both mainstream and luxury options abound. In either form, compacts tend to offer reasonable space for cargo and people, though taller individuals may find these models’ rear seat room a bit too confining. The Honda Civic is a benchmark of the mainstream compact segment, as it expertly blends a reasonably roomy rear seat and trunk with enjoyable driving dynamics for a reasonable price. It’s why the model’s practically a regular on our 10Best Cars.Mid-Size SedansMid-size sedans tend to sacrifice some of the driving enjoyment of their compact kin for additional rear seat and cargo space. These machines are perfect for those who regularly carry passengers or haul various items. The best mid-size sedans afford this extra versatility with only a marginal hit to behind-the-wheel joy. This includes the 10Best-winning Honda Accord and Mercedes-Benz E450 as well as the mid-size luxury Toyota Crown.ToyotaToyota Crown Limited.Full-Size SedansFull-size sedans these days are the flagship models in a brand’s lineup. The luxurious Mercedes S-class and ultraluxurious Rolls-Royce Phantom are two examples of the category. Such sedans tend to emphasize a comfortable ride and loads of rear seat space above all else.Rolls-RoyceRolls-Royce Phantom Scintilla.Sports SedansSports sedans come in subcompact, compact, mid-size, and full-size forms. These models tend to be high-performance variants of more run-of-the-mill models, though some may argue that a number of these “run-of-the-mill” options are sports sedans in and of themselves. For instance, the compact Cadillac CT4 and mid-size Cadillac CT5 feature engaging rear-drive dynamics that arguably make these sedans worthy of the title. However, we limit the sports sedan designation to the models’ truly sporty 10Best-winning CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing variants. Marc Urbano|Car and DriverCadillac CT4-V Blackwing.Sport-Utility Vehicles (SUVs)Sport utility vehicles, better known as SUVs, are the most popular vehicle type in the United States. This is in large part due to their versatility. Most SUVs offer generous space in the cabin and cargo area. They’re also offered in a variety of forms, from wagon-like crossover SUVs to hardcore off-road ones. Some are even capable of holding their own on the track.
Subcompact SUVsSubcompact SUVs are the smallest of the breed. These typically inexpensive SUVs (relatively speaking, of course) often offer middling room for rear seat passengers or cargo, but do include the higher seating position and extra ground clearance that SUVs are associated with. Like their sedan stablemates, these models are available in both mainstream and luxury guises. While some subcompact SUVs feel more like penalty boxes, others, such as the 10Best-winning Chevrolet Trax, do a great job of making these entry-level machines feel anything but.Marc Urbano|Car and DriverChevrolet Trax Activ.Compact SUVsCompact SUVs—for example, the 10Best-winning Hyundai Ioniq 5—are effectively modern-day station wagons, combining reasonable rear seat and cargo space with a manageably sized footprint. The mainstream and relatively affordable 10Best-winning Honda CR-V, for instance, is a jack-of-all-trades vehicle, offering a versatile interior in a reasonably fun-to-drive package. On the other end of the spectrum, the 10Best-winning Porsche Macan trades interior space and versatility for dynamics that rival those of the best sports cars. In between sit luxury compact SUVs like the 10Best-winning Genesis GV70, which combine luxurious wares with a comfortable ride and a generally playful chassis for once the roads start to turn. PorschePorsche Macan GTS.Mid-Size SUVs Mid-size SUVs often have more passenger and cargo space. They also tend to offer a more premium feel, though both mainstream and luxury options are available. While some offer just two rows of seats, others are available with three. The 10Best-winning Kia Telluride exemplifies the category.Marc Urbano|Car and DriverKia Telluride X-Line.Full-Size SUVsFull-size SUVs take advantage of their substantial dimensions, providing generous space for passengers and their stuff, as well as formidable towing capabilities. General Motors’ Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon are two notable examples.GMCGMC Yukon AT4 Ultimate.Crossover SUVsCrossover SUVs are available in all shapes and sizes. Unlike traditional SUVs, which ride on truck-like body-on-frame underpinnings, crossover SUVs including the Honda CR-V use car-like unibody construction. The result is a vehicle that looks like an SUV (and in some instances, performs as well as an SUV—such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Land Rover Discovery) and offers the high seating position and—typically—the ground clearance of an SUV, but combines the maneuverability and ride comfort typically associated with cars. HatchbacksUnlike traditional passenger cars that have a separate trunk around back, hatchbacks combine the passenger compartment and cargo hold into one continuous area. In place of a trunk lid, hatchbacks have a flip-up tailgate, called a “hatch,” that can be raised to expose a large storage compartment behind the seats. Hatchbacks typically have either two or four passenger doors plus the hatch, which automakers often classify as an additional door. The appeal of a rear hatch is rooted in practicality, and that is exactly what traditional hatchbacks are known for. Some models, like the Honda Civic, come in both sedan and hatchback body styles, the latter affording additional cargo volume.
Hot HatchbacksHot hatchbacks inject some adrenaline into the traditional hatchback formula. Models like the Volkswagen Golf R and Honda Civic Type R are fitted with potent engines and other go-fast features while retaining a rear hatch. That combination makes them equally usable for hefty grocery store runs and weekend track days. VolkswagenVolkswagen Golf R Black Edition.CoupesLike sedans, coupes feature a three-box form. Unlike sedans, which feature four doors, coupes come with just two. Coupes tend to prioritize style over practicality, with attractive sloping roofs and limited rear passenger space.
Performance CoupesPerformance coupes sacrifice nearly everything in the name of high speeds and engaging handling. Two-seat sports cars like the Chevrolet Corvette and Porsche 911 GT3 RS also fall into the performance-coupe category, with mighty engines and sleek body lines being key pillars of the segment. Marc Urbano|Car and DriverChevrolet Corvette Z06.Luxury CoupesLuxury coupes take the two-door body style and up the extravagance with opulent cabins and high price tags. The Bentley Continental GT is an exemplar of the luxury-coupe class with quilted leather upholstery and sleek bodywork that oozes style.
Nontraditional CoupesIn recent years, some automakers have started calling vehicles with sloping rooflines coupes, regardless of their door count or size. The Mercedes CLA-class is an example of a model that is marketed as a four-door coupe. Even some four-door SUVs, such as the BMW X4, are sold as coupes despite the obvious contradictions. BMWBMW x4 M.ConvertiblesConvertibles, often called droptops, feature a roof that folds (or drops) away into a compartment behind the passenger compartment for an unfettered view of the sky while cruising. Most convertibles have just two doors, but four-door options do exist. Some convertibles have electrically operated tops that tuck away at the push of a button, while others require the roof to be folded away and raised manually.
Softtop ConvertiblesSofttop convertibles lack a solid roof and feature a canvas or fabric lid instead. These convertibles tend to weigh less than their hardtop-convertible counterparts.MazdaMazda MX-5 Miata 35th Anniversary.Hardtop ConvertiblesInstead of using a soft material for the roof, hardtop convertibles feature hard body panels for a roof, which can be folded away—typically at the push of a button, as on the Chevrolet Corvette. Such a setup affords owners the benefits of open-air driving while allowing for additional protection from the elements with the roof in place, including outside noises.WagonsStation wagons are a dying breed. Though they wear a similar shape to many squarebacked SUVs and crossovers, these typically lower-riding machines often share styling fore of the B-pillar (or from the front door forward) with an equivalent sedan in an automaker’s lineup. With no separate trunk and little to no peak in their roofline, station wagons offer a large and versatile cargo hold for hauling items of all sizes.Luxury Station WagonsLuxury station wagons combine the niceties of an automaker’s equivalent sedan and pair it with a more cargo-friendly wagon form.
Crossover Station WagonsCrossover station wagons, for instance the Audi A6 Allroad, take the basic wagon form and add a bit of (typically pseudo) off-road kit. This normally comes courtesy of unpainted plastic fascias and fender flares, a suspension lift, and standard all-wheel drive. Though these station wagons cannot replace a proper body-on-frame SUV with four-wheel drive off-road, they are capable of handling light off-tarmac terrains.Marc Urbano|Car and DriverAudi A6 Allroad.Pickup TrucksPickup trucks are high-riding, utility-focused vehicles that feature a front passenger compartment (known as a “cab”) and an open cargo bed in the rear. Most trucks offer some form of all-wheel drive system to improve their off-road and rough-weather capabilities. Pickups range in size from the compact and economical to big and heavy-duty.
Compact Pickup TrucksCompact pickup trucks trade expansive cargo bed space for efficiency and versatility. While models like the 10Best-winning Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz only have enough space in the back for hauling small loads, their small form factor and efficient engines grant them easy maneuverability and relatively impressive fuel economy. FordFord Maverick.Mid-Size Pickup TrucksMid-size pickup trucks strike a balance between size, price, and capability. Mid-sizers such as the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger typically have smaller beds and lower towing capacities than larger full-size and heavy-duty pickups; however, they trade this loss in capability for a smaller footprint and—often—a lower starting price.ToyotaToyota Tacoma.Full-Size Pickup TrucksFull-size pickup trucks are large and capable trucks with big beds and impressive tow ratings. They are ideal for serious work, but many full-size pickups, including the 10Best-winning Ram 1500 and Ford F-150, are comfortable enough for use as everyday vehicles.
Heavy-Duty Pickup TrucksAs their name suggests, heavy-duty pickup trucks are meant for heavy hauling. HD workhorses, such as the Ram 2500 and 3500 HD and Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty, are easily capable of towing five-figure loads. HD pickups are often available with high-output diesel engines and can be optioned with different cab and bed sizes to suit the needs of multiple rugged professions. Ram2025 Ram HD.Vans and MinivansVans and minivans are known for their spacious insides and box-like exteriors. Both vans and smaller minivans are often long and tall, leaving a cavernous area behind the front seats for either passengers or cargo. Minivans almost unanimously come with one or more sliding rear doors, while bigger vans may include sliding rear doors or a pair of barn doors.Cargo VansCargo vans are made for hauling goods. Most come with just two seats, affording plenty of room for carrying cargo aft of the driver and front passenger. In many cases, cargo vans are used as commercial vehicles.RamRam ProMaster.Passenger VansPassenger vans typically take the cargo van template but add a handful of extra exterior windows and multiple rows of rear seats to the mix. Passenger vans often serve as commercial vehicles, though those with a penchant for carrying many passengers will find lots to like in these machines, too.
Car and DriverChevrolet Express.MinivansAs their name implies, minivans are, well, smaller-size vans. They’re still plenty roomy, though, and typically offer seating for at least seven. With designs that maximize interior space, but a footprint comparable to a three-row mid-size SUV, minivans offer car-like comfort with loads of passenger and cargo room. Michael Simari|Car and DriverVolkswagen ID.Buzz.Austin’s car fixation began at a young age and at 1:64 scale. Eventually, Hot Wheels weren’t cutting it anymore, so he developed an obsession with his father’s full-sized 1965 Ford Mustang instead. Desperate to break into the automotive industry, he bartered his way into a job at a local BMW dealership by promising to stop hurling nerdy technical facts at the salesmen who came into the neighboring coffee shop where he worked.
That was also around the time when he started writing automotive reviews, news articles, and technical guides for a number of local and international publications. Now at Car and Driver, Austin brings more than 10 years of experience in the automotive industry and an all-so-common love-hate relationship with German engineering to the table.
Source: caranddriver.com
