Complete Guide on 20 Main Types of Cars: Names & Diagram

An automobile, often called a car, is a wheeled motor vehicle. According to most definitions, cars primarily operate on roads, can accommodate one to eight individuals, possess four wheels, and are mainly designed for transporting people rather than cargo. There are twenty types of cars, encompassing sedans, hatchbacks, and pickups, among others, facilitating the comprehension of their unique characteristics and aiding in a better understanding of their worth. Types of cars are easy to classify. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that such categorization might sometimes be misleading.

While classifying automobiles based on body style proves beneficial in understanding their distinctive qualities, it is essential to discern the immediate visual cues when encountering a car on the road. The term “body style” precisely encapsulates this aspect – whether the vehicle appears boxy and oversized or features low, flat surfaces and a specific number of doors.

Car Types Pictures

Types of Car Names

Sedan
Coupe
Sportscars
Station wagon
Hatchback
Convertible
Sport-utility vehicle (SUV)

Minivan
Pickup truck
Jeep
Electric car
CUV/Crossover
Spyder
Hot hatch

Limousine
UTE
Pony car
Sports sedan
Military vehicle
Dragster

Types of Cars

Various types of cars are available, each distinguished by its unique body style, shape, functions, and ergonomics. There are around 20 different types of cars, each offering features and characteristics. Let’s explore these car categories in detail.

Sedan

A sedan is a four-door passenger car distinguished by its conventional appearance. Its three-box configuration divides the engine, passenger, and luggage compartments, providing excellent weight distribution and a steady ride. The sedan is most prevalent in all types of cars.

Fuel efficiency is improved, and vehicle weight is decreased because of the unibody architecture. The trunk’s lack of glass windows provides additional security against theft for any objects kept within.

This car has four doors and a typical trunk. It falls into many categories, including subcompact vehicles like the Nissan Versa and Kia Rio, as well as compact cars like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.

Coupe

An automobile style known as a coupe is simple, immediately bringing pictures of little automobiles to mind. That vehicle has two doors, a trunk, and a fixed roof compared to other types of cars. However, this car’s enchanting feature is its sloping roofline. It gives it a more fashionable and sporty appearance.

In terms of appearance, coupes typically have many extra features, from precise handling to high horsepower. This coupe is the best example of a simple vehicle that takes up little room.

A coupe was previously considered a two-door vehicle with a fixed roof and a trunk. It comprises two-seater sports cars like the Chevrolet Corvette and Porsche Boxster and vehicles like the Ford Mustang and Audi A5.

However, automakers have recently begun referring to four-door vehicles with slim, low rooflines as “coupes,” utilizing the term “coupe” in this context. It contains automobiles, including the BMW X6 SUV and the Mercedes-Benz CLS sedan. However, we still consider the coupe to be a two-door vehicle.

Sportscars

The defining characteristic of a sports car is an emphasis on dynamic performance, such as handling, acceleration, top speed, and the pure thrill of driving.

Sports cars are small, elegant automobiles with a roomy cabin but little storage for luggage. They are frequently built with two seats, providing solid handling and remarkable acceleration rates. Sports vehicles often have athletic exteriors and might be two-seater convertibles, offering an exhilarating open-air driving experience.

These cars, concerned with performance, are frequently seen as a combination of luxury and superior engineering.

Today’s modern sports vehicle has unmatched features, enhancing power and providing an outstanding, exhilarating ride. Fantastic handling, excellent acceleration, and lightning-fast maneuverability are just a few of these ideal characteristics.

The Porsche 911 and Mazda Miata are two well-known examples of conventional sports cars renowned for their performance. However, the category also includes sports cars with distinguishing features, like the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger.

These types of cars are lavish and exclusive; one percent fantasy automobiles, with their spaceship-like looks, are at the other end of the scale. Exemplary cars have a draw that may halt traffic, such as the Ferrari 488 GTB and the Aston Martin Vantage. These engineering marvels represent the height of luxury and skill.

Station Wagon

Most notably, station wagons, also known as estate types of cars, have an extended sedan body that offers plenty of cargo space, combining the advantages of a hatchback and a sedan into a functional hybrid form.

Station wagons are a great option when a dependable and roomy carrier is needed, especially for prominent families. In contrast to its SUV rivals, it stands out for its improved interior room and fuel economy.

Some variations even resemble sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) like the Subaru Outback or Audi A4 Allroad because of their high ground clearance and tough body armor. Despite these off-road features, they nevertheless have a solid resemblance to conventional sedans.

Unfortunately, station wagons have lost some appeal over the previous few decades, leaving just a tiny assortment on the American market.

Hatchback

The hatchback’s rear door, which elegantly swings upwards, stands out as its most striking feature. Unlike most automobile models, this one is equipped with two or four doors, with the rear one being the hatch. Both sedans and hatchbacks fall under the category of passenger automobiles, sharing remarkable similarities.

However, it is in their payload capacity that they differ significantly. Comparing hatchbacks to sedans, the former offers a more spacious cargo area, allowing for the transport of larger loads.

Moreover, the convenience of effortlessly removing heavy components, such as substantial shopping bags, further adds to the appeal of hatchbacks. A hatchback is suitable if you prioritize greater fuel efficiency and ample load space.

Among the standout hatchback vehicles, the Kia Rio and the Volkswagen Golf are prominent examples. It is worth noting that hatchbacks have recently been integrated into larger vehicles, like the Audi A7 and the Kia Stinger.

Despite their sedan-like appearance, they possess a steeply slanted tailgate, ensuring more straightforward access to the cargo area and an increased load capacity compared to the typical trunk.

Convertible

For decades, convertibles have garnered acclaim for their distinct aesthetics and meticulous craftsmanship. These automobiles have remained cherished over the years, symbolizing youth, freedom, and popular culture.

Featuring compact passenger cabins with retractable canopies, they typically accommodate only two passengers, boasting a modest footprint.

Convertibles are designed to have roofs that can be removed from the body, exposing the passenger compartment to the elements, thus earning their name. Most convertibles have electrically powered cloth roofs that elegantly fold down, while a few may require manual lowering.

In addition to the conventional convertibles, a select few fascinating quasi-convertibles exist, often referred to as “Targa-Tops.” Examples include the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF, Porsche 911 Targa, and Corvette.

These models have manually extendable or retractable roofs in the front, showcasing their unique and remarkable design.

Sport-Utility Vehicle (SUV)

Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) display spaciousness and off-road skill, tailored for extensive journeys. They assure a seamless journey even through the most challenging and rugged terrains. Their elevated seating offers a commanding view of the road.

Their robust body-on-frame design, derived from trucks, underpins these remarkable traits, making SUVs the ultimate choice for outdoor enthusiasts and those seeking to tow dirt bikes.

Like a station wagon, the cargo area can be accessed by flipping up the hatchback door, and many models boast all-wheel drive capability. More significant variants accommodate three rows of seats, exemplified by the Ford Expedition, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Nissan Kicks. Meanwhile, the Hyundai Kona and Nissan Kicks are exemplary compact SUVs. Notably, luxury automakers also offer SUV models in the same size classes.

Minivan

Rather than prioritizing storage capacity, Minivans place a premium on cabin space during construction. These vehicles are synonymous with family transportation and station wagons, as they were meticulously designed to accommodate entire families. Compared to hatchbacks, they offer significantly more cargo room, though reasonable.

As the workhorses of family vehicles, minivans are the optimal choice for efficiently transporting people and cargo. Despite their name implying a small size, they are anything but. These towering boxes on wheels feature sliding side doors for added convenience and an open tailboard that provides abundant freight space – a defining characteristic.

Most minivans have spacious and reclining second and third rows of seats, which can stow away into the floor, creating even more open cargo space. The Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey are prime examples of this exceptional design.

Pickup Truck

The pickup truck is distinguished from other vehicles owing to its distinctive style and is one of the most well-known car types in the world. The cargo bed is entirely distinct from the cabin, which typically has three or four sleeping spaces.

A pickup truck’s open cargo bed and passenger cab are in the back. Most pickup trucks have all-wheel drive or part-time four-wheel drive, which is only used for off-road travel. Except for one model, the mid-sized Honda Ridgeline varies somewhat because its cab is mounted to a separate steel frame.

The Ridgeline’s cargo bed can be seen when the back roof is removed, giving it a more crossover-like appearance. Currently, pickup trucks come in two sizes: full-size and midsize. It stands apart in the automobile industry because of its distinctiveness and adaptability.

Jeep – Types of Cars

Kleenex and Jeep are two examples of whole product lines with a flexible product model. Jeep, a great Fiat Chrysler Automobiles design, is a perfect example of this idea. In November 1940, just before the United States entered World War II, it made its premiere.

Jeeps were widely used in that fight and have since played a vital part in other conflicts. Chrysler purchased the prestigious Jeep brand in 1987 and added more models to its lineup. Despite this growth, the iconic Jeep design is still quite popular. In addition, Chrysler unveiled the Cherokee SUV, a cutting-edge and contemporary addition to the Jeep lineup.

Electric Car

I am thrilled about leasing an electric vehicle as my future car. It is exciting as numerous automakers plan to introduce several electric car alternatives in the coming years. Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Audi, and Porsche are all set to launch an impressive electric vehicle lineup.

While Tesla currently holds the market leader position, it is expected to face more challenging and intense competition in the next five years. Another excellent option is GM’s Volt.

Despite my appreciation for Tesla’s aesthetics, they can’t compare to the sheer magnificence of the original electric Porsche automobile, the Mission E. I am enamored with how Mission E combines four doors while still looking fabulous. It is a highly unique design that sets it apart from the rest.

CUV/Crossover – Types of Cars

A convergence of an SUV and a hatchback aptly characterizes crossovers. Their unibody design reduces weight and maximizes fuel efficiency, like hatchbacks, while providing the SUV’s versatility. This results in a remarkably distinctive and unparalleled vehicle category.

Spyder

The Spyder is a unique type of automobile distinguished by its two seats and sports car design. Among its various modifications, the famed Lamborghini Spyder distinguishes it as a high-end car.

The Spyder became well-known as a racing car in the United States Auto Club championships in the 1950s and 1960s. The Spyder, sometimes the Roadster, was initially intended as a powerful vehicle for open highways.

Interestingly, the Spyder was initially intended for just one rider. However, it gradually changed, eventually becoming the recognizable two-seater shape that distinguishes it today.

Hot Hatch – Types of Cars

Drawing inspiration from the compact hatchback, the exhilarating “Hot Hatch” emerges as a cutting-edge, high-performance automobile. This fantastic vehicle provides space for up to five people with a great load capacity. It boasts comparable design aspects, including the inventive rear-swing door.

Although slightly more modest in space when compared to its hatchback counterpart, the Hot Hatch remains a favored choice among enthusiasts in European and Asian markets. This automotive treasure, which made its manufacturing debut in the late 1980s, continues to enthrall discriminating customers with its unrivaled beauty and dynamic talents.

Limousine

The limousine is one of the globe’s most luxurious vehicles. It is famous for its remarkable length and partition separating the front and back compartments.

Prominent figures such as movie stars, business magnates, dignitaries, and politicians commonly assign a driver with its control during formal gatherings and reserve it well in advance for its utilization.

UTE – Types of Cars

A distinctive and well-liked automobile known as a UTE is frequently bought in Australia and New Zealand. This adaptable vehicle behind the passenger compartment may be driven with a regular driver’s license.

The phrase was first applied to automobiles built on passenger car chassis. It included a bed connected to the passenger body. However, any vehicle with an open cargo compartment in the back is now referred to as a UTE in the New Zealand-Australia region, making it a distinctive feature of its automotive culture.

Pony Car

The pony car movement, which peaked in popularity in the 1960s and even broke astounding sales records in the United States, has its roots in the Ford Mustangs of the 1940s and 1950s. The pony car fad, which was a direct reaction to consumer desire for fashionable, elegant cars, was sparked by this idea, which appeared as a cheap, tiny, and superbly built American alternative.

Sports Sedan – Types of Cars

The term “Sports Sedan” or “Sports Saloon” epitomizes high performance and flawless handling attributes and has its roots dating back to the 1930s, with models such as the Rover 14 and 16 versions.

The term “sports sedan” was first coined in the 1960s to denote high-performance models produced by various automakers. These vintage models featured rear-wheel drive and manual gearboxes as standard equipment. However, over time, multiple gearbox designs and layouts have emerged.

Notable examples in this category include the BMW M5, Jaguar XJR, Maserati Quattroporte, and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. These cars display the sports sedan idea with great originality and engineering skills. They stand out in the automobile industry due to their unparalleled strength, precision, and innovation.

Military Vehicle

Military vehicles are carefully made to bear extended periods of warfare, boasting robust armor and formidable protection.

Designed to withstand the impact of explosions and bullets, they can swiftly maneuver while transporting various cargoes, including soldiers, ammunition, and substantial goods. These remarkable vehicles present the pinnacle of durability and functionality in military engineering.

Dragster – Types of Cars

In the 1960s, racecar enthusiasts purposefully modified cars to transform them into dragsters, which featured bespoke engines specifically tailored for drag racing. Initially, they built these dragsters with slingshots and front-engine rails. Dragsters can be equipped with turbochargers or superchargers, depending on their designs.

Their power sources include petrol, nitromethane, alcohol, or natural gas. Owing to their remarkable durability and exceptional performance benefits, rear-engine dragsters have progressively replaced front-engine dragsters as the prevailing design in the world of drag racing.