Types of car
From city cars to luxury SUVs - we explain the different types of car
If you’re searching for your next car or have simply been anywhere near a remotely busy road, you will likely have noticed that there is no such thing as ‘just a car’. Instead, the choices and variations are so broad that searching for your next car can be a minefield of jargon, technical terms and an almost overwhelming amount of options to choose from.
Sometimes even the simplest aspects of car buying can be clouded by ambiguous language, but you should still have an idea of what you need from your car - such as how many seats or how much boot space you require - but does that mean you need a hatchback or a coupe? Or, maybe, you're looking at a crossover or an SUV, but is there even a difference between the two?
Perhaps you need something with a bit more boot space? Well you could go for an estate car, but you could also have a shooting brake, or an Avant - different manufacturers have an unhelpful habit of using different names for the same thing.
It can quickly get frustrating, so we've decided to bring all of that to an end with a one-size-fits-all guide to all of the types of cars you can find and how you can put them to use. Read on for all the info on every type of car from hatchbacks to coupes to SUVs.
Different types of car
Small cars
City cars
Small, light and very affordable, city cars are built for urban roads, where they can sneak into tight parking spaces and rarely need to go fast - so there’s no need for a big engine that uses a lot of fuel.
Thanks to their lightness, they can be extremely agile and respond sharply when you turn the steering wheel, making them fun to drive. They also tend to be affordable too, with some excellent value finance deals available.
City cars
What is a three-door car?
This is a hatchback, which means that the rear of the car, from the bumper to the roof, opens up as one bootlid. As this gives access to the car’s interior, it’s classed as a door. Three-door cars only have one door on each side of the car, so you have to lean the front seats forward to get into the back.
City cars are the ideal car for
✔ Easy parking
✔ Low-cost finance
✔ Good fuel economy
They are not so good for
✘ More than two people
✘ Luggage space
✘ Longer trips
Superminis
Their name might hint at micro dimensions but, in fact, many superminis can carry four adults and a week’s worth of shopping in their boot. Many households won’t need anything more.
Thanks to this, they can be the only car you'll need. Manufacturers are also increasingly packing them with all the equipment you could ever want. Touchscreens, the latest phone software such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - even intelligent systems that allow the car to speed up and slow down automatically in response to traffic conditions (adaptive cruise control) are increasingly common.
More luxurious models, such as the Audi A1 and Ford Fiesta Vignale bring even more upmarket features.
Popular superminis
What is a five-door car?
This is a hatchback with four side doors for front and rear passengers. The bootlid counts as the fifth door. They tend to offer more interior space than three-door cars.
Superminis are the ideal car for
✔ Nimble, fun cornering
✔ Use as a second family car
✔ Value for money
They are not so good for
✘ Interior space
✘ Quiet and smooth journeys
✘ Carrying lots of luggage
Small crossovers
Crossovers are generally built on the same base as superminis, meaning they tend to be similar in length and width to those smaller cars, but are just a bit taller. This makes them easy to drive and park despite their SUV-ish appearance, and what makes this type of car so popular. Because it's taller, it also gives the driver a better view of the road and usually means more interior space.
However, the extra height can cause a crossover to lean in corners, so there's often a compromise to be made between soft suspension for a comfortable ride and firm suspension to prevent leaning. You'll likely have more fun driving a supermini or hatchback.
Popular small crossovers
Small crossovers are the ideal car for
✔ Visibility
✔ Ease of getting in and out
✔ Driving on rough ground
They are not so good for
✘ Boot space
✘ Tough off-road conditions
✘ Driving fun
Family cars
Family hatchbacks
The typical family hatchback will be a bigger version of a supermini, for example the Volkswagen Golf is a larger alternative to the Volkswagen Polo. With their practical hatchback boot, these cars are built to do everything: the school run, shopping trips and fast motorway journeys. There’s plenty of choice, with the best being spacious, economical, comfortable and fun-to-drive. Larger models are best if you’ll have adults in the back.
Popular hatchbacks
What is a hatchback?
Lift the boot lid of a hatchback and you open up the entire back of the car from bumper to roof, including the rear screen. This makes it easy to load bulky luggage. Because you can access the interior of the car from the boot, it counts as an extra door. This is why hatchbacks are described as three- or five-door. Some manufacturers, primarily Audi, will refer to their hatchbacks as 'Sportbacks' but they are otherwise identical in premise.
Family hatchbacks are the ideal car for
✔ Families
✔ Low-cost motoring
✔ Choice of cars
They are not so good for
✘ Seating five adults
✘ High seating positions
✘ Lots of luggage
Family saloons
Saloon cars are often quieter and more fun to drive than a hatchback, but often at the cost of a smaller boot. Many buyers think they look more stylish, too. Larger models are typically more comfortable in the back seats thanks to more leg and headroom. Saloons are often considered the posh cars in a manufacturer's range, so they will often be equipped with all the latest technology and features.
The term saloon will sometimes be styled as 'executive saloon'. Within the British market, this usually refers to mid-sized saloons.
Popular saloons
What is a saloon?
Unlike hatchbacks, the boot in saloon cars is separate to the rest of the interior. With a smaller opening and less luggage space, saloon cars tend to be less practical for carrying bigger and longer items, but the fact the cabin is separated from the boot often makes them quieter to sit in. This also gives a saloon car a sturdier frame that can make the car more precise and fun to drive.
Some have a slot in the back seats that can be opened so longer items such as skis can fit, although this will encroach on the availability of rear seats.
What is a four-door car?
Only a saloon car will be classed a four-door, due to the boot being entirely separate from the interior. This means that only the side doors - for front and rear passengers - are counted.
Saloons are the ideal car for
✔ Driving enthusiasts
✔ Long-distance journeys
✔ Comfort and passenger space
They are not so good for
✘ Buyers on a budget
✘ Versatile luggage space
✘ Easy parking
Crossovers/SUVs
Blending the comfort of a family car with the practicality and height of an off-roader, many crossovers come close to offering the best of both worlds. Several have four-wheel drive (these cars may be called SUVs). Crossovers are an ideal height for installing child seats, meaning families are increasingly buying them over hatchbacks.
Popular crossovers/SUVs
What is a crossover?
This usually describes a vehicle with the mechanical parts from a traditional car (usually a hatchback), crossed with the high driving position and practicality of an off-roader. This results in a large car that’s more economical to drive.
What is an SUV?
The letters stand for Sport Utility Vehicle. The first SUVs had lots of space for extreme sports equipment and four-wheel drive, so adventurers could reach the best surfing beaches or hill-tops for paragliding.
Crossovers/SUVs are the ideal cars for
✔ Practical interior
✔ Driver and passenger visibility
✔ Towing
They are not so good for
✘ Driving fun
✘ Bargain prices
✘ Performance
People carriers/MPVs
These family-sized cars are essentially a small version of a minibus. They are designed to maximise interior space and practicality for a reasonable price. This does mean that they aren’t the most stylish cars on the road, or much fun to drive, but they will carry families and their luggage in comfort, with both five-, six- and seven-seat versions available. These are commonly referred to as MPVs in the trade, standing for multi-purpose vehicle.
Popular MPVs
People carriers/MPVs are the ideal cars for
✔ Large families
✔ Bulky luggage (with seats folded)
✔ Value
They are not so good for
✘ Style
✘ Driving fun
✘ Performance
Large cars
Luxury cars
The clue is in the name here, these are among the most comfortable vehicles you can buy, with the latest technology and the finest fittings in the front and back for owners who like to be chauffeured. In the most upmarket cases, you might find cars of this style referred to as limousines.
Popular luxury cars
Luxury cars are the ideal car for
✔ Smooth ride
✔ Being chauffeur driven
✔ Cutting-edge technology
They are not so good for
✘ Anyone who has to ask the price
✘ Versatile luggage space
✘ Narrow roads
Luxury SUVs
With a spacious interior and comfortable air suspension, you can enjoy the prestigious life while tackling tough off-road routes. In most cases, these will be equipped with four-wheel drive.
Popular luxury SUVs
Luxury SUVS are the Ideal car for
✔ All-weather and surfaces
✔ Vast interior space
✔ Comfort
They are not so good for
✘ Parking
✘ Price
✘ Sporty driving
Estate cars
Add a rear extension to a hatchback and you get an estate car with a huge boot. Ideal for families who need to cram in buggies and bags, modern estates are more stylish than the boxy designs of the past. Depending on the manufacturer, estate cars can go by a wide range of names such as Fastback, Shooting Brake, Touring, Tourer or Avant. These names may sound exciting, but they all mean the same thing - a hatchback with a big boot.
Popular estate cars
Estate cars are the ideal car for
✔ Families
✔ Carrying flat-pack furniture
✔ Versatile interior
They are not so good for
✘ Tight parking spots
✘ Very cheapest running costs
✘ Nimble driving
Pick-ups
Typically fitted with four-wheel drive and powerful diesel engines, pick-ups could easily carry the contents of your garden shed on their large loading area at the back. Their power and grip also make them great tow cars. Double-cab models are also available if you need four or five seats.
Popular pick-ups
Pickups are the ideal car for
✔ Large luggage capacity
✔ Off-roading
✔ Towing
They are not so good for
✘ Comfort
✘ Hi-tech parts
✘ Narrow streets
Fun cars
Coupes
Style, sportiness and comfort are all meant to come together in coupes. These cars traditionally have big engines, two doors, and a swooping roof. But you can now buy four-door coupes and SUVs, with roofs that sweep down at the back, such as the BMW X4, Mercedes GLC Coupe and Audi Q5 Sportback.
Popular Coupes
Coupes are the ideal car for
✔ Looking stylish
✔ Performance and comfort
✔ Couples
They are not so good for
✘ Rear space
✘ Luggage
✘ Cost
Sports cars
Sports cars have flamboyant styling and are built with fast acceleration, speed and driving fun in mind. This, along with having only two seats, means that they are usually less comfortable and practical than a coupe. Their performance can only really be tested at a racing circuit on a track day.
Popular sports cars
Sports cars are the ideal car for
✔ Speed
✔ Fun
✔ Noise
They are not so good for
✘ More than two people
✘ Cheap motoring
✘ Shy and retiring drivers
Convertibles
Convertibles allow you to lower the roof and let in the sun and fresh air. With Britain’s weather being the way it is, these cars still remain surprisingly popular. Generally, there are two options when it comes to convertible roofs. You can choose from a heavy folding hardtop metal roof or a soft-top fabric one that’s lighter but less secure. Sportier convertibles tend to be called roadsters, but there's no actual difference between the two.
These sun-seeking models will also be branded as cabriolets, soft-tops, hardtops and spiders. No matter what you call it, though, there's little else that can match the experience of driving with the roof down.
Popular convertibles
Convertibles are the ideal car for
✔ Driving for leisure
✔ Country roads
✔ Using as a second car
They are not so good for
✘ Rainy days
✘ Cost-conscious buyers
✘ Practicality
Supercars
Big on noise, speed and power, supercars are even bigger on price. With lightweight materials and sophisticated engine parts, they can accelerate from 0-62mph in around 2-3 seconds and reach up to 200mph or more. But many owners stick to posing as they cruise around slowly in expensive parts of town.
Popular supercars
Supercars are the ideal car for
✔ Top speed
✔ Hi-tech parts
✔ Getting attention
They are not so good for
✘ Fuel economy
✘ Speed bumps
✘ Insurance costs
Hot hatches
By boosting a hatchback’s engine until it screams under the bonnet, engineers created the hot hatch, which has all the practicality of a family car and the performance to take sports cars head on. The best models have upgraded mechanical parts that make the car’s steering more fun and precise in corners, too.
Popular hot hatches
Hot hatches are the ideal car for
✔ Driving enthusiasts with a family
✔ Affordable performance
✔ Easy and affordable servicing
They are not so good for
✘ Fuel economy
✘ Comfortable ride
✘ Subtlety
4x4s
Most crossovers and SUVs never stray off-road, so they are designed to be best on tarmac. Proper 4x4 off-roaders are most at home when they are axle-deep in mud and are set up to tackle the toughest terrain. This can make them feel a bit bouncy and unsettled on the road.
Popular 4x4s
4x4s are the ideal car for
✔ Farmers
✔ Off-road enthusiasts
✔ Treacherous weather
They are not so good for
✘ Comfortable and quiet road use
✘ Fuel economy
✘ Luxury fittings
