Types of car
From city cars to large SUVs - every type of car explained
It's no wonder that choosing a car can be confusing. Manufacturers aren't just coming up with new types of car; they are calling them by different names too.
For example, estate, shooting brake, tourer and avant are basically the same shape of car - one with a big boot.
You'll find details and explanations of all of the major types of car below, along with some less common ones too, divided into categories for size and purpose.
There are also links to advice on the best models of each type of car, as well as to the latest deals. Alternatively, click below to compare price on all current cars.
Small cars
City car
Small, light and cheap, 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.
Ideal type of car for
✔ Easy parking
✔ Finance under £100/month
✔ Good fuel economy
Not so good for
✘ More than two people
✘ Luggage space
✘ Motorways
Best-selling city cars Fiat 500, Hyundai i10, VW up!
Supermini
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
Ideal type of car for
✔ Couples
✔ Second family car
✔ Value for money
Not so good for
✘ Interior space
✘ Latest technology
✘ Bulky luggage
Best-selling superminis Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa, Mini Hatchback
Small Crossover / SUV
Similar in length and width to superminis, these cars are easier to park because they are taller. This gives the driver a better view of the road, and usually means more interior space.
Ideal type of car for
✔ Visibility
✔ Ease of getting in and out
✔ Driving on rough ground
Not so good for
✘ Boot space
✘ Tough off-road conditions
✘ Driving fun
Best-selling small crossovers Nissan Juke, Audi Q2, Vauxhall Mokka
Family cars
Family hatchback
With their practical hatchback boot, these are built to do everything: the school run, shopping trips and fast motorway journeys. There’s plenty of choice: the best are spacious, economical, comfortable and fun-to-drive. Larger models are best if you’ll have adults in the back.
Also known as: sportback
Ideal type of car for
✔ Families
✔ Low-cost motoring
✔ Choice of cars
Not so good for
✘ Exciting image
✘ High seating position
✘ Latest technology
Best-selling family hatchbacks
Medium: Ford Focus, VW Golf
Large: Vauxhall Insignia, VW Passat
Family saloon
Their smaller boot is less easy to load than hatchbacks but saloon cars are often quieter and more fun to drive than hatchbacks. Many buyers think they look more stylish. Larger models are more comfortable in the back and typically come with the latest technology and options
Also known as: executive saloon
Ideal type of car for
✔ Driving enthusiasts
✔ Families
✔ Comfort
Not so good for
✘ Buyers on a budget
✘ Compact size
✘ Versatile luggage space
Best-selling family saloons
Medium: BMW 3-series, Jaguar XE
Large: Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5-series
Crossover / SUV
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 an ideal height for installing child seats,; families are increasingly buying them over hatchbacks.
Ideal type of car for
✔ Practical interior
✔ Passenger visibility
✔ Towing
Not so good for
✘ Driving fun
✘ Bargain prices
✘ Performance
Best-selling crossovers / SUVs
Medium: Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga
Large: Volvo XC90, Audi Q7
People carrier
These family-sized minibuses, 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 seven-seat versions available.
Also known as: MPV (multi-purpose vehicle)
Ideal type of car for
✔ Large families
✔ Bulky luggage (with seats folded)
✔ Value
Not so good for
✘ Style
✘ Driving fun
✘ Performance
Best-selling people carriers Citroen C4 Picasso, Ford C-Max, Vauxhall Zafira Tourer
Large cars
Luxury car
Among the most comfortable vehicles you can buy, with the latest technology and luxury fittings in the front and back for owners who like to be chauffeured.
Also known as: limousine
Ideal type of car for
✔ Smooth ride
✔ Being chauffeur driven
✔ Cutting-edge technology
Not so good for
✘ Anyone who has to ask the price
✘ Versatile luggage space
✘ Narrow roads
Best-selling luxury cars Mercedes S-Class, Audi A8, BMW 7 Series
Large SUV
With a barn-sized interior, soft, comfortable air suspension and the ability to tackle tough off-road routes, these are the ultimate in luxury, go-anywhere vehicles.
Also known as: luxury 4x4, Chelsea tractor
Ideal type of car for
✔ All-weather and surfaces
✔ Huge interior space
✔ Comfort
Not so good for
✘ Parking
✘ Price
✘ Running costs
Best-selling examples Range Rover, Mercedes GLS
Cars with extra luggage space
Estate
Add a rear extension to a family 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.
Also known as: fastback, shooting brake, touring, tourer, avant
Ideal type of car for
✔ Families
✔ Carrying flat-pack furniture
✔ Versatile interior
Not so good for
✘ Tight parking spots
✘ Very cheapest running costs
✘ Nimble driving
Best-selling estate cars Skoda Superb estate, Mazda 6 Tourer
Pick-up
Typically fitted with four wheel drive and powerful diesel engines, pick-ups can carry the contents of your garden shed on their large loading area at the back. Their power and grip also makes them great tow cars. Double-cab models have four doors for more practicality.
Ideal type of car for
✔ Big luggage capacity
✔ Off-road
✔ Towing
Not so good for
✘ Comfort
✘ High tech equipment
✘ Narrow streets
Best-selling examples Volkswagen Amarok, Nissan Navara
Fun cars
Coupe
Style, sportiness and comfort are meant to come together in coupes, which 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.
Ideal type of car for
✔ Looking stylish
✔ Performance and comfort
✔ Couples
Not so good for
✘ Rear space
✘ Luggage
✘ Cost
Best-selling examples BMW 4-series, Ford Mustang
Sportscar
Sportscars have flamboyant styling and are built with fast acceleration, speed and driving fun in mind, which usually means that they are less comfortable and practical (with only two seats) than a coupe. Their performance can only really be tested at a racing circuit on a track day.
Ideal type of car for
✔ Speed
✔ Fun
✔ Noise
Not so good for
✘ More than two people
✘ Cheap motoring
✘ Shy and retiring drivers
Best-selling examples Porsche 718 Cayman, Mercedes AMG-GT
Convertible
Also known as: cabriolet, soft-top, hardtop, spider, roadster
Ideal type of car for
✔ Sunny summer days
✔ Country roads
✔ Second car
Not so good for
✘ Rain
✘ Cost-conscious buyers
✘ Practicality
Best-selling examples Mercedes SLC, Mazda MX-5
Supercar
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 3sec and reach 200mph. But many owners stick to posing as they cruise around slowly in expensive parts of town.
Ideal type of car for
✔ Top speed
✔ Hi-tech parts
✔ Getting attention
Not so good for
✘ Fuel economy
✘ Speed bumps
✘ Insurance costs
Best-selling supercars Porsche 911 Turbo, Ferrari 488 GTB
Hot hatch
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 performance to rival a Porsche. The best models have upgraded mechanical parts that make the car’s steering more fun and precise in corners.
Ideal type of car for
✔ Driving enthusiasts with a family
✔ Affordable performance
✔ Easy servicing at main dealers
Not so good for
✘ Fuel economy
✘ Comfortable ride
✘ Distinctive interior
Best-selling hot hatches Renaultsport Megane, Ford Focus RS
4x4
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.
Ideal type of car for
✔ Farmers
✔ Off-road enthusiasts
✔ Treacherous weather
Not so good for
✘ Comfortable and quiet road use
✘ Fuel economy
✘ Luxury fittings
Best-selling 4x4s Jeep Wrangler, Mitsubishi Shogun
FAQs
What is a hatchback?
Lift the bootlid 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. You can access the interior of the car from the boot, it counts as an extra door, which is why hatchbacks are described as three- or five-door vehicles. More details
What is a saloon?
The boot in saloon cars is separate to the rest of the interior. With a smaller opening and less luggage space, saloon cars are less practical than hatchbacks, but often quieter, and sturdier, which can make the car slightly more precise and fun to drive. Some have a slot in the seats so skis or flat-pack furniture can fit, partly poking out into the interior. More details
What is a crossover?
This usually describes a vehicle with the mechanical parts from a traditional car (like a supermini or family car), which makes them economical and comfortable to drive, crossed with the high driving position and practicality of an off-roader. More details
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. More details
What is a 3-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. More details
What is a 5 door car? This is a hatchback with four side doors for front and rear passengers. The bootlid counts as the fifth door. More details
What is a 4 door car? These are saloon cars, which have boots that are entirely separate from the interior. This means that only the side doors - for front and rear passengers - are counted.
