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29 Types of Cars: Different Vehicle

Body Styles With Pictures
 By Magnus Sellén
 Updated: March 21, 2024
If you’re a car owner, then you’ve probably given some
thought to the different types of cars out there. Each one has
its own unique set of features and benefits, so it can be tough
to decide which one is right for you.
Before you buy a new car, you must first identify your specific
needs such as luggage space, number of passengers, engine
size, and fuel efficiency.
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The automotive industry is an ever-changing world, with new

types of cars on the market every year. Technological
innovations by the automakers have led to several new car
types that did not exist a few years ago, and nowadays there
are far over twenty different types of cars on the market.
In this post, we’ll break down the 29 most common types of
cars, along with information about each one. So whether
you’re in the market for a new vehicle or just curious about
what’s out there, keep reading!

1. Sedan

The most common car type is the sedan. A sedan is a four-

door car type with a traditional trunk. The difference between
a hatchback and a sedan is that the rear luggage
compartment door does not include the rear window and the
door hinges are installed under the window.
Sedan cars have quite limited space in the trunk, but they
often have a rather sporty look if you are looking for it. The
sedan is available in many different variants. Here are some
examples:

 Subcompact: Nissan Versa, Kia Rio

 Compact: Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic
 Mid-size: Nissan Altima, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry
 Full-size: Dodge Charger, Toyota Avalon

2. Crossover (CUV)

A crossover is often confused with an SUV. A crossover often

comes as two-wheel drive, but it can also come with 4-wheel
drive. It is basically an off-road car chassis, but built more for
city traffic.
An important differentiating factor is the chassis – the
crossover uses a lighter monocoque chassis while the SUV
uses a ladder frame chassis. Basically, it means that a CUV
shares the frame of a car, and the SUV shares the frame of a
truck. It can often be called a mix of an SUV and a hatchback.
Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica are two good examples
of CUVs.

3. Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs)

Another type that climbs this list of car types is the SUV,
which is becoming more and more popular. The SUV is a
large car that can often carry five to seven passengers with
three rows of seats. They are basically the same as a
crossover, except that they are built on a body-on-frame
chassis. They often have 4wd and good terrain capability.
They often come with the latest electronics and are very
comfortable to ride in. They also often come with off-road
accessories such as improved suspension and large wheels.
You can have SUVs in different sizes – compact, medium and
full size. A good example of an SUV is the Range Rover, Jeep
Cherokee and Suzuki Vitara.

4. Hatchback

A Hatchback car is basically a mix of a sedan and a station

wagon. They often come as a 5-door set and have a hatch
that opens upwards. Like the station wagon, a hatchback has
door hinges above the rear window.
The difference between a station wagon and a hatchback is
often the size, and that the station wagon often has a much
steeper angle on the tailgate. Volkswagen Golf and Kia Rio
are two common hatchback models. You can also find some
hatchbacks with high performance, called hot hatch.
Nowadays there are also larger luxury vehicles categorized
as hatchbacks with a steeply sloping tailgate like Audi A7, Kia
Stinger, and Tesla Model S.

5. Station Wagon

A wagon is quite similar to a sedan, but with an extended

roofline with a hatch door instead of a trunk. Station cars are
often the perfect choice for families and long car journeys
due to the larger cargo space than the sedan.
The station wagons also sometimes come with increased
ground clearance and four-wheel drive, which makes them
quite similar to SUVs. Station wagon popularity has declined
in the United States in recent years and is more common in
Europe.
Some common station wagon models are BMW 5-series, Audi
A4 or A6, Volvo V90, and Subaru Outback.
6. Coupe

The coupe is a two-door car, very similar to the sedan but

with two doors instead of four. Coupé cars often have a rear
seat for two or three more passengers, but you often have to
fold down one of the front seats to get there. Coupé cars are
often quite more towards the sporty look.
Ford Mustang, Audi A5, Chevrolet Corvette, and Porsche
Boxter are some common coupe models.

7. Pickup Truck
Pickup trucks have become very common in recent years. A
pickup has an enclosed cab with an open cargo area. They
can either have space for two passengers or four. Pickup
trucks have the cabin mounted on a separate steel frame,
with one exception – Honda Ridgeline.
Pickups are ideal for farmers and transport due to their large
cargo areas and the powerful engines that can tow heavy
equipment. Most pickup trucks are four-wheel drive or part-
time four-wheel drive. However, there are also many models
with the option of only 2WD.
Pickup trucks come in two size categories: full-size and mid-
size, and there are often many options to choose from, like
extended cab, single cab or crew cab. Toyota Hilux, Nissan
Navara, Chevrolet Silverado and Dodge F150 are some
common pickup trucks.
RELATED: Extended Cab vs. Crew Cab Pickup Truck –
Differences

8. Minivan (MPV)

The minivan or multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) is a van, but

instead of cargo space, it has passenger seats. It often has 7
or 8 passenger seats, making it perfect for larger families or
being used as a taxi.
It is often designed for a very large cabin space rather than a
large cargo space. They often have a sliding door on one or
both sides of the car. The Honda Odyssey and Chrysler
Pacifica are two great examples of Minivans.

9. Roadster

A roadster car is basically a convertible car, but with two

doors, and it usually has no rear seat. They are therefore
good for only two people. When it comes to size, they are
often very small, with limited cargo space.
They often have a sporty look and are perfect for those who
like to enjoy an ice cream in sunny weather with their friend
or fiancée. The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, Mercedes-Benz SLC
and Jaguar F-Type Roadster are a few of the common
roadster models on the market.

10. Van

A Van is a two- or three-seater car model that is often used to

transport goods. They often have a sealed cab from the cargo
area, and they often have no windows to the cargo area, but
some models have glass windows at the rear doors.
They are the perfect choice for transporting goods, usually
with a very high load capacity of over a ton. Volkswagen
Transporter, Chevrolet Van or GMC Vandura are some
common van models.

11. Sports Cars

A sports car is anything that looks sporty to you, and it can

be a roadster, coupe, or even a sedan. Sports cars are quite
similar to the supercar, because a supercar can also be a
sports car, but the difference is often that the sports car is a
step below the supercar regarding performance and price.
They are often much cheaper than supercars and usually
have poorer performance. Sports cars usually have good
handling with good road capabilities and a fairly powerful
engine to be able to both drive on the streets and take it to
the track if you feel like it. Sports cars are often convertible,
but not necessarily. Porsche 911, Mazda MX-5, and BMW M3
could be categorized as sports cars.
RELATED: 15 Best Sports Cars Under $50k

12. Supercar

The supercar is a high-performance car, usually with a very

powerful and large engine. Most supercars are two-seater
and at the same time very expensive – some are going for as
high as one million dollars.
Most supercars have a V8 or V12 engine while generating
over 500 hp. Depending on the model, the supercar often
comes as a convertible. The cargo space in supercars is
usually very limited or even non-existent. McLaren 720S,
Lamborghini Huracán and Lamborghini Aventador are some
common supercars.

13. Luxury Cars

A luxury car is exactly what it sounds like – luxury. They are

often very expensive, and have all the latest features for a
comfortable ride. They often have a very powerful engine,
but are not very fast in curves and on racetracks. This is
because they often have so many features for comfort, so
they are usually very heavy.
A luxury car can also be a supercar or sports car and the
definition is often referred to as very expensive cars with
great comfort. Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari Portofino and
Rolls-Royce are some typical luxury cars.

14. Convertible / Cabriolet

The convertible or cabriolet car models come with a

retractable roof. They are the perfect choice for a hot
summer day when you are going on holiday to the beach.
Most convertible cars have an automatic system to retrace
the fabric rooftop, but on some older models, you had to do
this manually. Some models even have a retractable hardtop,
which makes them look like normal cars when the rooftop is
closed.
They can both be two-seaters or four-seaters and they can
basically be any car model with a retractable roof, while the
roadster is often its own car type. Sports cars are often
available as a convertible type option. BMW Z4, Fiat 500, and
Chevrolet are some of the many different car models with a
convertible option.

15. Muscle Cars

Muscle cars are cars with large muscles under the hood.
Muscle cars are often older American cars with very large and
powerful v8 or v10 engines, but muscle cars are also
available as modern cars. Muscle cars are usually not that
fast on racetracks around corners, but when they drive in a
straight line, like drag racing, not many other cars can beat
them.
Ford Mustang, Pontiac GTO, and Dodge challenger are some
car models referred to as muscle cars.

16. Microcar

The microcar or minicar is a small car that often comes with

an engine size of less than a liter. They are available in
various unusual designs and are ideal for city traffic due to
their fuel efficiency and easy parking.
The microcar is usually a two-passenger vehicle. Examples of
microcars include bicycle cars, bubble cars and the Tata Nano
car. Modern microcars are often electric. The disadvantage of
the microcar is the almost non-existent cargo space in most
models.

17. Camper Van

A camper van is often a truck chassis that has been rebuilt

for camping, and they often have a kitchen, toilet, and other
necessary accessories for a perfect camping trip. For
example, a motorhome can also refer to a minivan that has
been rebuilt for camping, such as a Volkswagen transporter.
However, many camper vans are built this way directly from
the manufacturer, and examples of some of these models
include Fiat Ducato, Winnebago Revel, and Nomad Vanz
Sprinter.

18. Mini Truck

A mini truck is exactly what it sounds like – a small truck, and
it’s a mix of a pickup and a truck. They often have two or
three seats and open cargo space but can also come with
closed cargo space.
They are often built on a truck chassis and are often quite
strongly built for heavy-duty transportation of goods. Nissan
clipper, Suzuki carry and Mazda scrum are some of the mini-
truck models.

19. Limousine
A limousine is a stretched car that is often used by celebrities
and pop stars. It has an elongated base and can be rebuilt
from different car models.
They are often not created like this directly in the factories
but are rebuilt after they have left the factory, often by
special companies. However, some luxury car models with a
slightly longer wheelbase than usual are also called a
limousine, even if they may look like a normal car to you.
Chrysler 300, Hummer, and Mercedes Benz S are often
rebuilt to a limousine.

20. Truck
In the last place on the list, you will find the truck. Although
they are not really a car type, they can come in many forms
and are still a vehicle type, so we wanted to include it.
Most people know what a truck is. It is a two- or three-seater
vehicle type, sometimes equipped with a bed behind the
seats. It has a very large cargo space, and is mainly used to
transport goods by companies. Volvo, Mercedes Benz, Scania,
and DAF are some of the most common truck manufacturing
companies.
We have now gone through the most common car types that
you will see on various websites when you are buying or
selling a car. However, cars can be divided into many smaller
car type categories as well, so here we go through ten less
common car types that are worth mentioning.

21. Hot Hatch

A hot hatch car is very similar to a hatchback car, which we

talked about earlier in the article. However, a hot hatch is a
hatchback that has been modified to improve performance
and is generally a little more “sporty”.
In most cases, this means adding a more powerful engine
and enhancing the suspension and brakes from the factory.
Hot hatches are usually designed with an emphasis on driving
fun, making them popular choices for weekend track days or
just spirited driving on twisty roads.

22. Ute
Utes are popular in Australia and New Zealand, where they
are often used as work vehicles. Ute is short for “coupé
utility” or “utility”. Ute is a regular car that has been modified
with a cargo bed in the back, instead of passenger seats. This
makes it perfect for carrying large objects, such as timber or
building materials.
The difference between a pickup truck and an Ute is the
chassis. A pickup truck is built on a pickup truck chassis,
while a Ute is built on a regular car chassis. This also makes it
somewhat weaker with a smaller cargo space than a truck.

23. Pony Car

The term “pony car” is used to describe a class of old
compact, usually affordable coupes or convertibles. The
origin of the term is believed to come from either the Ford
Mustang or the Plymouth Barracuda, both of which were
introduced in 1964.
Pony cars typically have a long hood and short rear deck, and
they are often designed to look sporty and stylish with a high-
performance engine.

24. Military Vehicle

A military vehicle is exactly what it sounds like: a vehicle that
is designed for or has been adapted to be used by the
military. This includes tanks, armored personnel carriers,
artillery, and other types of vehicles used by the military.
These can either be built like this straight from the factory, or
be a modified car, depending on which military vehicle it is.
Different militaries have different types of vehicles depending
on their needs, but all share the common goal of giving
soldiers the best possible tools for safety and efficiency.

25. Dragster

A dragster is built to compete in drag racing. A typical drag

race is a race in a straight line from one end of a track to
another, and the goal is to reach the finish line first. To
achieve this, dragsters rely on their incredible speed and
acceleration, which is why some dragster cars have over
8,000 horsepower.
The term dragster can also be used for regular cars that are
modified to perform well in drag racing, but is most often
used to describe real dragsters like the one pictured above.

26. Grand Tourer

A grand tourer is typically a high-performance luxury car
designed for long-distance driving. The term “grand tourer”
or just “GT” is sometimes used to describe just a high-
performance sports car, but the typical grand tourer is larger
and more comfortable than a sports car.
A grand tourer usually has two seats but can also have 2+2
seats, and it usually has a powerful engine and a
sophisticated suspension system that allows it to handle
curves with ease.

27. Shooting Brake

A shooting brake car is a body style that was originally

developed as a horse-drawn wagon. It’s a two-door wagon
design with a large cargo area and an optional rear seat. The
name “shooting brake” comes from the idea that the car
could be used to transport hunter equipment.
You may also have seen the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting
brake, and this car is actually misnamed. It is not a shooting
brake, because it has four doors instead of two.

28. Hot Rod

A hot rod is all about engine performance, style and attitude.
In short, it’s a classic American car that has been modified to
increase its performance. This can include modifications to
the engine, suspension, and other parts of the car.
Hot rods are usually old-school cars like muscle cars or
classic cars. Most hot rods are based on the same types of
cars to give them that classic hot rod look, but really, almost
any old car can be turned into a hot rod with the right
modifications.

29. Low Rider

A low-rider car can basically be any type of lowered car, but

is often referred to old American lowered cars with air
suspension. This is often done by modifying or replacing the
suspension, springs, and shock absorbers on the car.
Low-rider cars are often considered to be style cars, and they
are popular among people who like to customize and modify
their cars.