Euro Car Segment

Vehicle segments for cars in Europe do not have formal characterization or regulations. Models segments tend to be based on comparison to well-known brand models. For example, a car such as the Volkswagen Golf might be described as being in the Ford Focus size class, or vice versa. The VW Polo is smaller, so it belongs one segment below the Golf, while the bigger Passat is one segment above.

The segments have been defined in the past by the European Commission:^[1]

• A: mini cars
• B: small cars or Supermini
• C: medium cars
• D: large cars
• E: executive cars
• F: luxury cars
• S: sport coupés
• M: multi purpose cars
• J: sport utility cars (including off-road vehicles)

These are different to the classifications used by the Europe-wide safety assessment programme Euro NCAP.

Compare with other car classification

Vehicle Classification
Not Well Defined / Vernacular			Defined by Law or Regulation				Examples
Market Segment (American English)	Market Segment (British English)	Market Segment (Australian English)[2]	US EPA Size Class[3]	Euro NCAP Structural Category[4]	Euro NCAP Class (1997 - 2009)	Euro Market Segment[5]
Microcar	Microcar, Bubble car	N/A	N/A	—	Quadricycle	A-segment mini cars	Bond Bug, Isetta, Mega City, Renault Twizy, REVAi/G-Wiz
Subcompact car Economy Car	City car	Microcar	Minicompact	Passenger car	Supermini		Fiat 500, Hyundai Eon, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Peugeot 108, Renault Twingo, Smart Fortwo, Toyota Aygo
	Supermini	Light Car	Subcompact			B-segment small cars	Ford Fiesta, Kia Rio, Opel Corsa, Peugeot 208, Renault Zoe, Volkswagen Polo
Compact car	Small family car	Small Car	Compact		Small family car	C-segment medium cars	Hyundai Elantra, Honda Civic, Mazda3, Peugeot 308, Renault Mégane, Toyota Corolla
Mid-size car	Large family car	Medium Car	Mid-size		Large family car	D-segment large cars	Chevrolet Malibu, Chrysler 200, Ford Fusion, Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen Passat
Entry-level luxury car	Compact executive car	Medium Car above $60,000	N/A				Acura TLX, DS DS4, Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Full-size car	Executive car	Large Car	Large		Executive	E-segment executive cars	Chevrolet Impala, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Grandeur, Holden Commodore, Toyota Avalon
Mid-size luxury car		Large Car above $70,000	N/A				Cadillac CTS, Chrysler 300, Jaguar XF, Lincoln MKZ, Volvo S80
Full-size luxury car	Luxury car	Upper Large Car above $100,000	N/A		—	F-segment luxury cars	BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Porsche Panamera, Tesla Model S
Grand tourer	Grand tourer	Sports Car	N/A		—	S-segment sports coupés	Aston Martin DB9, Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari FF, Jaguar XK, Maserati GranTurismo
Supercar	Supercar		N/A		—		Bugatti Veyron, LaFerrari, Lamborghini Aventador, Pagani Zonda
Convertible	Convertible		N/A		—		BMW 6 Series, Chevrolet Camaro, Mercedes CLK, Volvo C70, Volkswagen Eos
Roadster	Roadster		Two-seater		Roadster sports		BMW Z4, Lotus Elise, Mazda MX-5, Porsche Boxster, Mercedes-Benz SLK
—	Mini MPV	N/A	Minivan	MPV	Small MPV	M-segment multi purpose cars	Citroen C3 Picasso, Ford B-Max, Opel Meriva, Renault Kangoo, Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan
MPV	Compact MPV	People Mover					Chevrolet Orlando, Ford C-Max, Opel Zafira, Renault Scenic, Volkswagen Touran
Minivan	Large MPV				Large MPV		Chrysler Town and Country, Kia Carnival, Citroën C4 Grand Picasso, Renault Espace, Toyota Sienna
Cargo van	Van	Van	Cargo van		—		Chevrolet Express 1500 Cargo, Fiat Ducato/Ram ProMaster, Ford Transit, Renault Master, Volkswagen Transporter
Passenger van	Minibus	People Mover	Passenger van		—		Chevrolet Express 1500 Passenger, Ford E350 Wagon, Mercedes-Benz Viano, Volkswagen Multivan
Mini SUV	Mini 4x4	Small SUV	Small Sport Utility Vehicle	Off-roader	Small Off-Road 4x4	J-segment sport utility cars (including off-road vehicles)	Daihatsu Terios, Ford Ecosport, Jeep Wrangler, Peugeot 2008, Suzuki Jimny
Compact SUV	Compact SUV	Medium SUV					Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Jeep Compass, Kia Sportage
Mid-size SUV	Large 4x4	Large SUV	Standard Sport Utility Vehicle		Large Off-Road 4x4		Audi Q5, Ford Edge, Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Cherokee, Volkswagen Touareg
Full-size		Upper Large SUV					Cadillac Escalade, Ford Explorer, Range Rover, Toyota Land Cruiser, Volvo XC90
Mini pickup truck	Pick-up	Ute	Small Pickup Truck	Pickup	Pick-up	—	Chevrolet Montana, Fiat Strada, Renault Duster Oroch, Volkswagen Saveiro
Mid-size pickup truck							Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, Mitsubishi Triton/L200, Nissan Navara, Toyota Hilux
Full-size pickup truck		Pickup Truck	Standard pickup truck				Dodge Ram, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra, Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra
Heavy Duty pickup truck							Chevrolet Silverado HD, Ram Heavy Duty, Ford Super Duty
Special purpose vehicle	—	Limousine	Special purpose vehicle	—	—	—	Lincoln MKT Livery

See also

• ACRISS Car Classification Code
• Car body style
• Truck classification
• Vehicle size class

References

1. European Commission classification
2. Alborz, Fallah. "New Car Sales Figures June 2015". Car Advice. Car Advice. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
3. 40 C.F.R. 600 Subpart D §315-08
4. NCAP Comparable cars
5. Case No COMP/M.1406 - Hyundai / Kia: Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 Merger Procedure: Article 6(1)(b) Non-opposition Date: 17/03/1999