From the SUVs filled with soccer kids to sports cars filled with middle-aged men trying to cling to any sense of youth, there are many different types of cars.
Knowing about all the different types of cars will help you when you are thinking about buying a new vehicle or just want to sound like you know what you’re talking about.
If you start digging into the weeds of all the subcategories of cars, you’ll be reading for days.
We’re going to stick with the major types of cars here. Keep reading to learn about all the different types of cars you see on the road every day.
Sedan
A sedan is a type of car, typically with four doors and seating for up to five people.
Sedans are typically larger than hatchbacks or coupes and offer more interior space for passengers and luggage.
They have a rear trunk area that is closed off from the cabin area of the car. Sedans are probably exactly what comes to mind when you think about a typical everyday car.
Some examples of popular sedans include the Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Jetta, and Nissan Sentra.
Coupe
If sedans have a smaller sibling, it’d be the coupe.
Coupes are a lot like sedans but with two doors rather than four. They usually offer seating for up to four people and don’t have as much room for luggage or cargo.
They often handle better than sedans due to their smaller size, but they also tend to be less practical overall if you plan to have more than one passenger regularly in your car—it can be hard to have to squeeze behind the front seat to get to the back seat.
Some popular couples include the Mazda Miata, Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, and BMW 4 Series.
Hatchback
Hatchbacks are a great alternative to sedans if you need something with more cargo space.
They offer two to four doors and plenty of interior room, plus a hatchback for easy access to the trunk area.
The only real downside is that it’s hard to hide anything in your trunk as it’s not closed off to the main cabin.
Some popular hatchbacks include the Honda Civic, Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Corolla, and Mazda3.
SUV
The SUV is a type of car that offers the practicality of a sedan but with the off-road capability of a truck or van.
SUVs have higher ground clearance than sedans and are often used for towing and hauling. They also offer more interior space due to their boxy shape and can typically fit up to six or seven people in the cabin.
Some popular SUVs include the Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Honda CR-V.
Crossover SUV
A crossover SUV is a type of car that blends the features of a sedan and an SUV together.
They are basically SUVs built on sedan chassis. They are typically more fuel-efficient than traditional SUVs, but still offer plenty of interior space for passengers and cargo. Crossovers usually have higher ground clearance than sedans but aren’t as rugged or capable off-road as traditional SUVs.
Some popular crossover SUVs include the Hyundai Santa Fe, Nissan Rogue, Kia Sorento, and Ford Escape.
Station Wagon
The station wagon was the crossover SUV and hatchback before they ever existed. Station wagons are a great way to get the cargo space of an SUV without sacrificing on style.
They typically offer four doors and plenty of interior room, plus a large hatchback for easy access to the trunk area.
Some popular station wagons include the Volvo V60, Subaru Outback, Audi A4 Allroad, and Volkswagen Golf Alltrack.
Minivan
The ultimate family car! Minivans offer plenty of interior space for up to seven or eight people and lots of cargo room.
They are also typically equipped with sliding doors for easy access to the back seats, making them great for carpooling or shuttling the kids around.
Some popular minivans include the Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Pacifica, Toyota Sienna, and Kia Sedona.
Van
Not just the bigger version of the minivan, or is it?
Vans have traditionally been used for business and commercial purposes, but they can also be great family vehicles.
They offer plenty of interior space and usually come with rear seats that can be folded flat to create more cargo space.
Some popular vans include the Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, RAM ProMaster, and Nissan NV.
Pickup Truck
A pickup truck is what you buy when you’re cool with having all your friends ask you to help them move things.
Or more formally, pickup trucks are designed to be used for hauling and towing.
They offer a large cargo bed in the back and a decent amount of interior space. Pickups are typically rear-wheel drive and have powerful engines so they can do the heavy lifting when needed.
Some popular pickup trucks include the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, Toyota Tacoma, and RAM 1500.
Sports Car
Sports cars are designed for performance—they typically offer powerful engines and precise handling.
They usually have two doors and seating for up to four people, though there are some four-door sports cars out there as well.
Sports cars aren’t known for their practicality or fuel efficiency, but they do offer exciting performance capabilities.
Some popular sports cars include the Porsche 911, Ford Mustang, and Chevrolet Corvette.
Supercar
Supercars are the ultimate in performance.
They offer powerful engines and precise handling, but with a hefty price tag to match.
Supercars usually seat two people and don’t have much room for cargo or passengers. But if you’re looking for speed and luxury, these cars won’t disappoint.
Some popular supercars include the Ferrari F8 Tributo, Lamborghini Huracán, McLaren 720S and the Bugatti Chiron.
Convertible
Convertibles are the perfect blend of style and practicality.
They offer a convertible top that can be lowered, allowing you to enjoy the sun and fresh air while still having a car with four doors and some cargo space.
Convertibles usually have seating for up to four people, though it may be tight in the back seat depending on the model.
Some popular convertibles include the BMW 4 Series, Ford Mustang, Audi A5, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Electric Car
Electric cars are becoming more popular as the technology gets better and more affordable.
They offer zero-emissions driving with a range of anywhere from 60 to 300 miles depending on the model.
Electric cars are usually smaller in size, but some offer four doors and plenty of interior space.
Some popular electric cars include the Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Bolt EV, and Kia Niro EV.
Hybrid Cars
Hybrids combine the power of a gas engine with an electric motor to offer better fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
Hybrids usually have seating for five people and plenty of interior space, making them a great option if you’re looking for something more efficient.
Some popular hybrid cars include the Honda Insight, Toyota Prius, Ford Fusion Hybrid, and Hyundai Ioniq.