Classification of cars by their class in Europe
All cars are placed in a certain class, depending on their external dimensions, price, and the displacement and power of the engine under their hood. The most important parameter is the length of the car and the wheelbase of its axles.
Classification of cars by class can also be influenced by the manufacturer, who can prioritize or choose the class in which the car will be classified. There are several differences between the individual countries of the European Union in the classification of cars into certain classes.
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These differences are very small, and in most cases, the classification of a certain car in a given class is the same in all EU countries. We can find much greater differences if we look and compare the classification of cars between the European Union, the United States of America, and Great Britain.
Mini
The mini-class is also referred to as segment A. Also, the smallest class is a category of cars whose typical body is a 3-door hatchback. However, some car manufacturers also offer convertible and roadster models. Mini-class cars usually have an engine displacement equal to or less than 1.2 liters, and their length usually does not exceed 3700 mm.
Typical representatives of the mini-class are:
Citroën C1, VW up, Ford Ka, Škoda Citigo, Kia Picanto, Peugeot 107, Smart ForTwo, Toyota Aygo, Renault Twingo and others...
Lower class
The lower class, also referred to as the B segment, is a category of cars that are very popular in Europe regarding sales. The typical body of these cars is a hatchback, but some car manufacturers also offer MPV, roadster, or convertible bodies.
Lower-class cars usually have an engine displacement between 1.2 and 2.0 liters, and their length usually does not exceed 4200 mm.
Typical representatives of the lower class are:
Škoda Fabia, Seat Ibiza, VW Polo, Peugeot 206, Kia Rio, Ford Fiesta, Fiat Punto, Renault Clio, Citroen C3, and others...
Lower middle class
The lower middle class, also called the C segment, is the car category that is best-selling in European countries. The typical car bodies of the lower middle class are hatchbacks, liftbacks, station wagons, and sedans.
However, some car manufacturers also offer MPV, convertibles, and roadsters in this class. Cars of the lower middle class usually have a length of 4100 to 4600 mm. The engines under the hood of these cars usually have an engine displacement from 1.2 liters to 2.0 liters.
Typical representatives of the lower middle class are:
Alfa Romeo 147, Citroën C4, Honda Civic, VW Golf, Škoda Rapid, Škoda Octavia, Fiat Bravo, Seat Leon, Peugeot 308, Renault Megane, Opel Astra and others...
Middle class
The middle class, also called the D segment, is a category of cars between the lower and upper middle classes. Usually, this includes larger family cars with sedans, station wagons, and liftback bodies.
Cars of this class usually have a length from 4500 to 4900 mm. The engines under the hood of these cars usually have a displacement ranging from 1.6 to 3.5 liters.
Typical representatives of the middle class are:
Alfa Romeo 159, Volkswagen Passat, Škoda Superb, BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Ford Mondeo, Citroen C5, Renault Laguna, Peugeot 508, Opel Vectra, Kia Optima and others...
Upper middle class
The upper middle class, referred to as the E segment, is a car category between the middle class and luxury cars. These cars are produced mainly in sedan, liftback, and station wagon bodies.
Cars of this category usually have a length of 4700 to 5000 mm, and under their hood, there are engines with a displacement of 2.0 liters and more.
Typical representatives of the upper middle class are:
Audi A6, Alfa Romeo 166, BMW 5 Series, Citroën C6, Opel Omega, Peugeot 607, and more...
Luxury class
The luxury class, also referred to as the F segment, is a class of passenger cars larger than the upper middle class. They are sedans and limousines that provide great comfort even in the back seats.
Cars of this class are usually longer than 5000 mm, and engine displacements from 3.0 liters and more are most often hidden under the hood of these cars.
Typical representatives of the luxury class are:
BMW series 7, Volkswagen Phaeton, Audi A8, Mercedes-Benz S-class, and more...
Sports car class
The class of sports cars is also referred to as the G segment. It is a category of cars with high performance, reaching high speed. Some cars of this class are just modified ordinary vehicles. Others are built as sports cars from the beginning.
Typical representatives of the class of sports cars are:
Porsche 911, Toyota Supra, BMW 8 series, Alfa Romeo 4c, Subaru Impreza WRX, Ford Mustang, and more...
Super sports cars
A super sports car or supercar is usually a very luxurious car, the performance of which is much higher than that of current sports cars. It is an expensive, fast, and powerful car that can take many forms.
Typical representatives of super sportsmen are:
Aston Martin DB11, Ferrari Enzo, Ferrari LaFerrari, Zonda Pagani, Lamborghini Huracan, Lamborghini Aventador, Bugatti Veyron, Bugatti Chiron, Koenigsegg CCXR, Pagani Huayra, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Porsche Carrera GT and others...