Vehicle size classes are series of ratings assigned to different segments of automotive vehicles for the purposes of vehicle emissions control and fuel economy calculation. Various methods are used to classify vehicles; in North America, passenger vehicles are classified by total interior capacity while trucks are classified by gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Vehicle segments in the European Union use linear measurements to describe size. Asian vehicle classifications are a combination of dimensions and engine displacement.

North America United States

Vehicle classifications of four government agencies are in use in the United States: the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA as part of their NCAP program), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the U.S. Census Bureau. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also has its own vehicle classification system that is used by most vehicle insurance companies in the U.S.

EPA EPA size classes are defined in Federal Regulation, Title 40—Protection of Environment, Section 600.315-08 "Classes of comparable automobiles". This information is repeated in the Fuel Economy Guide. Passenger car classes are defined based on interior volume index (the combined passenger and cargo volume) and are as follows.

+ Vehicle size classes by U.S. Fuel Economy Guide for sedans Class Interior combined passenger and cargo volume index Minicompact < Subcompact Compact Mid-size Large ≥

+ Vehicle size classes by U.S. Fuel Economy Guide for station wagons Class Interior volume index Small < Midsize Large ≥

Trucks classes are defined by gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). The administrator classifies light trucks (nonpassenger automobiles) into the following classes: Small pickup trucks, standard pickup trucks, vans, minivans, and SUVs. Starting in the 2013 model year, SUVs are divided between small sport utility vehicles and standard sport utility vehicles. Pickup trucks and SUVs are separated by car line on the basis of gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). For a product line with more than one GVWR, the characteristic GVWR value for the product line is established by calculating the arithmetic average of all distinct GVWR values less than or equal to 8,500 pounds available for that product line.

+ Vehicle size classes by U.S. Fuel Economy Guide for trucks Class GVWR Pickup trucks Small < Standard Vans Passenger < Cargo < Minivans < Sport utility vehicles Small < Standard Special purpose vehicles <

Special purpose vehicles. All automobiles with GVWR less than or equal to 8,500 pounds and all medium-duty passenger vehicles which possess special features and which the administrator determines are more appropriately classified separately from typical automobiles.

NHTSA Unlike the EPA, which groups automobiles by interior volume, the NHTSA groups cars for NCAP testing by weight class.

+ Vehicle size classes by NHTSA ClassPassenger cars mini (PC/Mi) (1,500–1,999 lbs.)Passenger cars light (PC/L) (2,000–2,499 lbs.)Passenger cars compact (PC/C) (2,500–2,999 lbs.)Passenger cars medium (PC/Me) (3,000–3,499 lbs.)Passenger cars heavy (PC/H) (3,500 lbs. and over )Sport utility vehicles (SUV)Pickup trucks (PU) Vans (VAN)

FHWA Developed in the 1980s, the Federal Highway Administration 13-category classification rule set is currently used for most federal reporting requirements and that serves as the basis for most state vehicle classification systems.

+ FHWA vehicle classification definitionsClass groupClass definitionClass includesNumber of axles 1 Motorcycles Motorcycles 2 2 Passenger cars All cars Cars with one-axle trailersCars with two-axle trailers 2, 3, or 4 3 Other two-axle four-tire single-unit vehicles Pick-ups and vansPick-ups and vans with one- and two- axle trailers 2, 3 4 Buses Two- and three-axle buses 2 or 3 5 Two-axle, six-tire, single-unit trucks Two-axle trucks 2 6 Three-axle single-unit trucks Three-axle trucksThree-axle tractors without trailers 3 7 Four or more axle single-unit trucks Four-, five-, six- and seven-axle single-unit trucks 4 or more 8 Four or fewer axle single-trailer trucks Two-axle trucks pulling one- and two-axle trailersTwo-axle tractors pulling one- and two-axle trailersThree-axle tractors pulling one-axle trailers 3 or 4 9 Five-axle single-trailer trucks Two-axle tractors pulling three-axle trailersThree-axle tractors pulling two-axle trailersThree-axle trucks pulling two-axle trailers 5 10 Six or more axle single-trailer trucks Multiple configurations 6 or more 11 Five or fewer axle multi-trailer trucks Multiple configurations 4 or 5 12 Six-axle multi-trailer trucks Multiple configurations 6 13 Seven or more axle multi-trailer trucks Multiple configurations 7 or more 14 Unused ---- ---- 15 Unclassified vehicle Multiple configurations 2 or more

U.S. Census Bureau The Census Bureau surveys the United States truck population. Large truck owners (NHTSA classes 4–13) are given a standard survey, and small truck (pickups, vans, minivans, and sport utility vehicles) owners (NHTSA class 3) are given a short survey. In the United States the government agencies consider all pickups, vans, minivans, and sport utility vehicles to be trucks for regulatory purposes, no matter what construction method is used, either unibody or body on frame. Coupe utilities are considered pickup trucks in the U.S., not cars. SUVs are always considered trucks, although there are some CUVs with low ground clearance which are considered station wagon or hatchback cars for regulatory purposes.

IIHS The Insurance Institute has its own crash test program and groups cars by curb weight and shadow into six classes, micro, mini, small, midsize, large and very large.

+ IIHS passenger car size classes.Curb weight (pounds)Shadow <70 sq ftShadow 70–79 sq ftShadow 80–89 sq ftShadow 90–99 sq ftShadow 100–109 sq ftShadow 110+ sq ft 4,000+ - - midsize large very large very large 3,500 - 3,999 - small midsize large large very large 3,000 - 3,499 - small midsize midsize large 2,500 - 2,999 - small small midsize 2,000 - 2,499 - mini small <2,000 micro

Canada Cars are divided into six classes based on interior volume, as shown in the table below. These classes are not defined in Canadian regulations, but by the Fuel Consumption Guide published by Natural Resources Canada. An interior volume index is calculated from the combined passenger and trunk or cargo space. Pickup trucks, special purpose vehicles and vans are segmented in their own respective classes. As most Canadian cars share designs with American cars, Canada's classifications closely mirror those of the United States.

Class Interior size in litres (cubic feet) Two-seater (Undefined) Subcompact car Under 2,830 (99.9) Compact car 2,830–3,115 (99.9–110) Mid-size car 3,115–3,400 (110–120) Full-size car Over 3,400 (120)

Vehicle classes for trucks are listed in On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations (SOR/2003-2), published in Canada Gazette Part 2, Vol. 137 No. 1.

Class GVWR in kg (pounds) Curb weight in kg (pounds) Frontal area in m2 (square feet) Light light-duty truck 2,722 (6,000) or under 2,722 (6,000) or under Max 4.2 (45.2) Light-duty truck 3,856 (8,500) or under 2,722 (6,000) or under Max 4.2 (45.2) Heavy light-duty truck Over 2,722–3,856 (6,000–8,500) 2,722 (6,000) or under Max 4.2 (45.2) Heavy-duty vehicle Over 3,856 (8,500) Over 2,722 (6,000) Over 4.2 (45.2) Medium-duty passenger vehicle Same as heavy-duty vehicle Under 4,536 (10,000) Same as heavy-duty vehicle

Medium-duty passenger vehicle is classified as a heavy-duty vehicle that is designed primarily for the transportation of up to 12 people.

A motorcycle is classified as an on-road vehicle with a headlight, taillight and stoplight that has two or three wheels and a curb weight of 793 kg or less, but does not include a vehicle that has an engine displacement of less than 50 cc, or that, with an 80 kg (176 pound) driver: Cannot start from a dead stop using only the engine Cannot exceed a speed of 40 km/h on a level paved surface

Europe EEC

Vehicle segments 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 names of the segments were mentioned, but not defined, in 1999 in an EU document titled Case No COMP/M.1406 Hyundai / Kia Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 Merger Procedure. A: mini cars B: small cars C: medium cars D: large cars E: executive cars F: luxury cars J: sport utility cars (including off-road vehicles) M: Multi purpose cars S: Sports cars

Euro NCAP Euro NCAP applies a standard safety test to all new cars, the results are listed in separate categories to allow prospective vehicle purchasers to compare models of a similar size and shape: Small family cars (also for stand-alone saloon superminis, like the Dacia Logan) Large family cars (includes compact executive cars) Executive cars (for expensive cars over 4.80 m long) Roadsters Small off-roaders (similar to the North American crossover SUV category) Large off-roaders (similar to the North American SUV category) Small MPVs (both mini MPVs and compact MPVs) Large MPVs

Asia

China Vehicle size categories for passenger vehicles for the China NCAP program as defined by the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) may appear similar to the European system, but are closer to the Japanese in application. Category A (A-segment) vehicles are two-box vehicles of between 4 and 4.5 meters in length, or three-box vehicles (i.e., sedans with trunks) with engines of less than 1600 cc. Category B (B-segment) vehicles are longer than 4.5 m in length with engines of over 1600 cc. Multi-purpose vehicles, or MPVs Sport utility vehicles or SUVs

India The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) divides Indian passenger vehicles into the segments A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, B1, B2 and SUV. The classification is done solely based on the length of the vehicle. The details of the segments are below:

Car segment Length of the car Classification Car model belonging to the segment A1 Up to 3,400 mm Ultracompact cars (A) Suzuki Alto, Tata Nano, Mahindra e2o A2 3,401 to 4,000 mm Sub-four metre (B) Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, Hyundai i10, Suzuki Swift, Suzuki Baleno (subcompact), Hyundai Xcent, Honda Amaze, Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Ford Aspire, Mahindra Verito, Hyundai i20, Tata Zest A3 4,001 to 4,500 mm Entry-level mid-size sedans (C) Hyundai Verna, Honda City, Suzuki Ciaz A4 4,501 to 4,700 mm Small family cars (C) Toyota Corolla, Škoda Octavia, Chevrolet Cruze A5 4,701 to 5,000 mm Mid-size (D)Executive cars (E) D-segment: Toyota Camry, Škoda SuperbE-segment: Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 series A6 More than 5,000 mm Grand saloons (F) Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8, BMW 7 series, Jaguar XJ B1 <4,001 mm Small vans Maruti Omni, Tata Venture B2 >4,000 mm Mid-size MPVs/minivans Toyota Innova, Suzuki Ertiga, Mahindra Marazzo, Kia Carnival SUV Any SUVs Renault Duster, Honda CR-V, Ford Endeavour, Hyundai Creta, Audi Q7, Toyota Land Cruiser

Japan