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.
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),[1] Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the U.S. Census Bureau.[2] 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.[3]
EPA size classes are defined in Federal Regulation, Title 40—Protection of Environment, Section 600.315-08 "Classes of comparable automobiles".[4] 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.
| Class | Interior combined passenger and cargo volume index |
|---|---|
| Minicompact | < 85 cubic feet (2,405 L) |
| Subcompact | 85–99.9 cubic feet (2,405–2,830 L) |
| Compact | 100–109.9 cubic feet (2,830–3,110 L) |
| Mid-size | 110–119.9 cubic feet (3,115–3,395 L) |
| Large | ≥ 120 cubic feet (3,400 L) |
| Class | Interior volume index |
|---|---|
| Small | < 130 cubic feet (3,680 L) |
| Midsize | 130–159 cubic feet (3,680–4,500 L) |
| Large | ≥ 160 cubic feet (4,530 L) |
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.
| Class | GVWR | |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup trucks | Small | <6,000 lb (2,700 kg) |
| Standard | 6,000–8,500 lb (2,700–3,850 kg) | |
| Vans | Passenger | < 10,000 lb (4,550 kg) |
| Cargo | < 8,500 lb (3,850 kg) | |
| Minivans | < 8,500 lb (3,850 kg) | |
| Sport utility vehicles | Small | < 6,000 lb (2,700 kg) |
| Standard | 6,000–10,000 lb (2,700–4,550 kg) | |
| Special purpose vehicles | < 8,500 lb (3,850 kg) | |
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.
Unlike the EPA, which groups automobiles by interior volume, the NHTSA groups cars for NCAP testing by weight class.
| Class |
|---|
| Passenger 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) |
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.[7]
| Class group | Class definition | Class includes | Number of axles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycles | Motorcycles | 2 |
| 2 | Passenger cars | All cars Cars with one-axle trailers Cars with two-axle trailers |
2, 3, or 4 |
| 3 | Other two-axle four-tire single-unit vehicles | Pick-ups and vans Pick-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 trucks Three-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 trailers Two-axle tractors pulling one- and two-axle trailers Three-axle tractors pulling one-axle trailers |
3 or 4 |
| 9 | Five-axle single-trailer trucks | Two-axle tractors pulling three-axle trailers Three-axle tractors pulling two-axle trailers Three-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 |
Source: Verification, Refinement, and Applicability of Long-Term Pavement Performance Vehicle Classification Rules, FHWA[7]
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.[2] 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.
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.[3]
| Curb weight (pounds) | Shadow <70 sq ft | Shadow 70–79 sq ft | Shadow 80–89 sq ft | Shadow 90–99 sq ft | Shadow 100–109 sq ft | Shadow 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 |
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.[9]
| 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:
|
Main article: Euro Car Segment |
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.[10]
EuroNCAP 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:
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.
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:
Vehicle size classes in Japan are rather simple compared to other regions. The classifications were established under the Japanese Government's Road Vehicle Act of 1951.[11][12] There are just three different classes defined by regulations. The dimension regulations are enforced to exact measurements. These standards of classification are enforced on all vehicles within the jurisdiction of Japan, and no special consideration is made for the vehicles' origination of manufacture. The Japanese law regulates all vehicles that do not travel on railroads (traditional or maglev), or are not powered by physically contacting overhead power lines. The law regulates vehicles that are powered by an autonomous power source. Smaller cars are more popular in Japan due to the confined driving conditions and speed limits.
Motorcycles also have classification definitions based on engine size:
All vehicles with an engine displacement over 250 cc are required to undergo an inspection (called "Shaken" in Japan). Vehicle weight tax and mandatory vehicle insurance are usually paid at this time. This is separate from the road tax paid yearly. The road tax varies from ¥3,000 for kei cars up to ¥22,000 for normal size cars with 4.6L engines.