Editing Car classification (section)

== Market segments ==
=== Microcar / kei car ===
[[File:2018 Aixam Crossline Premium GT CVT 600cc Front.jpg|thumb |2018 [[Aixam]] Crossline ]]

{{main|Microcar|Kei car}}
Microcars and their Japanese equivalent— kei cars— are the smallest category of automobile.<ref>{{cite news|title=Japan Seeks to Squelch Its Tiny Cars |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/09/business/international/japan-seeks-to-squelch-its-tiny-cars.html?_r=0 |access-date=17 February 2015 |newspaper=The New York Times|date=9 June 2014 |last1=Tabuchi | first1=Hiroko |author-link=Hiroko Tabuchi}}</ref>

Microcars straddle the boundary between car and motorbike, and are often covered by separate regulations from normal cars, resulting in relaxed requirements for registration and licensing. Engine size is often {{convert|700|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on}} or less, and microcars have three or four wheels.

Microcars are most popular in Europe, where they originated following World War II. The predecessors to micro cars are [[voiturette]]s and [[cycle car]]s. Kei cars have been used in Japan since 1949.

Examples of microcars and kei cars:

* [[Honda Life]]
* [[Smart ForTwo]]
* [[Tata Nano]]

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=== A-segment / City car / Minicompact {{anchor|A-segment}} ===
[[File:2018 Citroen C1 Urban Ride 1.0 Front.jpg|thumb|2014–present [[Citroën C1]]]]
{{main|A-segment}}

The smallest category of vehicles that are registered as normal cars is called A-segment in Europe, or "city car" in Europe and the United States. The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines this category as "minicompact." However, this term is not widely used.

The equivalents of A-segment cars have been produced since the early 1920s. However, the category increased in popularity in the late 1950s when the original [[Fiat 500]] and [[Mini|BMC Mini]] were released.

Examples of A-segment / city cars / minicompact cars:
* [[Fiat 500 (2007)|Fiat 500]]
* [[Hyundai i10]]
* [[Toyota Aygo]]

=== B-segment / Supermini / Subcompact ===
[[File:2019 Renault Clio RS Line TCE Automatic 1.3.jpg|thumb|[[Renault Clio]] ]]
{{main|B-segment |Supermini |Subcompact car}}

The next larger category of small cars is called B-segment Europe, [[supermini]] in the United Kingdom and [[subcompact car|subcompact]] in the United States.

The size of a subcompact car is defined by the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA), as having a combined interior and cargo volume of between {{convert|85|-|99|cuft|L|-1}}.<ref name="fueleconomy.gov"/> Since the EPA's smaller minicompact category is not as commonly used by the general public, [[#A-segment|A-segment]] cars are sometimes called subcompacts in the United States. In Europe and Great Britain, the B-segment and supermini categories do not have any formal definitions based on size.

Early supermini cars in Great Britain include the 1977 [[Ford Fiesta#First generation (1976–1983)|Ford Fiesta]] and [[Vauxhall Chevette]].

In the United States, the first locally-built subcompact cars were the 1970 [[AMC Gremlin]], [[Chevrolet Vega]], and [[Ford Pinto]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Klier |first=Thomas H. |title=From Tail Fins to Hybrids: How Detroit Lost Its Dominance of the U. S. Auto Market: A Reprint from "Economic Perspectives" |date=2010 |publisher=Diane Publishing |isbn=9781437919172 |pages=6 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=LyVQtI-MEz4C&pg=PA6 |access-date=23 January 2019}}</ref>

Examples of B-segment / supermini / subcompact cars:
* [[Chevrolet Aveo]] (Chevrolet Sonic)
* [[Hyundai Accent]]
* [[Volkswagen Polo]]

=== C-segment / Small family / Compact ===
[[File:Volkswagen Golf VIII IMG 2609.jpg|thumbnail|right|[[Volkswagen Golf]]]]
{{main|C-segment|Compact car}}

The largest category of small cars is called ''C-segment'' or ''small family car'' in Europe, and ''compact car'' in the United States.

The size of a compact car is defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as having a combined interior and cargo volume of {{convert|100|-|109|cuft|m3|1|abbr=on}}.<ref name="fueleconomy.gov"/>

Examples of C-segment / compact / small family cars:
* [[Honda Civic]]
* [[Toyota Corolla]]
* [[Renault Mégane]]

=== D-segment / Large family / Mid-size ===
[[File:2018 Toyota Camry (ASV70R) Ascent sedan (2018-08-27) 01.jpg|[[Toyota Camry]]|thumb]]
{{main|D-segment|Mid-size car}}

In Europe, the third-largest category for passenger cars is called ''D-segment'' or ''large family car''.

In the United States, the equivalent term is ''mid-size'' or ''intermediate'' cars. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a mid-size car as having a combined passenger and cargo volume of {{convert|110|-|119|cuft|m3|1|abbr=on}}.

Examples of D-segment / large family / mid-size cars:
* [[Chevrolet Malibu]]
* [[Ford Mondeo]]
* [[Kia K5]]

=== E-segment / Executive / Full-size ===
[[File:N Conduit Av Whitelaw St td 04.jpg|thumbnail|right|[[Dodge Charger (LX)|Dodge Charger]]]]
{{Main|E-segment|Executive car|Full-size car}}

In Europe, the second-largest category for passenger cars is [[#Executive|E-segment / executive car]], which are usually luxury cars.

In other countries, the equivalent terms are ''full-size car'' or ''large car'', which are also used for relatively affordable large cars that are not considered luxury cars.

Examples of non-luxury full-size cars:
* [[Chevrolet Impala]]
* [[Toyota Avalon]]<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/29506.shtml |title=Fuel Economy of the 2010 Toyota Avalon |website=Fueleconomy.gov |publisher=U.S. Department of Energy |access-date=16 July 2016}}</ref>
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=== F-segment / Luxury saloon / Full-size luxury ===
''See [[#Luxury saloon / full-size luxury|Luxury saloon / full-size luxury]] section below.''
=== S-segment / Sports / Performance cars ===
''See [[#Sports / performance cars|Sports / performance cars]] section below.''