Car sizes in order, smallest to largest
There is no single worldwide car size chart. The US and Europe use two different systems, and both are worth knowing because manufacturers and reviews switch between them.
In Europe, cars are grouped into lettered segments by rough length. The lengths below are typical ranges for each segment rather than official limits [3].
| Segment | Common name | Typical length | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | City car (mini) | 2.7 to 3.7 m (8.9 to 12.1 ft) | Fiat 500 |
| B | Supermini (small) | 3.7 to 4.2 m (12.1 to 13.8 ft) | Toyota Yaris |
| C | Small family (medium) | 4.2 to 4.6 m (13.8 to 15.1 ft) | Toyota Corolla |
| D | Large family | 4.6 to 4.8 m (15.1 to 15.7 ft) | Opel/Vauxhall Insignia |
| E | Executive | 4.8 to 5.0 m (15.7 to 16.4 ft) | BMW 5 Series |
| F | Luxury | 5.1 m (16.7 ft) and above | Mercedes-Benz S-Class |
SUVs, people carriers and sports cars sit in their own groups (J, M and S), which loosely follow the same size steps. A “C-SUV”, for example, is an SUV roughly the size of a small family car [3].
US car size classes are based on interior space
In the US the EPA classes cars by the combined passenger and cargo volume inside, not by their length or width [2]:
- Minicompact: under 85 cubic feet
- Subcompact: 85 to 99.9 cubic feet
- Compact: 100 to 109.9 cubic feet
- Mid-size: 110 to 119.9 cubic feet
- Large: 120 cubic feet or more
Pickups, vans, minivans and SUVs are classed differently, by gross vehicle weight rating. A small SUV has a rating under 6,000 lb and a standard SUV 6,000 to 10,000 lb [2]. That is why a car’s class can change between generations even if it looks much the same from outside: designers find extra room inside and the car moves up a class.
The Automotive.com infographic above shows how odd this can look. A 1984 Honda Accord, classed as a subcompact, is 175.4 inches long and 65.6 inches wide. A 2012 Honda Civic, classed as a compact, is 177.3 inches long, 69.0 inches wide and 364 lb heavier (our arithmetic from the chart’s 2,341 and 2,705 lb). The “smaller” Civic is bigger than the “larger” Accord of 28 years earlier [1].
How much bigger have cars got?
A lot. Almost every long-running model has grown with each new generation, and the infographic’s figures make the point well [1]:
| Model | First version | Later version | Longer by | Wider by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic hatchback | 1973: 139.8 in long, 59.3 in wide | 2008: 168.1 in, 70.3 in | 28.3 in | 11.0 in |
| Mini | 1959: 120.9 in, 55.5 in | 2003 Mini Cooper: 143.0 in, 66.5 in | 22.1 in | 11.0 in |
| Volkswagen Golf | 1974 Mk1: 145.9 in, 63.4 in | 2009 Mk6: 165.3 in, 70.0 in | 19.4 in | 6.6 in |
| Porsche 911 Turbo | Classic 911: 168.3 in, 65.0 in | 991 generation: 177.8 in, 71.2 in | 9.5 in | 6.2 in |
| Honda roadster | S600: 129.9 in, 55.1 in | S2000: 162.2 in, 68.9 in | 32.3 in | 13.8 in |
Weight has gone up with size. The 2003 Mini weighs 2,496 lb against 1,389 lb for the 1959 original, an increase of 1,107 lb, though it also has 118 hp instead of 40 [1]. The modern Mini is a BMW design launched in 2001, so it is a new car carrying an old name rather than a direct update [5].
Why cars keep getting bigger
Several things push each generation to grow. Safety rules and crash tests have added crumple zones, side-impact protection and airbags, all of which take space. Buyers expect more room, more equipment and a quieter ride. And because US classes depend on interior volume, a bigger cabin can move a model into a more desirable class.
The biggest driver now is the shift to SUVs. The infographic’s Ford Explorer panel captures the start of that shift: the 2011 Explorer moved to car-like unibody construction, and Ford kept marketing it as an SUV rather than a crossover [1][4]. In Europe, Transport & Environment found that the average width of new cars rose from 177.8 cm in 2018 to 180.3 cm in the first half of 2023, about 1 cm every two years, mainly because of rising SUV sales [6].
Why car size matters
Size affects more than looks. T&E found that 52% of the top 100 models sold in 2023 were too wide for the minimum 180 cm on-street parking space used in cities including London, Paris and Rome [6]. Large luxury SUVs, at around 200 cm wide, leave little room to open the doors in a typical 240 cm off-street bay [6]. Taller fronts also raise risk for people outside the car: T&E cites crash data showing a 10 cm higher front carries a 30% higher risk of death in collisions with pedestrians and cyclists [6].
If you are comparing cars, check the actual dimensions rather than the class name. Measure your garage or parking space, and check whether the quoted width includes the door mirrors, because many brochures give the body width without them.
Questions about car sizes
What are the car sizes in order?
In the US: minicompact, subcompact, compact, mid-size and large, by interior volume [2]. In Europe: A (city car), B (supermini), C (small family), D (large family), E (executive) and F (luxury), roughly by length [3].
Is a compact car smaller than a midsize?
Yes, inside. A compact has 100 to 109.9 cubic feet of passenger and cargo space and a mid-size 110 to 119.9 cubic feet [2]. On the outside the difference can be small.
How long is an average car?
Most family hatchbacks and saloons in the C segment are 4.2 to 4.6 metres long, about 13.8 to 15.1 feet [3].
Are cars getting bigger?
Yes. The Honda Civic hatchback grew 28.3 inches longer between 1973 and 2008 [1], and new cars in Europe are getting about 1 cm wider every two years [6].
Why is the new Mini so much bigger than the old one?
The modern Mini, launched by BMW in 2001, is a new design built to modern safety and comfort standards [5]. The 2003 Mini Cooper is 22.1 inches longer and 11 inches wider than the 1959 car [1].
Sources
- Automotive.com, My, How Big Our Cars Have Gotten, the original infographic.
- Wikipedia, Vehicle size class (EPA classes from the US Fuel Economy Guide).
- Wikipedia, Euro car segment.
- Wikipedia, Ford Explorer.
- Wikipedia, Mini (marque).
- Transport & Environment, Cars are getting 1 cm wider every two years, 22 January 2024.
Last reviewed 2 November 2026
