Classification Methods
There are numerous ways of categorizing passenger vehicles. Where applicable, the equivalent Euro NCAP classifications are also used. Numerous jurisdictions establish vehicle classification systems for tax purposes according to their construction, engine, weight, type of fuel and emissions, as well as the purpose for which they are used. Car-related taxation is based on a sustainable environmental policy known as the user pays principle and there are many differences between different nations and jurisdictions regarding vehicle class taxes and fees. For example, the power of classification was used by cities in the 1920s to exclude taxation of electric-powered vehicles because officials believed they did not cause "substantial wear upon the pavements."
Car rental companies often use the ACRISS Car Classification Code.
For research into safety, the Highway Loss Data Institute takes into account a combination of both vehicle size and other vehicle features with all passenger cars that do not fit the definition of either "sports" or "luxury", are classified on the basis of both vehicle length and wheelbase.
| HLDI classification | Definition |
|---|---|
| Sports | Those cars with significant high performance features |
| Luxury | Higher-end cars that are not classified as sports |
| Large | Length more than 495.3 cm (195 in) and wheelbase more than 279.4 cm (110 in) |
| Midsize | Length 457.3–495.3 cm (180–195 in) and wheelbase 266.8–279.4 cm (105–110 in) |
| Small | Length less than 457.2 cm (180 in) and wheelbase less than 266.7 cm (105 in) |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) separates vehicles into classes by the curb weight of the vehicle with standard equipment including the maximum capacity of fuel, oil, coolant, and air conditioning, if so equipped).
| NHTSA classification | Code | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars: mini | PC/Mi | 1,500–1,999 lb (680–907 kg) |
| Passenger cars: light | PC/L | 2,000–2,499 lb (907–1,134 kg) |
| Passenger cars: compact | PC/C | 2,500–2,999 lb (1,134–1,360 kg) |
| Passenger cars: medium | PC/Me | 3,000–3,499 lb (1,361–1,587 kg) |
| Passenger cars: heavy | PC/H | 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) and over |
| Sport utility vehicles | SUV | - |
| Pickup trucks | PU | - |
| Vans | VAN | - |
Another vehicle classification scheme has been developed by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration for automatically calculating road use tolls. There are two broad categories depending on whether the vehicle carries passengers or commodities, with non-passenger vehicles further subdivided by number of axles and number of units, including both power and trailer units. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has another set of classification guidelines that are based on the vehicle's total interior passenger and cargo space.
| EPA car class | Total passenger and cargo volume (cu. ft.) |
|---|---|
| Two-seaters | Any (designed to seat only two adults) |
| Minicompact | Less than 85 cu ft (2,407 l) |
| Subcompact | 85–99 cu ft (2,407–2,803 l) |
| Compact | 100–109 cu ft (2,832–3,087 l) |
| Mid-size | 110–119 cu ft (3,115–3,370 l) |
| Large | 120 cu ft (3,398 l) or more |
| Small station wagons | Less than 130 cu ft (3,681 l) |
| Mid-size station wagons | 130–159 cu ft (3,681–4,502 l) |
| Large station wagons | 160 cu ft (4,531 l) or more |
A similar set of classes is used by the Canadian EPA. The Canadian National Collision Database (NCDB) system defines "passenger car" as a unique class, but also identifies two other categories involving passenger vehicles—the "passenger van" and "light utility vehicle"—and these categories are inconsistently handled across the country with the boundaries between the vehicles increasingly blurred. In Australia, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries publishes its own classifications.
Read more about this topic: Automobile Classification
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