Optimal car width: 6 size classes

Standards and sizes of passenger cars by segment

The classification of the Economic Commission for Europe is focused on segmenting the target market, and the boundaries between segments are more blurred and are not limited to parameters such as dimensions or weight, but also include price, type, set of options, etc.
Segments are often used by manufacturers to define a vehicle's place in the market, but specific vehicles within a segment often have vastly different features, technologies, and options depending on the manufacturer.

The boundaries between classes are quite arbitrary and are gradually blurring as automakers strive to give customers “more car” for the same money. When updating the model, it became a sign of good form to increase its length by 10-15 centimeters, as well as add functions that previously could only be offered by more expensive classes.

According to the European classification, all passenger cars belong to one of six segments:

In addition, there are several separate groups of cars that do not fit into any of the segments described above. For such cars, three additional segments are allocated:

Segment A

Extra small class, supermini, city car

- the smallest cars designed for cramped city conditions. Dynamic and driving characteristics are often mediocre. Body type: 3-door or 5-door hatchback. The length of the car is up to 3.6 meters and the width is up to 1.52 meters. Such models are attractive for their efficiency and parking capabilities in limited city spaces.

Typical representatives of the class: Daewoo Matiz, Kia Picanto, Chevrolet Spark, Ford Ka, Renault Twingo, Peugeot 107, Opel Adam, Toyota iQ, Suzuki Splash, Hyundai Eon, Chery QQ, Citroen C1, Suzuki Wagon R.

What is the average width of a car?

It is necessary to know the average width of a passenger car; both experienced motorists and automotive industry specialists talk about this.

To correctly calculate the average width, you need:

• Know how many meters the car will occupy with the doors open. Doors can be of different lengths, depending on the model. Therefore, when building or choosing a garage space, you definitely need to know how many meters the car will occupy in width with all doors open.
• It is necessary to leave an additional 1-2 m so that the driver and passengers can easily get into and out of the car.
• If the opportunity to make a long garage near a private house is limited, then an additional 0.5-1 m for shelves or racks should also be added to the calculation of the width. They are always necessary in a functioning garage. Even if the car will only “spend the night”.

If you decide to build a garage yourself or make a full-fledged extension for this, you need to take into account all the dimensions, the necessary additional meters, etc. In addition, if you need to build a garage for a minibus, you must also take into account its height

It will be larger than the average passenger car.

Before building a garage for one or more cars, you should draw up and draw a plan for the future premises, taking into account all additional and basic parameters, as well as the dimensions of the entrance gate and, if necessary, a gate.

Segment B

Small class

- a popular class of small-sized cars in Europe. In addition to 3 and 5-door hatchbacks, they are occasionally produced in sedan and station wagon bodies. Length up to 3.9 meters, width up to 1.7 meters. Engine displacement usually does not exceed 1.6 liters.

Typical representatives of the class: Audi A1, Nissan Micra, Volkswagen Polo, Skoda Fabia, Seat Ibiza, Hyundai Accent, Fiat Punto, Opel Corsa, Peugeot 208, Renault Clio, Renault Symbol, Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris, Mini, Mazda 2, Citroen C3 , Citroen DS3.

How to control dimensions?

The width of the cars, like the length, can be visually controlled by the driver while driving. The windshield and mirrors are used for this. This solution allows you to select the correct radius and turning time, and also facilitates normal parking.

Before getting behind the wheel on his own, the owner must feel the size of the car taking into account its behavior on the road. The optimal solution would be to study theory and combine it with practical skills.

Knowing the theory about vehicle dimensions will help with this. Driving practice will help reinforce the feeling of distance between objects and the car, no matter what category it belongs to. Each user who treats this matter conscientiously contributes to ensuring road safety and reducing the number of road accidents.

Segment C

Golf class, compact class

- universal, relatively compact, but more spacious cars, also classified as the “lower middle” class. The segment is the most popular in Europe (about a third of all sales). For decades, the trendsetter here was the Volkswagen Golf, which is why another name became the expression golf class. The capacity of golf-class cars allows you to transport five adults with luggage, but three people in the back seat will be cramped. Length up to 4.3 meters, width up to 1.7-1.8 meters.

Body types - hatchback, sedan, station wagon. Less commonly - coupes and convertibles (however, according to the European classification, convertibles can belong to other segments, regardless of size). Dynamic and speed qualities vary widely, comfortable for trips and travel.

Typical representatives of the class: BMW 1-Series, Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, Audi A3, Renault Megane, Opel Astra, Peugeot 308, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Auris, Nissan Almera, Kia_cee'd, Kia Cerato, Mazda 3, Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai i30, Mitsubishi Lancer, Volvo V40, Citroen C4, Citroen DS4, Skoda Octavia, Subaru Impreza, Suzuki SX4, Chevrolet Cruze.

Hitting

The hitting exercise is also not difficult, but you need to have good practice in order to repeat the results obtained without errors. You need to place an empty plastic bottle on the platform, and take turns running over it with your front wheels. It seems that everything is easy, but this is a mistaken opinion. Beginners often miss. When you do the exercises effortlessly, make it more difficult by adding speed when hitting. To consolidate the exercise you have learned, do a run on an empty area at a speed of 60 km/h. This condition will require the correct sense of size. If you exceed the specified speed, you have every chance of finding yourself in a dangerous emergency situation. At the third stage, you need to run over the bottle and simultaneously make a turn. Even savvy car owners make mistakes when performing this exercise. This complexity helps to achieve high results. It is not necessary to use a bottle; it is enough to replace it with an object that makes a loud sound and is easily compressed, but in no case should it fly out from under the wheels. A cardboard box folded in half can be an excellent substitute.

Segment D

Middle class

- middle or family class, presented in hatchback, sedan, station wagon bodies, with spacious interiors and voluminous trunks. This segment is usually divided into ordinary family models and luxury models, which, according to other classifications (for example, British) are allocated to a separate compact executive car segment.

Typical representatives of the class: Chrysler 200, Honda Inspire, SAAB 9-3, Opel Insignia, Peugeot 508, Mazda 6, Ford Mondeo, Toyota Avensis, Hyundai Sonata, Renault Latitude, Volkswagen Passat, Kia Optima, Audi A4, BMW 3, Mercedes- Benz C-Class, Lexus IS, Volvo S60, Citroen C5, Citroen DS5, Suzuki Kizashi, Subaru Legacy.

Landmarks

We offer you several guidelines to help novice drivers. So, to prepare special markings inside the car, you will need a flat asphalt area, chalk and adhesive tape:

1. Park your car in a specific area.
2. Use chalk to draw lines forward from the front and rear wheels. They should be quite long, since you will need to view them while sitting in the cockpit.
3. After you have drawn the lines, take a seat in the driver's seat. Make yourself comfortable, as if you are about to travel. Now mentally continue the line from the wheels through the hood to the front panel.
4. Place a piece of duct tape at the point where it intersects with the windshield. Do the same with the rear wheels.

Such landmarks will help you understand where the wheels are heading when driving. Once you begin to feel the size of your car, these colored stickers can be removed.

Peculiar landmarks for the end of the bumper are the installed antenna or “eyelashes for the headlights.” Using parking sensors or a camera will also be useful. If you have them installed in your car, follow their signals. This will greatly simplify the use of the car.

Segment E

Business Class

- usually sedans and station wagons. The cars have a spacious interior and a high level of standard equipment. The length is usually over 4.6 meters.

In Europe, predominantly luxury brands operate in this segment, and typical representatives are: Cadillac CTS, Jaguar XF, Saab 9-5, Volvo S80, Audi A6, BMW 5, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Lexus ES. However, mass manufacturers also produce or have produced cars in this segment: Toyota Avalon, Citroen C6, Hyundai Grandeur, Kia Cadenza, Holden Commodore, Hyundai Genesis, Geely SL

What are the overall dimensions of the car?

Each passenger car or cargo motor vehicle has its own overall dimensions. The width of the cars, as well as the height and length, are specified in any operating instructions for the unit. You can also find similar indicators in thematic tables or sections.

Dimensions parameters make it possible to evaluate maneuver options in a given situation. The length of the car is determined between the maximum protruding elements in front and behind the vehicle. The width of the cars is calculated from the boundaries of the protruding mirrors, and the height is fixed at the highest point of the roof. All this allows you to calculate the capacity of the car in the garage or other places that have certain restrictions.

Segment M

The M segment includes cars with a minivan body. The cars are intended mainly for large families, and can also be used for travel, as office delivery vehicles, etc. Capacity is from 5 to 7 seats, and minivans have up to 9 seats, including the driver. With the rear seats folded down or, in some cases, removed, vehicles in this segment can be used for cargo-passenger transport.

In terms of driving and speed characteristics, they are close to ordinary passenger station wagons. Minivans - unified in body and chassis with light cargo-passenger trucks, are distinguished by greater capacity, have sliding doors and an impressive height.

Representatives of the class: Ford Galaxy, Hyundai H-1, Fiat Doblo, Volkswagen Caravelle.

Dimensions of a garage for 1 car: optimal parameters

As a rule, most families in our country have one car, so most often motorists wonder what the optimal standard dimensions of the garage and car to take as a basis in order to build the most convenient garage.

What indicators should a garage meet:

• Place the car so that you can move around it without problems and have access to its bottom.
• The ceiling must be high so that it is possible to work with the roof of the car, for example, to install additional space on it for transporting things, bicycles, etc. In addition, the height of the garage can be important for convenient washing of the car.
• Strict consideration should be given to all necessary work surfaces and shelving, cabinets, tool racks, for any work to straighten small dents or to replace supplied vehicle parts.
• You should also take into account the presence of a repair hole or elevation under the bottom of the car.

Once the plan is completely ready, then all the surfaces, boxes, shelving and other necessary additions necessary for the motorist have been taken into account. After drawing up a plan, where all the necessary space has already been taken into account, you can look at what materials to use, whether to insulate or not, what kind of lighting equipment there will be, and also whether the garage should accommodate any functionality other than what is necessary for operating and repairing the car.

Thus, it becomes clear why there is an urgent need to know exactly what dimensions the car will have if the garage is already ready. If the garage is still only at the design stage, you can use averaged data. You can calculate them yourself, knowing the minimum dimensions of one desired car model and the maximum dimensions of another proposed car.

Classification of passenger cars by size

What do driving schools, Internet sites and experienced drivers advise?

• The most banal, but also the most effective, advice is practice. Practice as much as possible, first in the driving school where you are studying, then on your own, at least in an “open field,” setting for yourself some conditional “obstacles” (those that cannot damage the car). Every successful and every failed attempt to park perfectly in a narrow space brings you closer to your cherished skill. For this purpose, you can make unique beacons - thin, light poles fixed in sand-filled bottles; When parking, such poles should be lightly touched by the bumper or fender, but so that they do not fall. If the beacon swings but does not fall, the task is considered perfectly completed.
• At first, you can drive with barely noticeable stickers on the windows - they will show you the approximate line along which the front wheels roll. To glue them correctly, find a spacious area and place the car on it so that the wheels “look” forward. Now draw straight lines under them in the direction of travel (while drawing, imagine that the car should roll exactly along these lines); then sit in the driver's seat and imagine the continuation of these lines on the windshield. Stick small stickers there: they will help you figure out where the front wheels will go now.

Load capacity

The overall dimensions of Gazelle cars place them in the lightest category. Their carrying capacity is 1.5-1.7 tons.

Minibuses have a slightly larger carrying capacity (1.5-2 tons). These machines develop quite good speed and allow the freight forwarder to accompany the cargo in the driver’s cabin.

The next category includes trucks of domestic and foreign production. Their carrying capacity is in the range of 3.5-7 tons. Their body can be tent or all-metal. They are used both for movement within the city and between them.

The next class is 10-ton trucks. They are also divided into subgroups. The first of them includes vehicles with a carrying capacity of 5-10 tons and a body volume of up to 36 cubic meters. m. The second group is also characterized by a tonnage of up to 10 tons, and their compartment volume is up to 56 cubic meters. m. The overall dimensions of KAMAZ vehicles are most suitable for the third group. Their carrying capacity is 10-15 tons, and the body has a volume of up to 60 cubic meters. m.

The next category unites vehicles with a carrying capacity of 20 tons. The container of such vehicles is called sea. It comes in 20 or 40 pound sizes. In the second case, the carrying capacity increases to 28 tons.

“Eurotents” are distinguished as a separate group. These are semi-trailers with a carrying capacity of 20-22 tons.

Specialized trucks

Specialized cargo vehicles include tanks, dump trucks, refrigerators, tractor-trailers and semi-trailers, and vans.

Thermal trucks have a load capacity of 5-15 tons.

Insulated containers with 20 and 40 pound containers are in a separate category. Their carrying capacity is 15 and 20 tons, respectively.

Timber carriers (from 3 to 25 tons), steam locomotives (up to 15 tons) and tank trucks (12-24 tons) are also considered a separate group.

Freight line Priobye-Salekhard-Priobie

Details

Categories of passenger cars

1. If the brand of a passenger car is not in the table, the category must be clarified at the sales office, or be guided by the length of the vehicle: Category 1 passenger cars up to 3.6 m in length inclusive.
2. Category 2 : passenger cars with a length from 3.6m to 4.5m inclusive.
3. Category 3 : passenger cars from 4.5 m to 4.8 m inclusive, crossovers and SUVs up to 4.8 m inclusive.

Category 4 : passenger cars over 4.8m in length. Minibuses over 4.8 m long.