If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, where do you start?
The best place to start is by learning about the different types of vehicles and determining which one is the right fit for you and your family. You’ll also want to consider other factors like your lifestyle, the number of passengers you will typically have, and what your daily commute is like. Whether you’re shopping for style, for the family, or for function, there’s a vehicle out there just for you.
Read our article to also learn about the key things to consider when buying a vehicle.
Understanding the various class types and what each car type does best is a great place to start your vehicle-buying journey. Here are the most common types of vehicles you’ll encounter on the road.
With a sporty and stylish exterior, convertibles are two-seater vehicles with a convertible top. They can be either soft or hard top convertibles and are solely built for the joy of driving.
A functional 4-door passenger vehicle that features a spacious trunk in the rear of the vehicle. The sedan is an excellent choice as a family vehicle and is also available with all-wheel drive features.
Vehicles that are commonly more compact than other class types and sport a rear trunk that opens as a hatch rather than the more common trunk as seen on sedan vehicles. Some hatchbacks also feature all-wheel drive.
Commonly mistaken for SUVs, crossover SUVs are built on a car platform as opposed to a truck platform. They are lighter than SUVs while still offering the same spacious comfort and all-wheel drive features most people associate with traditional SUVs. As a result, crossover SUVs tend to have better handling and fuel economy than SUVs.
Short for Sports Utility Vehicle, SUVs are known to be great family vehicles that include spacious cargo and all-wheel drive that is durable on off-road terrain.
Vehicles that do not require gas but are powered by electric lithium-ion car batteries. Hybrid vehicles have also become popular today which have the capacity to function on both electric and gas.
Knowing why you are purchasing a new vehicle will help you decide which one is right for you and where to focus your research. Every vehicle type comes in different trim levels, which includes different features that the car type has to offer. Consider making a list of how you plan to use the vehicle on a day-to-day basis. Using your new vehicle to get to and from the office? Driving with the whole family? Taking off on a weekend road trip? With so many different types of vehicles available, you can be sure you’ll find the right model type and trim that best suits your needs.
Ensuring that you and your family are safe is paramount, so you’ll want to check out each vehicle’s safety features and ratings. All vehicles go through a rigorous testing process to determine their crashworthiness in various types of collisions. Vehicles are also equipped with safety features that can help avoid a collision or lessen its severity.
Be sure to check out our guides on Safety Ratings, Features, and Standards so you have all the information you need to find your ideal vehicle.
Deciding what type of vehicle to buy is a big step in the process of bringing home your new vehicle. Check out our other guides on Buying a Vehicle and Financing Your Vehicle to learn more.
Now that you know a bit more about what type of vehicle you’re looking for, discover Mazda’s full lineup of vehicles to find which one is right for you.