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Explanations of Car Body Types

When searching for a vehicle on our website, there is an option to search by 'bodystyle' or in other words the car body type. Car body type is an automotive term used to categorise vehicles depending on factors such as their size and shape.

Here we've put together a handy guide to car body types in order to help you decide which type of car is ideal for you. If you're unsure about which car you want to lease, then we recommend you read this before searching for a new lease car.

City Car

A city car is a small, efficient car which is perfect for driving around town and cities. Due to the compact size, city cars tend to have small boots and passenger space is tight. In particular, city cars such as the Hyundai i10 and Peugeot 108 prove popular choices for young or new drivers as they have small engines, offer value for money and a lower insurance band than alternative cars.

The best city cars are small, affordable and offer low running costs. That said, we feel the award-winning Kia Picanto is an excellent choice. Now in third generation form, the latest version offers improved styling and a better equipped interior than the previous version. As with all Kia models, the Picanto comes with Kia’s seven year/ 100,000-mile warranty for peace of mind.

View our city car lease deals.

Hatchback

A hatchback car features a rear door which swings upwards for access to the boot space. They typically have second-row seating which can be folded down to allow more boot space. This creates a large boot space for storage. Hatchbacks are a great lease car for families, although they also appeal to a wider audience.

If you’re looking for a family hatchback, the Seat Leon is a great option. This is a sporty looking yet practical family car, offering smart styling, excellent practicality, as well as value for money. We particular like the Seat Leon for its comfortable and enjoyable drive.

View our hatchback lease deals.

Saloon

A saloon car features a closed boot separate from the car body part where the driver and passengers sit. The boot opening of a saloon is usually small, unlike with a hatchback. Also, saloon cars tend to be luxurious and offer a high-quality interior with comfortable seating.

There's a great choice of saloon cars on the market so your decision may be based largely on a desired brand. That said, the premium saloon market remains strong and popular options include the Audi A4 saloon and Jaguar XE. In particular, the Jaguar XE is a compact saloon car with an attractive exterior and luxury interior. As expected, this model has the high quality, luxurious feel of any Jaguar car. Also, this saloon car is enhanced by advanced driving technologies and features. Alternatively, go electric with the Tesla Model 3 Saloon which has quickly become one of the best-selling electric cars in the UK.

View our saloon lease deals.

Estate

An estate car has a long body with a large boot space behind the seats. An estate tends to sit lower than an SUV and this makes the boot level low. Estate cars are both versatile and practical, making them ideal lease cars for families or dog owners.

The best estate cars are spacious, versatile and feature a large boot space. That said, we feel the Audi A6 Avant or Volvo V60 are great options. Another excellent estate car is the new Suzuki Swace, introduced to the UK in 2020. Largely based on the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports, this estate car is a self-charging hybrid and features a large 596-litre boot capacity.

View our estate car lease deals.

Coupe

A coupe car typically features a fixed sloping rear roofline and usually have limited rear volume. A coupe tends to be a two-door car and appeals to people who want a sportier looking car that's fun to drive. The ideal coupe offers performance and style for a thrilling drive, as well as value for money.

At GB Vehicle Leasing, we have competitive rates on a wide choice of coupes such as BMW M4 Coupe, BMW 2 Series Coupe and Jaguar F-Type Coupe. Alternatively, go electric with the BMW i4 Gran Coupe. Typically, a coupe is smaller in size, two-doors and slightly sportier than a saloon car.

View our coupe car lease deals.

SUV

SUV is an abbreviation for 'sport utility vehicle'. Typically, an SUV is a powerful vehicle with off-road vehicle features and available four-wheel drive. An SUV is also characterised by a large body size, ample boot space and a higher driving position. SUVs are grouped into sub-segments which are large, midsize, small and compact. Over the years, manufacturers have developed performance variants of SUV models for added power. The Range Rover Sport SVR, which goes from 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds, is a key example of a performance SUV.

Considering going electric? Some of our favourite electric SUVs include the Kia e-Niro, Audi Q4 e-tron and BMW iX. In particular, in terms of range, it’s claimed the BMW iX xDrive50 can achieve up to 380 miles (WLTP) thanks to a powerful high-voltage battery. Furthermore, the new BMW iX has an elegant design and is powered by advanced BMW eDrive technology.

View our SUV lease deals.

Convertible

A convertible car tends to be sporty and features a retractable roof. This allows the occupants of the car to have an open-air driving experience, if desired. However, convertibles usually have limited boot capacity and interior space.

Here, we have competitive rates on a wide range of convertibles such as the Mazda MX-5, BMW Z4 and Porsche 718 Boxster. In particular, BMW Z4 has a striking presence on any road and the soft top roof is the perfect finishing touch. Combine this with the agile handling and it’s easy to see why the Z4 appeals to car enthusiasts.

Electric convertible cars are currently in short supply as manufacturers have decided to focus more on introducing pure electric SUVs, hatchbacks and saloons. However, there are a few electric convertible cars, for example the Fiat 500 Electric Convertible. To find out more about electric car leasing, please call our EV specialists on 0161 667 5338.

View our convertible lease deals.

Supermini

A supermini is a small car, sized between a city car and a hatchback. Although a supermini is slightly bigger than a city car, it doesn’t offer as much comfort or interior space as a hatchback car.

Key examples of superminis include the Vauxhall Corsa and Volkswagen Polo. These cars offer the perfect blend of reliability and affordability. However, they do tend to lack practicality and are not the best cars for driving on motorways. Typically, a supermini has 3-doors, although some 5-door options are available.

People Carrier

Although they look like vans, a people carrier is a large car with plenty of seating to transport more passengers. Also, there's ample storage space for your luggage and they come well equipped. These cars could be ideal for large families.

There's an excellent selection of people carriers to choose from. However, the new Mercedes-Benz EQV particularly stands out to us. It’s reported that one full charge of the Mercedes EQV can provide an excellent range up to 213 miles (WLTP). Also, the EQV can reach 10-80% charge using public rapid charging (100kW charger) in just 45 minutes. Mercedes EQV leasing offers Mercedes’ finest features to help make your journey as pleasant as possible.

View our people carrier lease deals.

Crossover

A crossover offers the perfect blend between popular SUV elements and the practicality of a smaller car. Therefore, a crossover is considered more a mix between a Hatchback and an SUV.

Although a crossover and SUV have similar style features, an SUV tends to be more rugged and is better off road than a crossover. At GB Vehicle Leasing, we offer competitive rates on a wide range of crossovers, such as the Toyota Yaris Cross and Ford Puma.

Frequently asked questions about car body types

An SUV and a 4x4 do share some similarities, such as their off-road capability and versatility, so these terms are often used interchangeably. However, an SUV is made for everyday driving and offers high levels of comfort. Whereas, a 4x4 focuses on four-wheel drive so all four wheels are powered and therefore can handle uneven or slippery surfaces better. Some SUVs do come with four-wheel drive as standard, but not always as they can be a two-wheel drive vehicle instead.

Due to the large size of SUVs, some people presume they offer poor fuel economy. However, this doesn't have to be the case, as more manufacturers have now introduced economical SUVs. For example, you might consider the Ford Kuga 2.5L Plug-in Hybrid as an economical SUV. This hybrid model has a combined WLTP fuel economy of over 200mpg and in 'EV Now' mode it's capable of up to 39 miles electric-only range. A fuel-only figure of around 40mpg is realistic, especially if you do lots of motorway driving.

As with any other type of car, there are various factors which impact the cost of insurance, such as age, usage and driver experience. However, selecting a car with a smaller engine option can help towards reducing your insurance costs.

The main difference between these two bodystyles is that an estate car features an extended rear end to accommodate the extra boot space. If you require maximum storage space to carry large loads of luggage, then you’ll probably prefer an estate car to a hatchback.

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Explanations of Car Body Types

City Car

Hatchback

Saloon

Estate

Coupe

SUV

Convertible

Supermini

People Carrier

Crossover

Frequently asked questions about car body types

What's the difference between an SUV and a 4x4?

Are SUVs cheap cars to run?

Are hatchbacks cheap cars to insure?

What is the difference between an estate car and a hatchback?

BMW X3 M

Mini Countryman

Mini Hatchback

Mini Convertible

Jaguar I-pace

Latest Articles

Company Car Tax Guide

Skoda Kodiaq Review

Ford Puma vs Nissan Juke

Search Our Latest Deals

Search Our Latest Deals

Explanations of Car Body Types

City Car

Hatchback

Saloon

Estate

Coupe

SUV

Convertible

Supermini

People Carrier

Crossover

Frequently asked questions about car body types

What's the difference between an SUV and a 4x4?

Are SUVs cheap cars to run?

Are hatchbacks cheap cars to insure?

What is the difference between an estate car and a hatchback?

BMW X3 M

Mini Countryman

Mini Hatchback

Mini Convertible

Jaguar I-pace

Latest Articles

Company Car Tax Guide

Skoda Kodiaq Review

Ford Puma vs Nissan Juke