Have you been sucked into a 'car conversation' and found yourself nodding along to words like 'coupe' and 'SUV' - without really knowing what they meant?
Well, be flummoxed no more. Here's a crash course in car body shapes, so next time you can nod along with complete confidence.
Saloon
This might be described as the 'classic' car shape - the kind you'd find in an old Lego set. The saloon cabin is distinct from the bonnet and boot, which protrude front and rear.
Saloons normally have capacity for at least four people, including the driver.
The roof height is constant from front to back seats, providing a good amount of space for both driver and passengers.
Called a "sedan" in the USA.
Examples: Jaguar XF; Ford Mondeo
Estate
An estate is similar in shape to a saloon, but the rear cargo area is larger.
Estates often resemble the forward section of a carmaker's line-up. i.e., the front of an estate can look the same as the front of a saloon.
As the shape is long, it tends to allow for easy roof loading.
Examples: Skoda Superb Estate; Volvo V60
Hatchback
A hatchback features a rear window and boot lid in one piece, which open together when the boot is accessed (a 'hatch in the back').
The rear slopes back from the roof, usually providing less passenger headroom than a saloon.
Hatchbacks are generally smaller and cheaper than saloons - though not always.
Examples: Vauxhall Astra; Ford Fiesta
MPV - Multi-purpose vehicle
"MPV" covers vehicles like minivans, minibuses and people carriers. It takes the shape of a small van, but with front and rear doors and windows.
MPVs can generally fit more people (up to seven, usually), and offer much more head and legroom than either a saloon or a hatchback.
Whilst they may not look the most appealing, they aren't much in difference economically to smaller family cars and are a very practical.
Examples: Renault Grand Scenic; Ford S-Max
Convertible
The convertible features a roof (canvas, vinyl, rarely aluminium) that can be raised or lowered electronically or manually.
With the roof down, the convertible offers open-air driving pleasure - great for a summer's day. And when it starts to rain, the roof can be raised again.
Convertibles are considered 'sporty' - and are usually high performance vehicles.
They nearly always feature two doors.
Examples: Mazda MX-5 R-Sport; Audi TT Roadster
4x4; offroader
4x4 - or 'four by four' - is a vehicle with four-wheel drive. I.e., the engine delivers power to all wheels. This gives the drive more control in slippery or off-road environments.
They are sometimes called all-wheel drive (AWD) - and are regarded as SUVs, too (see below).
Examples: Range Rover; Jaguar F-Pace
SUV
The SUV - sports utility vehicle - has the off-road characteristics of a 4x4 - i.e. it's designed to be driven off road or on slippery/floor surfaces. In practice, most SUVs are used in urban environments.
Not all SUVs have 4x4 drivetrains, but all 4x4s can be considered SUVs.
They tend to have a large load capacity and great engine power.
Examples: Range Rover Evoque; VW Tiguan
MPV or SUV? Which is right for your family?
Coupe
This is one of the trickiest to outline, since definitions vary. It might be described as a sport variant of a saloon, with the rear doors replaced by sleek bodywork. 2+2 seating is common which can often limit the legroom available.
Headroom is also usually limited compared to a saloon, due to the coupe shape.
Examples: Audi A5; Porsche Boxster
