What’s the average length of a car is a seemingly simple question. But when you start looking for answers, you’ll realize there’s more to it than meets the eye.
First and foremost, the length depends on the type of vehicle you’ve got. In other words, city cars are much shorter than executive cars or even compact models.
On the other hand, pickup trucks and SUVs are in a league of their own. However, this still doesn’t give you an exact number. Keep on reading to find some hard figures.
Bestselling Cars and Their Lengths
According to Business Insider, U.S. car sales have experienced a bit of a slowdown since 2018. Nevertheless, vehicles such as SUVs and pickup trucks still top lists. The models include Ford F-Series, Jeep Wrangler and Cherokee, Toyota Tacoma, and the likes.
To help you get a better understanding of the actual sizes, it’s best to put these vehicles into categories.
SUVs
As you already know, there are several SUV subcategories and the difference in length can be more than 20 inches. Small SUVs are generally 13.5 feet long and their compact counterparts measure around 14 feet in length. The popular models in this subcategory include Jeep Renegade, Nissan Juke, Kia Stonic, Audi Q2, etc.
If you opt for a mid-size SUV you are looking at about 14.5 feet on average. This segment features Land Rover Discovery Sport, Infinity QX50, Subaru Forester, Porsche Macan, to name a few. The difference between the longest and the shortest mid-size SUV is about 3.5 inches.
Large SUV and 4x4s measure 16 feet on average. But some models like the Lamborghini Urus and Mercedes GLS come at 16.1 feet and the BMW X7 tops the list at 16.2 feet.
Pickup Trucks
Pickup trucks start around 16.6 feet and they go all the way up to 17.9 feet. To be exact, the Renault Alaskan was the longest model at the time of this writing at 17.9 feet. The average length in this class is close to 17.2 feet and the models of that length are the Mitsubishi L200 and the Isuzu D-Max.
What About Other Cars?
Again, a look at the sales records indicates that some sedans, small cars, and sports vehicles are in the top 10. Fox News lists Toyota Camry as the most popular sedan and Toyota Corolla wins in the small car segment. Here is a quick recap of the average lengths for small, compact/hatchback, and family sedan cars.
Small Cars
This category features the Toyota Yaris, the Mini with 3 and 5 doors, Mitsubishi Space Star, and more. On average, small cars are about 13 feet long and the difference between the shortest and the longest model is about 10 inches.
Compact/Hatchback
For example, the Audi A3 Sportback, Volkswagen Golf, and Mini Clubman are hatchbacks. These vehicles are 14 feet long on average, but Nissan Pulsar comes near the sedan category at 14.5 feet.
Family Sedans
The longest family sedan at the time of this writing is the Tesla Model 3 at 15.5 feet and the average length is not much shorter. Models such as the Toyota Corolla Sedan, Mazda 3 SportSedan, and Mercedes Benz A Sedan hit the average at 15 feet give or take an inch or two.
City, Luxury, and Sports Cars
It’s not hard to guess which car is the shortest in the city section. If you want to go really tiny, the Smart ForTwo is 8.1 feet long. The average is much longer at about 11.8 feet and the models that fit this length are the Fiat 500, Smart ForFour, and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV.
Wondering if a Porsche 911 Carrera fits your garage? This roadrunner is 15 feet long and this is of average length for a sports car at the same time. The longest sports models are the Bentley Continental GT, the Maserati GranTurismo, and the Mercedes Benz S Coupé - they are all about 16.9 feet long.
If you have a knack for luxury vehicles, you should know that the average length is about 15.5 feet. The models that fit the average are the Tesla Model S, the Porsche Panamera, and the Infinity Q70, for example.
How to Measure Car Length
You can take the measurements the old fashioned way. Take a yardstick or a tape measure and check the length from the rear to the front bumper. Mind you, if there are any aftermarket parts like the rear or front bumpers they will affect the car’s length.
An easier way to determine the length is to use a VIN Decoder. This is a piece of software that translates the car’s VIN number into readable information.
Can You Close the Garage Door
When all is said and done, the average length of a passenger vehicle is around 14.5 feet. This is the mean value for all the categories mentioned in this article. But if you are to take only the most popular models into consideration, the average goes a foot up.