Mid-size car

A mid-size car— also known as intermediate— is a vehicle size class which originated in the United States and is used for cars that are larger than compact cars, but smaller than full-size cars.[1] The equivalent European category is D-segment, which is also called "large family car". Mid-size cars are manufactured in a variety of body styles, including sedans, coupes, station wagons, hatchbacks, and convertibles. Entry-level luxury cars can also fall under the mid-size category.

The mid-size Toyota Camry

History
Rambler Six "compact" car later reclassified as an "intermediate"
1986–1989 Ford Taurus

The automobile that defined this size in the United States was the Rambler Six that was introduced in 1956, although it was called a "compact" car at that time.[2] Much smaller than any standard contemporary full-size cars, it was called a compact to distinguish it from the small imported cars that were being introduced into the marketplace.[3] By the 1960s, the car was renamed the Rambler Classic and while it retained its basic dimensions, it was now competing with an array of new "intermediate" models from General Motors, Ford and Chrysler.[4]

During the 1970s, the intermediate class in the U.S. was generally defined as vehicles with wheelbases between 112 inches (2,845 mm) and 118 inches (2,997 mm). The domestic manufacturers began changing the definition of "medium" as they developed new models for an evolving market place.[5] A turning point occurred in the late 1970s, when rising fuel costs and government fuel economy regulations caused all car classes to shrink, and in many cases to blur. Automakers moved previously "full-size" nameplates to smaller platforms such as the Ford LTD II and the Plymouth Fury.[6] A comparison test by Popular Science of four intermediate sedans (the 1976 AMC Matador, Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Torino, and Dodge Coronet) predicted that these will be the "big cars of the future."[7] By 1978, General Motors made its intermediate models smaller.[8]

1994-1999 Vauxhall/Opel Omega: a British/European executive car, marketed in the U.S. as a mid-size car (Cadillac Catera)[9]

New "official" size designations in the U.S. were introduced by the EPA, which defined market segments by passenger and cargo space.[10] Formerly mid-sized cars that were built on the same platform, like the AMC Matador sedan, had a combined passenger and cargo volume of 130 cubic feet (3.68 m3), and were now considered "full-size" automobiles.[11][12]

Cars that defined the mid-size market in the 1980s and 1990s included the Chrysler K-Cars (Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant), the Ford Taurus, and the Toyota Camry, which was upsized into the midsize class in 1991. The Taurus and Camry came to define the mid-size market for decades.

Mid-size cars were the most popular category of cars sold in the United States, with 27.4 percent during the first half of 2012, ahead of crossovers at 19 percent.[13]

Current definition
Chevrolet Malibu

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Fuel Economy Regulations for 1977 and Later Model Year (dated July 1996) includes definitions for classes of automobiles.[14] Based on the combined passenger and cargo volume, mid-size cars are defined as having an interior volume index of 110–119 cu ft (3.1–3.4 m3).[15]

See also

References
  1. "'Mid-size' car definition by Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary". K Dictionaries. 2005. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  2. Auto Editors of Consumer Guide (5 September 2007). "1956-1957 Rambler". Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  3. Corporate Strategies of the Automotive Manufacturers: An historical perspective on the automobile industry. U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1978. p. 153. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  4. Severson, Aaron (25 December 2009). "What's a Matador? The AMC Matador, Rebel, and Classic". Ate Up With Motor. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  5. Lund, Robert (March 1976). "Detroit Listening Post". Popular Mechanics. 145 (3): 14. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  6. Dunne, Jim (September 1975). "Detroit Report: an intermediate step". Popular Science. 207 (3): 40. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  7. Dunne, Jim; Hill, Ray (February 1976). "Intermediate sedans - big cars of the future". Popular Science. 208 (2): 36, 38, 44, 46. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  8. Dunne, Jim (October 1977). "GM for '78: the intermediates are smaller". Popular Science. 211 (4): 92–95. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  9. Appel, Tom (25 October 2017). "Review Flashback! 1997 Cadillac Catera". The Daily Drive: Consumer Guide. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  10. "How are vehicle size classes defined?". fueleconomy.gov. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  11. "1978 49-state Fuel Economy Guide". fueleconomy.gov. 10 November 1978. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  12. Dunne, Jim (June 1977). "A Sneak Preview of the '78 cars". Popular Science. 210 (6): 78. Retrieved 27 January 2019. AMC plans to offer a more luxurious Matador model to compete in the full-size market
  13. St. Antoine, Arthur (December 2012). "Comparison: 2012-2013 Midsize Sedan Comparison: Battle of the Best-Sellers". Motor Trend. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  14. "Code of Federal Regulations Sec. 600.315 - 82 Classes of comparable automobiles". U.S. Government Publishing Office. 1 July 1996. p. 733. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  15. "FAQ - How are vehicle size classes defined?". www.fueleconomy.gov. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
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