What is the difference between an SUV and a crossover?

A crossover is built on a car platform for a smoother ride and better efficiency, while a traditional SUV is often built on a truck platform for more towing and off-road capability. In everyday use the terms overlap heavily.

Should I buy an electric car or a hybrid?

Choose an EV if you can charge at home and mostly drive locally; choose a hybrid or plug-in hybrid if you take long trips or lack charging access. The average EV now costs about $54,500 and the price gap to gas cars is shrinking.

Which type of car is cheapest to own?

Compact cars and many hybrids tend to have the lowest total cost of ownership thanks to lower purchase prices and fuel costs, but it depends on mileage, insurance and local energy prices — compare total running cost, not just the sticker.

Car typesBuying basics

Types of Cars Explained: SUV, Sedan, EV, Pickup and More

Body styles and powertrains, decoded — so you can match the right type of car to how you actually drive.

Saumya Bhandari · CEO & Founder, Vinto

Updated June 26, 2026 · 7 min read

Before you compare prices, it helps to know the categories. Cars are described two ways: body style (the shape and purpose) and powertrain (what moves them). Matching both to how you actually drive is the single biggest decision in the purchase [[edmundsChoose]] [[consumerReports]].

Body styles

Sedan — a classic three-box car; efficient, comfortable, lower to the ground. Compact-car average price was about $27,469 in early 2026 [[kbbAtp]].
SUV/Crossover — higher seating, cargo room and available AWD; the best-selling category. Midsize SUV ATP was about $49,853 [[kbbAtp]].
Pickup truck — towing, payload and utility; full-size pickups averaged about $65,964 [[kbbAtp]].
Hatchback — a small car with a rear lift-gate for extra cargo flexibility.
Coupe — two-door, style-focused; usually sportier.
Minivan — maximum people-and-cargo practicality for families.

Powertrains

Gasoline (ICE) — cheapest up front, widest choice, refuels anywhere (US DOE/EPA, 2025).
Hybrid (HEV) — petrol engine plus a battery for better mileage with no plug.
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) — electric for short trips, petrol for long ones.
Battery-electric (EV) — no tailpipe, low running cost; the average EV transaction price was about $54,508 in early 2026 and the EV-to-gas price gap is narrowing [[kbbAtp]] [[afdcEv]].

How to choose

Start from your week: commute distance, passengers, cargo, climate and whether you can charge at home. Then compare fuel economy or efficiency, official safety ratings and total running cost — not just the sticker (US DOE/EPA, 2025) [[epaGreen]] [[nhtsaRatings]] (IIHS, 2025) (AAA, 2024).

On Vinto you can filter by body style, fuel and budget and swipe through matches, so the "what type of car" question is answered by what actually fits your life — and your driveway.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an SUV and a crossover?: A crossover is built on a car platform for a smoother ride and better efficiency, while a traditional SUV is often built on a truck platform for more towing and off-road capability. In everyday use the terms overlap heavily.
Should I buy an electric car or a hybrid?: Choose an EV if you can charge at home and mostly drive locally; choose a hybrid or plug-in hybrid if you take long trips or lack charging access. The average EV now costs about $54,500 and the price gap to gas cars is shrinking.
Which type of car is cheapest to own?: Compact cars and many hybrids tend to have the lowest total cost of ownership thanks to lower purchase prices and fuel costs, but it depends on mileage, insurance and local energy prices — compare total running cost, not just the sticker.

References

Sources are cited in Harvard style. External links open on the publisher’s site.

American Automobile Association (2024) 'Your driving costs'. Available at: https://newsroom.aaa.com/auto/your-driving-costs/ (Accessed: 26 June 2026).
Consumer Reports (2025) 'Car buying & pricing'. Available at: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-buying-and-pricing/ (Accessed: 26 June 2026).
Edmunds (2024) 'How to choose a car: 10 steps to finding the right car'. Available at: https://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/10-steps-to-finding-the-right-car-for-you.html (Accessed: 26 June 2026).
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (2025) 'Vehicle ratings'. Available at: https://www.iihs.org/ratings (Accessed: 26 June 2026).
J.D. Power (2025) 'Cars: ratings, reviews and values'. Available at: https://www.jdpower.com/cars (Accessed: 26 June 2026).
Kelley Blue Book / Cox Automotive (2026) 'Kelley Blue Book report: new-vehicle transaction prices'. Available at: https://www.coxautoinc.com/insights/mar-2026-atp-report/ (Accessed: 26 June 2026).
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (2025) 'Ratings'. Available at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/ratings (Accessed: 26 June 2026).
U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency (2025) 'Find and compare cars — fueleconomy.gov'. Available at: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/ (Accessed: 26 June 2026).
U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center (2025) 'Electric vehicle benefits and considerations'. Available at: https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric (Accessed: 26 June 2026).
U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) 'Gasoline and diesel fuel update'. Available at: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/ (Accessed: 26 June 2026).
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2025) 'Green Vehicle Guide'. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles (Accessed: 26 June 2026).

Saumya Bhandari

CEO & Founder, Vinto

Saumya is the founder and CEO of Vinto, where he leads AI, product design and operations. An AI engineer by background, he has built machine-learning and computer-vision systems across fintech, healthcare and proptech, and writes about how technology is reshaping the way people buy and finance cars.

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