Cars are similar to people: cars come in many shapes and sizes. Each type of car has its own dimensions to differentiate it from the others. As you begin your search for cars, you may be asking yourself what the average length of a car is. Just how long is a car?
In this guide, we will analyze some dimensions of popular vehicles and give you an average. We will also discuss why it is important to know the length, how to find the length measurement of your car, and answer some of your questions.
What is the Average Length Of A Car?
The average car length across all types of cars, is close to 14.7 feet or 4500 mm. Small cars generally are under 14 feet long and a small SUV and mid-size car are average. For full-sized cars, pickup truck and large SUVs tend to be above average in length.
The shortest car available today is the FIAT 500, measuring 11.6 to 12 feet long. The longest vehicle in production is the Chevy Silverado HD/GMC Sierra HD at 22.2 feet long.
For a point of reference, the world’s longest car is more than 100 feet in length but it is not meant to be driven on the roads.
In addition a more thorough approach, let’s look at a few popular segments and the averages amongst the segment.
Compact Cars
Subcompact and compact cars are built for cities. They’re rarely longer than 14 feet and have great fuel economy.
Here are a few examples.
- FIAT 500: 11.6 to 12 feet
- MINI Cooper Hatchback: 12.6 feet
- Mitsubishi Mirage: 12.6 feet
- Mazda Miata: 12.8 feet
- Hyundai Venue: 13.2 feet
- Kia Rio Hatchback: 13.3 feet
- Chevrolet Bolt EV: 13.6 feet
Mid-Size to Full-Size Cars
The mid-size and full-size car classes will be right around the average (14-16 feet) with most popular cars in the range.
Here are a few popular examples.
- Honda Civic: 14.9 to 15.3 feet
- BMW 3-Series: 15.5 feet
- Audi A4: 15.6 feet
- Toyota Camry: 16 feet
- Mazda Mazda6: 16 feet
- Honda Accord: 16.3 feet
Minivans
The minivan was popularized in the 1990s but has lost popularity as SUVs are more popular. Since minivans are usually built on car platforms, they give better fuel mileage than the majority of SUVs and don’t have off-road or towing abilities.
Most minivans will be in the 16-to-18-foot range. Here are some examples.
- Kia Carnival: 16.9 feet
- Toyota Sienna: 17 feet
- Chrysler Voyager: 17 feet
- Honda Odyssey: 17.1 feet
Small SUVs/Crossovers
Compact crossovers and small SUVs are two of the most popular vehicles on the road. On average, these SUVs and crossovers measure in the 14-foot to 16-foot length. Here are some examples.
- Kia Soul: 13.8 feet
- Jeep Renegade: 13.9 feet
- Range Rover Evoque: 14.3 feet
- Toyota RAV4: 15.1 feet
- Honda CR-V: 15.4 feet
Large SUVs
Larger SUVs are built for larger families and generally have more consumer space for cargo. Large SUVs are often built on truck platforms and have progressively more capability. On average, these SUVs measure in the range of 16 to 18 feet. Here are some examples.
- Range Rover: 16.6-17.25 feet
- Chevrolet Tahoe: 17.6 feet
- Ford Explorer: 16.6 feet
- Chevrolet Suburban: 18.8 feet
- Toyota 4Runner: 15.85-15.9
Pickup Trucks
The best thing about pickup trucks is they come in all shapes and sizes. Pickup trucks range from compact to heavy duty trucks. Smaller trucks are usually around 16 feet. Larger trucks can measure 18 feet or more. Here are a few examples:
- Hyundai Santa Cruz: 16.3 feet
- Ford Maverick: 16.6 feet
- Toyota Tacoma: 17.7-18.8 feet
- Ford F-150: 17.4-20.1 feet
- RAM 1500: 19.1-20.2 feet
- Chevrolet Silverado HD: 18.5-22.2 feet
How Does Length Matter to Cars?
While the length of your car isn’t the only spec you should be worried about, it’s still a significant spec; especially if you are navigating a busy city and want something small to fit into a small parking space.
Length also matters when it comes to how many passengers you can fit comfortably and how much cargo space is available. Usually, the bigger the vehicle, the more passenger volume.
Length will also factor into fuel efficiency. If the vehicle is heavily weighted, it will take more fuel to progress down the road.
How Do I Find Out the Length of My Car?
If you want to find out the length of your car, there are different ways to get that information. VIN decoders, online auto parts stores, dealerships, and measuring the car yourself. Here’s more detail on each.
#1. VIN Decoder.
There are many VIN Decoder tools online and many are free. You plug in the VIN from your vehicle, and you can get a lot of information on your car including measurements at times.
To locate the VIN, it is 17 characters on your dashboard, near the windshield or on the driver’s side door jamb. It can also be found on factory paperwork like your title, registration, and insurance card.
#2. Online Auto Parts Store.
Online auto parts stores and distributors have similar look-up methods. If you are purchasing from an online auto parts store, there is a common search where you can enter your VIN, so that they can ensure to find the right part for your vehicle.
While you are looking for parts, you may also learn more about your vehicle. Type in your VIN and see the results that come back to you.
#3. Ask The Dealership.
Any dealership has access to service records on your vehicle. If you call or stop by with your VIN, they can pull up all of your vehicle specs.
You can also get information about your engine and other accessories that were included on the vehicle as well. You might even be able to get a copy of everything that came with the car from the factory.
#4. Measure The Length.
Lastly, the best option to check length would be to measure it yourself. If you added any aftermarket components, the length may have changed from the factory number.
You can take a tape measure or even a yardstick and measure from front to back. Measure from the furthest point in the front to the most distant point.
How long is an SUV?
SUVs average 14-18 feet in length. There are different classifications of SUVs, and subcompact and compact crossovers will generally be the smallest while full-size SUVs, because of their truck platform, will generally be longest.
How long is a midsize car?
Midsize and full-size cars are similar in length, which will measure average 14-16 feet. Think of midsize cars like the Honda Civic and BMW 3-series. Although a small car or a midsize sit lower to the ground than an SUV, they are similar in length.
How long is a compact car?
As compact cars are manufactured to deal with tight spaces, they will typically measure 14 feet or less. Some examples include the FIAT 500 which measures a range of 11.6-12 feet, the MINI Cooper Hatchback, which measures 12.6 feet and the Mitsubishi Mirage, which measures 12.6 feet.
Are SUVs longer than sedans?
Both compact and mid-size SUVs will often be comparable in length to sedans. Many compact and mid-size SUVs share a platform with a comparable sedan. With full size SUVs, you can fit 7,8 or 9 plus you have cargo options, thus the full-size SUVs are much larger than a sedan.
How long is a midsize SUV?
Midsize SUVs will typically land somewhere between compact and full-size class, measuring approximately 15-16 feet. Similar, with sedans, the mid-size SUV allows for 5 passengers while providing a fair-sized cargo area.
How long is an average truck?
Trucks are available in a wide range of sizes: compact, mid-size, full size and heavy-duty. A compact pickup truck may measure only 16 feet long. However, a heavy-duty truck may measure more than 20 feet long. The length will measure the total size of the truck cab and truck bed.
You can find an incredible number of specs that you will look for when shopping for a new and used car; more often than not, the length of the car is not one of them. However, if you are travelling in urban environments or have to fit a car in your garage, you should pay attention to the length of the vehicle you are considering and your vehicle.
With a little looking, you can find out the length of any car and you already know the approximate length of a compact, midsize, full-size or SUV based on the information we have provided to help narrow your shopping category.
When worse comes to worse, if you are still unsure, don’t hesitate to pull out a tape measure to make sure it is sized for your needs.