Cars! They used to come in all shapes and sizes. They still do, kinda, but the US market has gotten very SUV-heavy of late. That sort of implies most people prefer a high-riding, chunky vehicle with a bulbous body shape. But this isn’t Autopian Assumes, it’s Autopian Asks! So I ask you: what is your favorite body style?
Once upon a time, there were a handful of clearly defined body styles for roadgoing vehicles. You had your four-door sedans, and you had wagons, which provided more cargo space in the back. Coupes cut the doors to two for a sportier style, while roadsters went further and chopped the top off. Then you had trucks and vans, which were their own sort of deal.
Today, it’s altogether more complex. Compacts came along and the hatchback was born. Then the 1980s was the sort of nascent era of the SUV craze, which took the industry by storm. Eventually, automakers realized the utilitarian part of these vehicles wasn’t actually that desirable. Customers just liked the high-seating position and the look of these vehicles, rather than caring about their off-road abilities. This led to the invention of the softer crossover style, which has created an odd sort of vehicle that’s almost trending back towards the traditional wagon body style.
Things get worse when you look at the premium market, which invented the four-door coupe in some kind of drug-fueled marketing meeting in the last ten years. Basically, to certain German automakers, coupe now means “swoopy roof curves down at the back” and not “two doors” anymore.
In any case, I know my preference: I’m a coupe and roadster driver. I like my cars light, limber, and nimble, and I rarely need to carry more than one passenger.
Sure, at times, I’ve appreciated the utility of larger cars when I’ve reviewed them, but it’s not something I seek in my daily life. Two doors for days, that’s what I say.
I’ve had plenty of other cars—multiple sedans, a compact crossover, and even a big Volvo wagon. But my favorites have always had two doors—the Mazda Miata, the Audi TT, and the Daihatsu Feroza. Roofless is always a bonus.
But what of you? Are you a wagonhead or a hatch obsessive? Or maybe you’re the one who convinced PR staff to brazenly lie that it was okay to say four-door cars were coupes? Either way, sound off below!
Fastback can be considered a hatchback? The looks of a sedan but with the trunk that opens big, including the glass, kind of like the Chevy Volt/Polestar 2 design.
My favorite is the compact wagon w/ a roof rack and it’s not even close. I had two Mercedes C320 wagons (RWD and AWD) and currently have a Volvo V60 T6 (AWD). My least favorite is the CUV; those can die in a fire.
Hatch back coupe. They are so practical and I think look great. Many of my early cars were hatch backs (Honda Civic, VW Scirocco, Datsun B210, Monza 2+2, Nissan 200 SX). It is not even close for me.
As the former owner of a Gen 2 and Gen 3 Integra, I have an eternal love of 2-door lift back coupes. They are aesthetically and functionally perfect, and their demise in the marketplace brings me constant sorrow.
Gen3 Integra: Quite possibly the world’s best car.
Station Wagon. duh!
Fastback coupe.
Specifically, I like diminutive, simple, lightweight, racing-oriented coupes with sexy curves, no extraneous stylistic BS, and with attention paid to aerodynamic drag reduction. 10 examples:
-Lotus Elite, 1st gen
-Costin Nathan
-Porsche 550 Coupe
-Ferrari 250 GTO Breadvan
-Shelby Daytona Coupe
-Alfa Romeo TZ
-Alfa Romeo BAT7
-Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Coupe
-Triumph Spitfire ADU1B
-Aston Martin DP215
You get the idea.
Such a platform is also PERFECT for a lightweight, long range, inexpensive EV supercar at Miata-like prices or a 100+ mpg turbodiesel that performs accordingly at similar cost.
I’m all about democratizing supercars. They shouldn’t be expensive toys exclusive to rich people, but aspirational vehicles for people of modest means to enjoy while they’re still young, and cheap/reliable enough to use as a daily.
These days it’s convertible. I love driving mine and it’s probably my favorite car I’ve ever owned.
The only one I don’t care for is the CUV style. Not to me confused with an SUV that’s capable off-road.
Every CUV I’ve driven I walk away asking “were all the compromises worth it?” and the answer is always “no”.
In 27 vehicles, there’s only one that I have owned twice. Miata is always the answer, but other convertibles are also acceptable. It’s amazing how much more free you feel without a roof overhead.
One condition I had was being able to fit kids in the back so unfortunately a Miata was a non starter. Otherwise I’d seriously consider one.
I also find other drivers and pedestrians are much more likely to strike up a conversation in traffic lol.
That’s fair. For my new one I wanted to make sure I got one without a passenger airbag so I can take one kid with me at least. They are loving it!
My favorite is a good ol’ coupe/sedan.
Fastback Coupe.
Wagons. The best form of car.
– Practical
– Versatile
– Can be made to be sporty (while retaining its practical nature)
– Can be made to be very comfortable
– come in all sizes
– Not 500 feet tall but still practical
– could be optioned with wonderful fake wood vinyl
I know some of these can be applied to other body styles but wagons are just too good
1. Small pickup
2. Roadster
3. Coupe
4. Hatchback
5. Shooting Brake
6. Wagon
7. Crossover
I really like the 1967 Dodge Charger. That smooth fastback style but not bubbled. I also love wagons of many types and have owned many.
My favorite body style is the single cab-long bed pickup truck. Four door trucks are more practical (particularly those with a 6.5 foot or longer bed), but two door trucks are cooler.
Wagons, the most efficient vehicle shape for the majority of people! They can haul anywhere from 5-7 passengers, generally have more storage space than SUVs, and get better mileage than a truck or SUV as well. For the vast majority of people, they don’t need a truck or SUV, they need a wagon!
Wagon. That’s the right answer. Especially ones that actually are functional rather than too sloped in the rear.
But what is the wagon of your dreams?
V90 for me. No question.
What is a van but a tall wagon?
What is a wagon but a short van?
Absolutely correct. I’ve owned a number of bidy styles, but nothing beats the wagon for it’s ability to do pretty much everything. Mine is small and compact enough to fit into any space and has a tight turning radius, it’s low enough to feel a tiny bit sporty (it’s not, it’s a diesel), but huge enough inside to fit an entire 1br apartment. Occasional mechanical issues aside, it’s perfect.
Roadster and hatchback are my 2 favorites, but I have 2 “sport” sedans in the family at the moment too.
I guess I’ll go in descending order: 2-door hardtop (pillarless), 2-door coupe, 2-door wagon, 4-door sport wagon, shooting brake, 3-door hatch, 5-door hatch, big 2-door (4-seat) convertible, full size van. At the bottom is sedan followed by CUVs in ascending size.
2 door SUVs
LOL V10, I thought you had written ‘2 door CUV’ and I thought for sure I’d caught you trolling.
But a legit 2 door SUV? Yes, I’m on board. My family had a ’79 Bronco, and one of those is still on my bucket list of cars. 1st gen Broncos are red-hot right now, with people building (and evidently selling) 6-figure restomod versions. I also have an affinity for the first gen roofless Blazers – a buddy of mine once built a 2 wheel drive ’72 Blazer into a road burner, powered by a 300 horse 350 mated to a Viper 6 speed, and turning steamroller meats on widened truck rallye steelies, that thing was sweet. I’m starting to think that it might be time to pick up an old curved-glass Ramcharger before the square body craze bleeds over on them too much, like has started to happen to the pickups.
Heck, even the 2 door midsize SUV’s from the 80’s and 90’s have a bunch of charm. I’ve been keeping my eye out for a 90’s ZR2 Blazer, ideally in that purple color they came in back then. With the factory lift and 31″ tires those things had the perfect stance, and the 4.3 V6 is an all time great engine, right up there with the Jeep 4.0. Unfortunately an unmolested 2 door, stick-shift XJ is basically unobtanium now…
Small and tall with sliding doors and a hatch.
Also a flatish two door hardtop because racecar!
I’m a big fan of 4-door performance sedans. Like BMW M5 / Audi RS5, Lexus IS F Sport….
Van life for me. But my wife hates them….
Over time, attitudes can and do evolve.
I’ve been at it for 11 years. Yay vans!
Big Beautiful Wagon
Full size van, minivan, hatchback, sedan…. last tiny crossover
Wedge. Lamborghini Countach. Stratos Zero. Bring back the flying doorstop!
Any, as long it has the proper transmission!
So, anything from nissan?
You said it, not me!