88:
257:
99:
22:
199:
148:
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). Once again, the cars grew and by 1974 they were "about as large as the full-size cars of a decade or so ago ... best sellers
117:
that was introduced in 1956, although it was called a "compact" car at that time. 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.
168:
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
125:
and while it retained its basic dimensions, it was now competing with an array of new "intermediate" models from
General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. The introduction of the 1962
388:
248:
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.
798:
267:
219:
1693:
222:, which defined market segments by passenger and cargo space. Formerly mid-sized cars that were built on the same platform, like the
165:..." The domestic manufacturers began changing the definition of "medium" as they developed new models for an evolving market place.
1714:
705:
226:
sedan, had a combined passenger and cargo volume of 130 cubic feet (3.68 m), and were now considered "full-size" automobiles.
342:
1548:
667:
578:
552:
518:
126:
1686:
791:
429:
1728:
1707:
1700:
730:
1870:
1742:
1721:
195:) predicted that these will be the "big cars of the future." By 1978, General Motors made its intermediate models smaller.
1749:
1735:
245:, which was upsized into the midsize class in 1991. The Taurus and Camry came to define the mid-size market for decades.
784:
441:
465:
1849:
141:" that grew the mid-size market segment as the line of cars themselves kept increasing in size. By 1965, these
1606:
1502:
978:
1875:
1508:
390:
Corporate
Strategies of the Automotive Manufacturers: An historical perspective on the automobile industry
138:
55:
in the
European car classification. Mid-size cars are manufactured in a variety of body styles, including
130:
1766:
1568:
605:
274:(dated July 1996) includes definitions for classes of automobiles. Based on the combined passenger and
1542:
142:
203:
1497:
1453:
955:
87:
1578:
1553:
1172:
1357:
1880:
1801:
1573:
1483:
1410:
983:
899:
374:
1302:
1167:
922:
771:
671:
582:
556:
522:
496:
256:
76:
1796:
1760:
229:
Cars that defined the mid-size market in the 1980s and 1990s included the
Chrysler K-Cars (
170:
405:
8:
1654:
1375:
1187:
932:
744:
623:
98:
1786:
1664:
1636:
1380:
1312:
816:
296:
291:
162:
154:
56:
40:
346:
1811:
1674:
1659:
1646:
1626:
1601:
1445:
645:
437:
362:
692:
AMC plans to offer a more luxurious
Matador model to compete in the full-size market
1616:
1563:
1493:
1390:
1267:
1097:
260:
234:
188:
1217:
316:"'Mid-size' car definition by Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary"
1806:
1631:
1621:
1611:
1242:
731:"Code of Federal Regulations Sec. 600.315 - 82 Classes of comparable automobiles"
315:
211:
183:
122:
1557:
1347:
1322:
1307:
1212:
1159:
841:
1864:
1844:
1826:
1538:
1488:
1385:
1337:
1327:
1077:
1031:
927:
866:
207:
192:
178:
110:
64:
48:
21:
1292:
706:"Comparison: 2012-2013 Midsize Sedan Comparison: Battle of the Best-Sellers"
198:
1287:
1282:
1192:
1036:
1011:
242:
134:
26:
1839:
1781:
1776:
1593:
1533:
1518:
1473:
1405:
1342:
1297:
1202:
1087:
1072:
1067:
1062:
950:
856:
393:. U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1978. p. 153.
238:
230:
223:
174:
158:
150:
114:
103:
91:
72:
44:
1435:
1420:
1415:
1182:
1021:
1003:
914:
876:
851:
43:
which originated in the United States and is used for cars larger than
1583:
1523:
1463:
1430:
1332:
1317:
1277:
1272:
1252:
1232:
1177:
1145:
1140:
1135:
1130:
1125:
1120:
1115:
1110:
1105:
1016:
993:
889:
846:
68:
52:
218:
New "official" size designations in the U.S. were introduced by the
16:
North
American Australian / European standard for an automobile size
1821:
1816:
1791:
1528:
1257:
1247:
1237:
1222:
1197:
1041:
1026:
988:
960:
904:
894:
831:
1468:
1458:
1425:
1400:
1395:
1262:
1227:
1046:
942:
884:
836:
1478:
133:
in size and performance as well as too close to the full-sized
733:. U.S. Government Publishing Office. 1 July 1996. p. 733.
336:
1352:
1207:
776:
275:
60:
137:
models in price. It was the introduction of
General Motors "
1512:
1082:
970:
807:
145:
mid-size models matched the size of 1955 full-size cars.
406:"What's a Matador? The AMC Matador, Rebel, and Classic"
272:
Fuel
Economy Regulations for 1977 and Later Model Year
94:"compact" car later reclassified as an "intermediate"
129:
was viewed by consumers as too close to the compact
51:. "Large family car" is a UK term and a part of the
434:
American Cars, 1960-1972: Every Model, Year by Year
187:of four intermediate sedans (the 1976 AMC Matador,
1862:
278:volume, mid-size cars are defined as having an
557:"Intermediate sedans - big cars of the future"
792:
745:"FAQ - How are vehicle size classes defined?"
551:
282:of 110–119 cu ft (3.1–3.4 m).
268:United States Environmental Protection Agency
109:The automobile that defined this size in the
121:By the early 1960s, the car was renamed the
772:Vehicles listed by EPA class (1984–present)
703:
583:"GM for '78: the intermediates are smaller"
79:can also fall under the mid-size category.
799:
785:
427:
210:, marketed in the U.S. as a mid-size car (
666:
577:
517:
423:
421:
419:
1203:Cabriolet / Convertible / Drophead coupe
606:"Review Flashback! 1997 Cadillac Catera"
403:
255:
197:
97:
86:
20:
1549:Homogeneous charge compression ignition
624:"How are vehicle size classes defined?"
1863:
523:"Detroit Report: an intermediate step"
463:
416:
780:
704:St. Antoine, Arthur (December 2012).
603:
251:
494:
404:Severson, Aaron (25 December 2009).
648:. fueleconomy.gov. 10 November 1978
466:"What Women Should Know About Cars"
13:
646:"1978 49-state Fuel Economy Guide"
14:
1892:
1213:Coupé de Ville / Sedanca de Ville
765:
672:"A Sneak Preview of the '78 cars"
737:
723:
697:
660:
638:
616:
610:The Daily Drive: Consumer Guide
597:
571:
428:Flory, Jr., J. "Kelly" (2004).
1850:Template:EC car classification
806:
604:Appel, Tom (25 October 2017).
545:
511:
488:
457:
397:
381:
330:
308:
1:
555:; Hill, Ray (February 1976).
302:
7:
1871:Vehicles introduced in 1956
495:Lund, Robert (March 1976).
464:Shafer, Ronald. D. (1974).
285:
10:
1897:
1539:Gasoline / petrol
1303:Roadster / Spider / Spyder
82:
1835:
1759:
1679:(engine / drive)
1673:
1645:
1592:
1444:
1366:
1158:
1096:
1055:
1002:
969:
941:
913:
875:
824:
815:
1318:Sedan delivery/Panel van
497:"Detroit Listening Post"
436:. McFarland. p. 8.
1579:Liquified petroleum gas
1391:Driverless (autonomous)
181:. A comparison test by
1484:Compressed natural gas
1411:Personal rapid transit
318:. K Dictionaries. 2005
263:
215:
106:
95:
77:Compact executive cars
29:
1750:Dual motor-four-wheel
1348:Town (Coupé de Ville)
280:interior volume index
259:
206:: a British/European
201:
101:
90:
24:
1761:Engine configuration
567:(2): 36, 38, 44, 46.
349:on 20 September 2020
341:(5 September 2007).
1876:Car classifications
1767:internal combustion
1569:Internal combustion
1376:All-terrain vehicle
1298:Retractable hardtop
749:www.fueleconomy.gov
343:"1956-1957 Rambler"
204:Vauxhall/Opel Omega
191:, Ford Torino, and
521:(September 1975).
373:has generic name (
297:Vehicle size class
292:Car classification
264:
252:Current definition
216:
163:Plymouth Satellite
155:Chevrolet Chevelle
107:
96:
41:vehicle size class
30:
1858:
1857:
1154:
1153:
923:Compact executive
626:. fueleconomy.gov
501:Popular Mechanics
410:Ate Up With Motor
47:and smaller than
1888:
1770:
1729:Front-four-wheel
1680:
1543:direct injection
1454:Alternative fuel
1268:Multi-stop truck
822:
821:
801:
794:
787:
778:
777:
760:
759:
757:
755:
741:
735:
734:
727:
721:
720:
718:
716:
701:
695:
694:
689:
687:
664:
658:
657:
655:
653:
642:
636:
635:
633:
631:
620:
614:
613:
601:
595:
594:
581:(October 1977).
575:
569:
568:
549:
543:
542:
540:
538:
515:
509:
508:
492:
486:
485:
483:
481:
461:
455:
454:
452:
450:
425:
414:
413:
401:
395:
394:
385:
379:
378:
372:
368:
366:
358:
356:
354:
345:. Archived from
337:Auto Editors of
334:
328:
327:
325:
323:
312:
261:Chevrolet Malibu
235:Plymouth Reliant
189:Chevrolet Malibu
1896:
1895:
1891:
1890:
1889:
1887:
1886:
1885:
1861:
1860:
1859:
1854:
1831:
1802:Single-cylinder
1764:
1763:
1755:
1743:Rear-four-wheel
1694:Front mid-front
1678:
1677:
1669:
1647:Engine position
1641:
1588:
1574:Liquid nitrogen
1440:
1368:
1362:
1150:
1092:
1051:
998:
984:Crossover (CUV)
965:
937:
909:
871:
811:
805:
768:
763:
753:
751:
743:
742:
738:
729:
728:
724:
714:
712:
702:
698:
685:
683:
676:Popular Science
665:
661:
651:
649:
644:
643:
639:
629:
627:
622:
621:
617:
602:
598:
587:Popular Science
576:
572:
561:Popular Science
550:
546:
536:
534:
527:Popular Science
516:
512:
493:
489:
479:
477:
470:Harper's Bazaar
462:
458:
448:
446:
444:
426:
417:
402:
398:
387:
386:
382:
370:
369:
360:
359:
352:
350:
335:
331:
321:
319:
314:
313:
309:
305:
288:
254:
212:Cadillac Catera
184:Popular Science
143:GM "A platform"
139:senior compacts
123:Rambler Classic
85:
35:—also known as
17:
12:
11:
5:
1894:
1884:
1883:
1878:
1873:
1856:
1855:
1853:
1852:
1847:
1842:
1836:
1833:
1832:
1830:
1829:
1824:
1819:
1814:
1809:
1804:
1799:
1794:
1789:
1784:
1779:
1773:
1771:
1757:
1756:
1754:
1753:
1746:
1739:
1736:Mid-four-wheel
1732:
1725:
1718:
1711:
1704:
1697:
1690:
1683:
1681:
1671:
1670:
1668:
1667:
1662:
1657:
1651:
1649:
1643:
1642:
1640:
1639:
1634:
1629:
1624:
1619:
1614:
1609:
1604:
1598:
1596:
1590:
1589:
1587:
1586:
1581:
1576:
1571:
1566:
1561:
1551:
1546:
1536:
1531:
1526:
1521:
1516:
1506:
1500:
1491:
1486:
1481:
1476:
1471:
1466:
1461:
1456:
1450:
1448:
1442:
1441:
1439:
1438:
1433:
1428:
1423:
1418:
1413:
1408:
1403:
1398:
1393:
1388:
1383:
1378:
1372:
1370:
1364:
1363:
1361:
1360:
1355:
1350:
1345:
1340:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1323:Shooting brake
1320:
1315:
1313:Saloon / Sedan
1310:
1305:
1300:
1295:
1290:
1285:
1280:
1275:
1270:
1265:
1260:
1255:
1250:
1245:
1240:
1235:
1230:
1225:
1220:
1215:
1210:
1205:
1200:
1195:
1190:
1185:
1180:
1175:
1170:
1164:
1162:
1156:
1155:
1152:
1151:
1149:
1148:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1123:
1118:
1113:
1108:
1102:
1100:
1094:
1093:
1091:
1090:
1085:
1080:
1075:
1070:
1065:
1059:
1057:
1053:
1052:
1050:
1049:
1044:
1039:
1034:
1029:
1024:
1019:
1014:
1008:
1006:
1000:
999:
997:
996:
991:
986:
981:
975:
973:
967:
966:
964:
963:
958:
953:
947:
945:
939:
938:
936:
935:
930:
925:
919:
917:
911:
910:
908:
907:
902:
897:
892:
887:
881:
879:
873:
872:
870:
869:
864:
859:
854:
849:
844:
839:
834:
828:
826:
819:
817:Classification
813:
812:
804:
803:
796:
789:
781:
775:
774:
767:
766:External links
764:
762:
761:
736:
722:
696:
659:
637:
615:
596:
570:
544:
510:
487:
456:
442:
430:"Introduction"
415:
396:
380:
339:Consumer Guide
329:
306:
304:
301:
300:
299:
294:
287:
284:
253:
250:
84:
81:
65:station wagons
49:full-size cars
25:The mid-sized
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1893:
1882:
1881:Mid-size cars
1879:
1877:
1874:
1872:
1869:
1868:
1866:
1851:
1848:
1846:
1843:
1841:
1838:
1837:
1834:
1828:
1825:
1823:
1820:
1818:
1815:
1813:
1810:
1808:
1805:
1803:
1800:
1798:
1797:Reciprocating
1795:
1793:
1790:
1788:
1785:
1783:
1780:
1778:
1775:
1774:
1772:
1768:
1762:
1758:
1751:
1747:
1744:
1740:
1737:
1733:
1730:
1726:
1723:
1719:
1716:
1715:Rear mid-rear
1712:
1709:
1705:
1702:
1698:
1695:
1691:
1688:
1685:
1684:
1682:
1676:
1672:
1666:
1663:
1661:
1658:
1656:
1653:
1652:
1650:
1648:
1644:
1638:
1635:
1633:
1630:
1628:
1625:
1623:
1620:
1618:
1615:
1613:
1610:
1608:
1605:
1603:
1600:
1599:
1597:
1595:
1591:
1585:
1582:
1580:
1577:
1575:
1572:
1570:
1567:
1565:
1562:
1559:
1555:
1552:
1550:
1547:
1544:
1540:
1537:
1535:
1532:
1530:
1527:
1525:
1522:
1520:
1517:
1514:
1510:
1507:
1504:
1501:
1499:
1495:
1492:
1490:
1487:
1485:
1482:
1480:
1477:
1475:
1472:
1470:
1467:
1465:
1462:
1460:
1457:
1455:
1452:
1451:
1449:
1447:
1443:
1437:
1434:
1432:
1429:
1427:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1417:
1414:
1412:
1409:
1407:
1404:
1402:
1399:
1397:
1394:
1392:
1389:
1387:
1384:
1382:
1379:
1377:
1374:
1373:
1371:
1365:
1359:
1356:
1354:
1351:
1349:
1346:
1344:
1341:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1328:Station wagon
1326:
1324:
1321:
1319:
1316:
1314:
1311:
1309:
1306:
1304:
1301:
1299:
1296:
1294:
1291:
1289:
1286:
1284:
1281:
1279:
1276:
1274:
1271:
1269:
1266:
1264:
1261:
1259:
1256:
1254:
1251:
1249:
1246:
1244:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1234:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1224:
1221:
1219:
1218:Coupé utility
1216:
1214:
1211:
1209:
1206:
1204:
1201:
1199:
1196:
1194:
1191:
1189:
1186:
1184:
1181:
1179:
1176:
1174:
1171:
1169:
1166:
1165:
1163:
1161:
1157:
1147:
1144:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1127:
1124:
1122:
1119:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1109:
1107:
1104:
1103:
1101:
1099:
1095:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1079:
1076:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1064:
1061:
1060:
1058:
1054:
1048:
1045:
1043:
1040:
1038:
1035:
1033:
1032:Sport compact
1030:
1028:
1025:
1023:
1020:
1018:
1015:
1013:
1010:
1009:
1007:
1005:
1001:
995:
992:
990:
987:
985:
982:
980:
977:
976:
974:
972:
968:
962:
959:
957:
954:
952:
949:
948:
946:
944:
943:Minivan / MPV
940:
934:
931:
929:
926:
924:
921:
920:
918:
916:
912:
906:
903:
901:
898:
896:
893:
891:
888:
886:
883:
882:
880:
878:
874:
868:
865:
863:
860:
858:
855:
853:
850:
848:
845:
843:
840:
838:
835:
833:
830:
829:
827:
823:
820:
818:
814:
809:
802:
797:
795:
790:
788:
783:
782:
779:
773:
770:
769:
750:
746:
740:
732:
726:
711:
707:
700:
693:
681:
677:
673:
670:(June 1977).
669:
663:
647:
641:
625:
619:
611:
607:
600:
592:
588:
584:
580:
574:
566:
562:
558:
554:
548:
532:
528:
524:
520:
514:
506:
502:
498:
491:
475:
471:
467:
460:
445:
443:9780786452002
439:
435:
431:
424:
422:
420:
411:
407:
400:
392:
391:
384:
376:
371:|author=
364:
348:
344:
340:
333:
317:
311:
307:
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1637:Twelve-wheel
1594:Drive wheels
1367:Specialized
1288:Pickup truck
1193:Cabrio coach
1037:Sports sedan
1012:Grand tourer
861:
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243:Toyota Camry
228:
217:
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173:such as the
167:
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73:convertibles
45:compact cars
37:intermediate
36:
32:
31:
27:Honda Accord
18:
1787:Four-stroke
1687:Front-front
1627:Eight-wheel
1602:Front-wheel
1534:Natural gas
1519:Fossil fuel
1474:Biogasoline
1160:Body styles
1088:Vintage car
715:24 December
710:Motor Trend
630:24 December
593:(4): 92–95.
239:Ford Taurus
231:Dodge Aries
224:AMC Matador
175:Ford LTD II
159:AMC Matador
151:Ford Torino
115:Rambler Six
104:Ford Taurus
92:Rambler Six
1865:Categories
1812:Two-stroke
1708:Front-rear
1701:Rear-front
1617:Four-wheel
1607:Rear-wheel
1446:Propulsion
1436:Voiturette
1421:Flying car
1416:Police car
1381:Amphibious
1293:Quad coupé
1183:Berlinetta
900:Street rod
842:Subcompact
686:27 January
652:27 January
537:26 January
480:29 October
449:29 October
353:29 October
322:25 January
303:References
241:, and the
202:1994-1999
102:1986–1989
69:hatchbacks
1722:Rear-rear
1632:Ten-wheel
1622:Six-wheel
1612:Two-wheel
1524:Fuel cell
1464:Biodiesel
1431:Tow truck
1406:Pedal car
1386:Connected
1358:Vis-Ă -vis
1333:Targa top
1278:Panel van
1273:Notchback
1253:Limousine
1243:Landaulet
1233:Hatchback
1178:Barchetta
1146:S-segment
1141:M-segment
1136:J-segment
1131:F-segment
1126:E-segment
1121:D-segment
1116:C-segment
1111:B-segment
1106:A-segment
1017:Hot hatch
994:Coupe SUV
928:Executive
890:Lead sled
867:Full-size
847:Supermini
754:5 January
668:Jim Dunne
579:Jim Dunne
553:Jim Dunne
519:Jim Dunne
171:platforms
53:D-segment
1845:Category
1822:W engine
1807:Straight
1564:Hydrogen
1529:Fuel gas
1494:Electric
1369:vehicles
1308:Runabout
1258:Microvan
1248:Liftback
1238:Kammback
1223:Fastback
1198:Cab over
1188:Brougham
933:Personal
905:T-bucket
895:Lowrider
862:Mid-size
507:(3): 14.
363:cite web
286:See also
177:and the
149:include
113:was the
33:Mid-size
1817:V (Vee)
1792:H-block
1558:plug-in
1556: (
1541: (
1511: (
1509:Ethanol
1498:battery
1496: (
1469:Biofuel
1459:Autogas
1426:Taxicab
1401:Gyrocar
1396:Go-kart
1343:Touring
1338:Torpedo
1283:Phaeton
1263:Minibus
1228:Hardtop
1073:Economy
1068:Classic
1063:Antique
1047:Go-kart
979:Compact
956:Leisure
951:Compact
885:Hot rod
857:Compact
825:By size
682:(6): 78
533:(3): 40
237:), the
83:History
1840:Portal
1827:Wankel
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1479:Biogas
1173:Baquet
1022:Muscle
1004:Sports
915:Luxury
877:Custom
852:Family
810:design
440:
270:(EPA)
131:Falcon
71:, and
61:coupes
57:sedans
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1777:Boxer
1655:Front
1584:Steam
1353:T-top
1208:Coupe
1056:Other
1042:Super
832:Micro
276:cargo
1782:Flat
1665:Rear
1027:Pony
989:Mini
961:Mini
756:2019
717:2012
688:2019
654:2019
632:2012
539:2019
482:2020
476:: 36
451:2020
438:ISBN
375:help
355:2020
324:2019
266:The
233:and
135:Ford
1660:Mid
1513:E85
1503:NEV
1168:2+2
1083:Van
1078:Ute
971:SUV
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