61-529: The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a series of compact executive cars produced by Mercedes-Benz Group AG . Introduced in 1993 as a replacement for the 190 (W201) range, the C-Class was the smallest model in the marque's line-up until the W168 A-Class arrived in 1997. The C-Class has been available with a " 4MATIC " four-wheel drive option since 2002. The third generation (W204) was launched in 2007 while
122-557: A compact car ( C-segment ). The segment may be called differently depending on the market. In several regions, the category may be known as "compact crossover" or "compact SUV" instead. This category is particularly popular in Europe, India, and Brazil, where it accounted for 37, 75, and 69% respectively of total SUV sales in 2018. In the United States, it accounted for 7% of total SUV sales in 2018. The best-selling vehicle in
183-533: A capable and more efficient alternative to larger truck-based SUVs. Another example is the Volvo V70 XC (also called V70 Cross Country), first introduced in 1999. In 2002, the model was renamed the XC70. Audi has been making Allroad versions of their station wagons since 1999. The Volkswagen Alltrack and Škoda Scout are equivalent variants. The crossover-styled variant of hatchbacks or city cars with
244-474: A crossover SUV segment. These vehicles have been described as pseudo-crossovers. Many manufacturers have released "off-road" versions of station wagons, with larger cargo space and greater practicality, that are marketed as more capable in soft off-road or all-weather situations due to their raised ground clearance, making them a "crossover" between a station wagon and an SUV. In North America, some manufacturers sell station wagons with crossover styling due to
305-622: A distinction between a crossover SUV and body-on-frame SUV, calling both of them SUVs. Several government bodies in the United States also did not acknowledge the crossover distinction, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) . In some jurisdictions, crossovers are classified as light trucks as are traditional SUVs and pickup trucks. Outside the United States, the term "crossover" tends to be used for C-segment ( compact ) or smaller vehicles, with large unibody vehicles—such as
366-521: A mass production car in the 00's . The 9-3 also had high emphasis on car safety , which was a high priority in the design of all Saab cars. Also the previous Saab 99 and Saab 900 could be considered as compact executive cars at some markets, while especially in Northern Europe these models were more commonly seen as ordinary small family cars. An early compact executive car produced in Japan
427-446: A more comfortable ride, better fuel economy, and lower manufacturing costs, but inferior off-road and towing capabilities. Many crossovers lack an all-wheel drive or four-wheel-drive train, which, in combination with their inferior off-road capability, causes many journalists and consumers to question their definition as "sports utility vehicles". This has led some to describe crossovers as pseudo-SUVs. Introduced in 1979, prior to
488-482: A sloping rear roofline may be marketed as a "coupe crossover SUV" or "coupe SUV". Although the term " coupe " itself is supposed to refer to a passenger car with a sloping or truncated rear roofline, most coupé crossover SUVs are equipped with five doors. The sloping roofline is designed to offer a styling advantage over its standard crossover counterpart. The body style has attracted criticism as being less attractive and less practical than normal crossovers. The BMW X6
549-577: A stiffer body/shell and a design inspired by the W221 S-Class with some influences from the C219 CLS-Class . The C-Class received a facelift in 2011 for the 2012 model year including new LED taillights, a revised dashboard and instrument cluster layout, and a revised front fascia and headlights. The W204 platform continued into 2015 with the C-Class coupe. The final farewell of the W204, and also
610-511: Is a UK term and a part of the D-segment in the European car classification. An executive car generally needs to be comfortable and well-equipped while also being cheap to run as a company car . They may have performance features and are often viewed as status symbols. A high percentage of the "executive cars" market share consists of corporate-owned cars, or vehicles provided by a firm for
671-639: Is a class of crossover SUVs that is larger than compact crossover SUVs , but smaller than full-size crossover SUVs . Mid-size crossover SUVs are usually based on the platform of a mid-size (also known as a large family car or a D-segment ) passenger car, while some models are based on a full-size car ( F-segment ) or a compact ( C-segment ) platform. Some mid-size crossovers have three rows of seats, while others have two rows, which led to several brands offering multiple models to cater to both sub-segments. In Australia, American mid-sized crossovers are classified as large SUVs. The first mid-size crossovers included
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#1732781055383732-598: Is a type of automobile with an increased ride height that is built on unibody chassis construction shared with passenger cars , as opposed to traditional sport utility vehicles ( SUVs ), which are built on a body-on-frame chassis construction similar to pickup trucks . A term that originated from North America, the term crossover was initially used for any vehicle that blends characteristics between two different kinds of vehicles while, over time, crossover mostly refers to unibody-based SUVs. Crossovers are also described as "car-like SUVs" or "car-based SUVs". The term SUV
793-650: Is credited to be the first coupe crossover. The first crossover convertible was the AMC Eagle marketed by AMC dealers during the 1981 and 1982 model years as the Sundancer, a factory-authorized conversion of the all-wheel-drive two-door sedans. Several convertible crossover SUVs have entered mass production, including the Toyota RAV4 convertible. Released in North America in the 1998 model year, it
854-524: Is often used as an umbrella term for both crossovers and traditional SUVs due to the similarities between them. Compared to traditional SUVs, crossovers are known to be less capable of use in off-road conditions or hauling heavy loads, while instead offering other advantages such as superior fuel economy and handling . Compared to traditional cars with lower ride height and a lower roof such as sedans and hatchbacks , crossovers offer larger cabin space and enhanced driving position. The 1977 Lada Niva
915-549: Is often used as an umbrella term for both crossovers and traditional SUVs. U.S. magazine MotorTrend in 2005 mentioned that the term "crossover" has become "blurred as manufacturers apply it to everything from the Chrysler Pacifica to the Ford Five Hundred sedan". At that time, the publication proposes that the term "soft-roader" is more appropriate. Some regions outside North America do not have
976-518: Is sometimes considered to include the three-row mid-size crossover class, as in the case of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L . is one of only a few three-door crossovers still in production. While three-door body-on-frame SUVs are not uncommon, crossover SUVs with three doors (including the tailgate door) are less prevalent. The decline of two or three-door vehicles, in general, has led to the decline of this category. Crossover SUVs with
1037-405: Is that a crossover is built using a unibody platform, while an SUV is built using a body-on-frame platform. However, these definitions are often blurred in practice, since unibody vehicles are also often referred to as SUVs. "Crossover" is a relatively recent term, and early unibody SUVs (such as the 1984 Jeep Cherokee ) are rarely called crossovers. Due to these inconsistencies, the term "SUV"
1098-637: Is the category of the smallest premium cars. It is part of the C-segment in the European car classification. Examples include the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and CLA-Class , Audi A3 , Volvo S40 , BMW 1 Series , and 2 Series . Premium compacts compete with well-equipped mid-size cars , and highly optioned premium compact cars can have pricing and features that overlaps with compact executive cars. Crossover (automobile) A crossover , crossover SUV , or crossover utility vehicle ( CUV )
1159-544: Is the world's first mass-produced unibody off-road vehicle and has been credited as a forerunner of crossovers before that term was used, with the '79 AMC Eagle , being the first US example. The Toyota RAV4 , first introduced in 1994, pioneered the modern concept of a crossover. In the US, the market share of crossovers has grown from under 4% in 2000 to nearly 40% in 2018. The difference between crossover SUVs and other SUVs as generally defined by journalists and manufacturers
1220-455: The 9-3 -model which was a compact executive car. Based on heavily modified GM engines and platforms, the 9-3 was available as a convertible , hatchback (first generation), sedan (second generation) and station wagon (second generation). The 9-3 had a wide variety of both petrol and diesel engine options. Most of the petrol engines were turbocharged and supported the use of ethanol fuel , which were both relatively uncommon features for
1281-708: The Audi Q7 , Range Rover , Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg —usually referred to as SUVs rather than crossovers. In the United Kingdom, a crossover is sometimes defined as a hatchback with raised ride height and SUV-like styling features. The Sunday Times noted the number of "soft-roader" cars on sale in 2019. Crossovers' driving characteristics and performance are similar to those of traditional passenger cars while providing more passenger and cargo space with relatively minor trade-offs in fuel economy and running costs. According to Consumer Reports ,
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#17327810553831342-643: The Cadillac BLS (2005–2009). The BLS was both developed and manufactured by Saab in Trollhättan , Sweden . The model was never sold in the Northern American market. Cadillac's previous attempt at a compact executive car for the US market was the Cimarron manufactured in between 1981–1988. The Cimarron is largely considered to be a market failure and also at least partially responsible for
1403-641: The Lancia Dedra replaced the smaller Lancia Prisma . The Dedra was replaced by the Lancia Lybra , which was produced from 1998 to 2005. An early compact executive car produced in Germany was the 1966 BMW 02 Series , followed by the BMW 3 Series in 1975. In 1965 Audi introduced their first compact executive model Audi 72 . The 1983 Mercedes-Benz W201 range (also known as the "Mercedes-Benz 190")
1464-577: The Subaru Legacy SUS (short for "Sport Utility Sedan"), Volvo S60 Cross Country , Polestar 2 , Toyota Crown Crossover , Citroën C4 X and C3L in China, Renault/Dacia Logan Stepway and the Qoros 3 GT . Since the early 2010s, sales of crossover-type vehicles have been increasing in Europe. By 2017, European sales of compact and mid-sized crossover models continued to surge. Analysis of
1525-565: The Toyota Aygo X , Hyundai Casper , Suzuki Ignis , Renault Kwid , VinFast VF 5 , Suzuki Xbee , and the Fiat Panda Cross/City Cross . Subcompact crossover SUVs (also called B-segment crossover SUV, B-SUV, small SUV ) are crossovers that are usually based on the platform of a subcompact (also known as supermini or B-segment ) passenger car, although some high-end subcompact crossover models are based on
1586-624: The Toyota Corolla and Toyota Carina . At its release, Toyota in Japan used the term "4x4 vehicle" to describe the model, while Toyota in the US called the vehicle a "new concept SUV". By the early 2000s, Toyota was leading the market in its development of car-based trucks in North America with the release of other crossover models such as the Highlander and the Lexus RX . In North America, crossovers increased in popularity during
1647-491: The Toyota Highlander and Pontiac Aztek , both introduced for the 2001 model year. The segment is most popular in North America and China, where larger vehicles are preferred. It makes up 15.8% of the total United States car market. In Europe, the segment covers 2.1% of the total market in 2019 with luxury crossover SUVs dominating most of the share. The Toyota Highlander/Kluger was the best-selling vehicle in
1708-632: The 190. The first C-Class (W202) sedan was manufactured on 1 June 1993. The C-Class sedan was the company's entry-level model up until 1997 when Mercedes launched the A-Class. Styling themes were carried over from the previous W201 series, but the new series had a smoother and rounder design than the last generation of compact Mercedes, with styling cues from the W124 E-Class (short, high trunk and taller tail lights), W140 S-Class (front end), and R129 SL-Class (headlights). The second generation C-Class
1769-444: The 2000s, when fuel efficiency standards for light trucks, which had been stuck at 20.7 miles per US gallon (11.4 L/100 km; 8.8 km/L) since 1996, moved upwards by 2005. With increasing fuel prices, traditional SUVs began to lose market share to crossovers. In the United States as of 2006 , crossover models comprised more than 50% of the overall SUV market. Crossovers have become increasingly popular in Europe also since
1830-418: The 2018 Geneva Motor Show, including exterior changes and new engines. The W206 C-Class was unveiled on 23 February 2021. In China, the C-Class was launched in a long-wheelbase version (V206). For the first time, all W206 C-Class models are equipped with four-cylinder engines coupled with an integrated starter generator (15 kW electric motor) and a 48-volt electrical system. The C-Class All-Terrain (X206)
1891-651: The DS 4 and DS 5, but the change depends on the model) carry the Citroën logo. The smallest model offered by DS has been the DS 3 (sold until 2019), which could be considered to be a subcompact or even supermini executive car. The current DS 3 Crossback differs from the earlier model substantially, as it is a small crossover SUV . The Volvo S60 as well as its estate version Volvo V60 are considered to be compact executive cars. Saab Automobile , which went defunct in 2011, had
Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Misplaced Pages Continue
1952-570: The United Kingdom. The 1996 Alfa Romeo 156 has been classified as such. This was followed by the Alfa Romeo 159 and then the Giulia (Type 952) . An early compact executive car from Lancia is the 1972 Lancia Beta (Type 828) . The Beta morphed into the Lancia Trevi , which was produced from 1980 to 1984. Following an absence from the segment for five years, Lancia returned in 1989 when
2013-560: The business and sometimes private use by employees. The "compact executive car" description is not often used in the United States, but it describes certain models imported from Europe. The Cadillac ATS has been described as a compact executive car. The ATS was succeeded by the Cadillac CT4 . Before the ATS, a heavily badge engineered version of the Saab 9-3 was sold in Europe as
2074-544: The category in 2018, with 387,869 sold worldwide. Full-size crossover SUVs are usually based on full-size cars . They are the largest crossovers and offer exclusively three row seating. The first full-size crossovers included the Ford Freestyle , GMC Acadia , Saturn Outlook , and the Buick Enclave , with older full-size SUVs being built mostly above a body-on-frame chassis. The full-size crossover SUV class
2135-681: The convertible version, since it could only have two doors and little luggage space. Many manufacturers have capitalized on the SUV trend by offering a version of station wagons, hatchbacks, or MPVs with a raised ride height and the addition of rugged-looking accessories such as a black plastic wheel arch extension kit, body cladding, skid plates , and roof rails. Due to their raised ground clearance, these vehicles may then be marketed as more capable off-road. Some of them may also be equipped with an all-wheel-drive. This strategy has been used by manufacturers to move models upmarket or to help fill an absence in
2196-408: The current W206 generation was launched in 2021. Initially available in sedan and a station wagon configurations, a fastback coupé (SportCoupé) variant followed and was later renamed to Mercedes-Benz CLC-Class . It remained in production until 2011 when a new W204 C-Class coupé replaced it for the 2012 model year. In May 1993, the first generation W202 C-Class was introduced as a replacement for
2257-687: The early 2010s. In the first quarter of 2023 the Tesla Model Y crossover became the best-selling vehicle in the world. Depending on the market, crossovers are divided into several size categories. Since there is an absence of any official distinction, often the size category is ambiguous for some crossover models. Several aspects needed to determine the size category of a vehicle may include length and width, positioning in its respective brand line-up, platform , and interior space. Crossover city cars (also called A-SUVs, city SUVs, city crossovers, or A-segment SUVs) are crossovers that generally ride on
2318-637: The first MPVs with a crossover-style variant was the Renault Scénic RX4 , introduced in 2000. It featured a lifted ride height, rugged body cladding, tailgate-mounted spare wheel, and optional part-time four-wheel-drive. Another example is the Volkswagen CrossTouran , launched in 2006 as a lifted version of the Touran and marketed as a "lifestyle" vehicle. Apart from crossover-style variants equipped with exterior accessories, due to
2379-598: The former's unpopularity, the Subaru Outback being the most popular model. An early model of off-road-styled station wagons was the Subaru Legacy Outback (later Outback) in 1994. At the time, Subaru was absent in the growing SUV segment. Lacking the finances to design a ground-up SUV, Subaru added a two-tone paint scheme, body cladding, and a suspension lift to the Legacy wagon. It was marketed as
2440-444: The increasing crossover market shares, many manufacturers began developing MPVs from the ground up with crossover characteristics – and often marketed them either purely as an MPV or as a "crossover MPV" – such as the 5th generation of Renault Espace . The innovative unibody all-wheel drive AMC Eagle was available in two- and four-door sedan versions when introduced in 1979. Some examples of sedans with crossover characteristics are
2501-443: The innovative station wagon with a sliding roof "mashed up various vehicle types." It was available only with a conventional rear-wheel drive . Others cite the front-wheel drive 1977 Matra Rancho as a slightly earlier forerunner to the modern crossover. Marketed as a "lifestyle" vehicle, it was not available with four-wheel drive. In 1981, American Motors Corporation (AMC) introduced four-wheel drive subcompact models built on
Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Misplaced Pages Continue
2562-561: The late 2010s, the segment had emerged as the most popular segment in several regions. For example, nearly 1 in every 4 cars (24.2%) sold in the United States in 2019 was a compact crossover. It also comprised 5.6% of the total European car market. The best-selling vehicle in the segment in 2019 was the Toyota RAV4, with 961,918 units sold globally. In late 2020 the Volkswagen ID.4 and Ford Mustang Mach-E debuted as battery electric compact crossover SUVs. A mid-size crossover SUV
2623-607: The market share of compact crossovers in the US increased from 6 to more than 11%. In 2014, for the first time ever, sales of compact crossovers outpaced mid-size sedans in the United States. In 2019, the American magazine Car and Driver stated that "so many of these vehicles are crowding the marketplace, simply sorting through them can be a daunting task". Due to its popularity and to cater to customers' needs, many manufacturers offer more than one compact crossover, usually in slightly different sizes at different price points. By
2684-511: The market struggles that Cadillac faced during and after its production. The 1971 Triumph Dolomite is an early compact executive car. Jaguar's first compact executive car (although larger than the 1960s' Jaguar Mark 2 ) was the 2001 Jaguar X-Type . Sales, however, were disappointing. The X-type was replaced by the Jaguar XE in 2014, competing in the same sector. Alfa Romeo's models 75 and 155 are considered compact executive cars in
2745-670: The naturally aspirated V8, was in the Edition 507 model. This had increased power, lightweight wheels and the vented hood from the Black Series. The W205 C-Class was launched at the 2014 North American International Auto Show . The new structure was significantly lighter using aluminium and high-strength steel extensively throughout the body, resulting in a 100-kilogram (220 lb) weight decrease. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class 205 chassis spawned four C-Class bodystyles; sedan (W205), wagon (S205), coupe (C205), and cabriolet (A205). The car
2806-546: The platform of a city car ( A-segment ). Crossover city car is a newly introduced automotive vehicle segment , with the first vehicle in the segment being the Fiat Panda Cross , though the Suzuki Ignis helped bring the segment more attention. Cars in this segment are generally styled as hatchbacks . Since the late 2010s, the segment has received significantly more attention. As of 2023 , examples include
2867-496: The same body was introduced either as a substitute for or a complement to the subcompact crossover SUV. Most crossover-styled hatchbacks do not have all-wheel-drive. Forerunners of the SUV-themed hatchback are the 1983 Fiat Panda 4x4 , the 1994 Outback Sport , the 1996 Toyota Starlet Remix , and the 2003 Rover Streetwise . The Volkswagen Golf Country, a conversion by Steyr-Daimler-Puch, was also sold between 1990 and 1991, and
2928-505: The segment in 2019 was the Honda HR-V, with 622,154 units being recorded as having been sold worldwide. A compact crossover SUV (also called C-segment SUV or C-SUV ) is a vehicle that is usually based on the platform of a compact car ( C-segment ), while some models are based on a mid-size car ( D-segment ) or a subcompact ( B-segment ) platform. Most compact crossovers have two-row seating, but some have three rows. The naming of
2989-484: The segment may differ depending on the market. In several regions outside North America, the category may be known as "mid-size crossover" or "mid-size SUV", not to be confused with the North American definition of a mid-size crossover SUV, which is a larger D-segment crossover SUV. The first compact crossover was the 1980 AMC Eagle that was based on the compact-sized Concord line. Its four-wheel drive system
3050-412: The terms "SUV" or "crossover" being coined, the AMC Eagle is retroactively considered to be the first dedicated crossover automobile. The mass-market Eagle model line was based on a unibody passenger car platform, with fully-automatic four-wheel drive and a raised ride height. Furthermore, a writer for Motor Trend characterized the 1963 Studebaker Wagonaire as the "first crossover" because
3111-503: The three top-selling crossovers in the US in 2018 ( Toyota RAV4 , Honda CR-V , and Nissan Rogue ) return an average of 10% less fuel economy than the top three selling sedan equivalents in the mid-size segment ( Toyota Camry , Honda Accord , Nissan Altima ), but provide almost 1.5 times the cargo space. Furthermore, the average mid-size crossover in the US costs less than 5% more than the average mid-size car. Compared to truck-based SUVs, crossovers typically have greater interior comfort,
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#17327810553833172-419: The two-door AMC Spirit , the "Eagle SX/4" and "Eagle Kammback." These low-priced models joined the compact AMC Eagle line and they foreshadowed the market segment of comfortable cars with utility and foul-weather capabilities. The first-generation Toyota RAV4, released in 1994, has been credited as the model that expanded the concept of a modern crossover. The RAV4 was based on a modified platform used by
3233-428: Was an almost unheard-of feature on regular passenger cars at the time, and it came with full-time all-wheel drive, automatic transmission, power steering, power front disk brakes as standard, and numerous convenience and comfort options. Later models included the 1994 Toyota RAV4 , 1995 Honda CR-V , 1997 Subaru Forester , 2000 Nissan X-Trail , 2000 Mazda Tribute , and the 2001 Ford Escape . Between 2005 and 2010,
3294-668: Was introduced in March 2000 and production began on 18 July 2000. The sedan debuted with a range of inline-four and V6 petrol engines and inline-four and -five diesels, later W203's received the V6 diesel. Most of the engines were carried over from the W202, but the C320 was exclusive, offering 160 kW (215 hp; 218 PS). The diesels now featured common rail direct fuel injection and variable geometry turbochargers . A six-speed manual gearbox
3355-500: Was offered through the 1999 model year. Other examples include the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet , Range Rover Evoque Convertible , and Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet . This category was heavily criticized by journalists, enthusiasts, and analysts for numerous reasons, such as its design and high price tag. Some also questioned its purpose, as the practicality that crossovers usually have did not carryover to
3416-550: Was offered with part-time four-wheel drive and off-road exterior cladding. In the 2000s, the Volkswagen CrossPolo started the modern crossover-style hatchback trend and was marketed as an SUV-like "lifestyle" vehicle. The Dacia/Renault Sandero Stepway, the crossover-style version of the Sandero launched in 2009, is an example of a well-received crossover-style hatchback, making up 65% of Sandero sales. One of
3477-570: Was officially unveiled on 16 December 2013. W205 production commenced on 4 February 2014 at the Bremen plant. Production was also undertaken at Mercedes-Benz plants in East London (South Africa), Iracemápolis (Brazil) and Tuscaloosa, Alabama (United States). European sales began in March 2014, while the vehicle went on sale in North America in September 2014. A mid-life update made its debut at
3538-646: Was optional on some of the range, With exception to the C320 and C32 AMG. Notably (post 2005), for the first time, the number designations were no longer equivalent to the engine displacement, more specifically in the Mercedes C200 (1.8-litre), C240 (2.6-litre) and C200 CDI (2.2-litre). DaimlerChrysler introduced the W204 C-Class on 18 January 2007 and displayed it in the 2007 Geneva Auto Show . Sales started on 31 March 2007 in almost all European countries. The new family had an extended wheelbase and tracks,
3599-419: Was released as an off-road focused, crossover -inspired estate model. The model received external body cladding, a 40 mm increase in ride height, 4Matic AWD and additional drive modes. Press Kit (2011–): Compact executive car A compact executive car , also known as a compact luxury car , is a premium car larger than a premium compact and smaller than an executive car . Compact executive car
3660-612: Was the 1988 Mazda Persona / Eunos 300 . The first Japanese compact executive car to be successful in overseas markets is the 1998 Lexus IS / Toyota Altezza . Other Japanese compact executive cars include the Infiniti Q50 (by Nissan), Acura TLX (by Honda) and Mazda Xedos 6 . Compact executive cars produced in South Korea include the Genesis G70 . Subcompact executive cars , also called premium compacts ,
3721-527: Was the first compact executive car from Mercedes-Benz. In 1993, the W201 was replaced by the Mercedes-Benz C-Class range. DS Automobiles offers a compact executive with its DS 4 hatchback. From earlier models also the larger DS 5 (sold until 2018) could be considered a compact executive car. The DS brand used to be a sub-marque of Citroën , and thus earlier model years (before 2015 for
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