VEHICLE CLASS DIVISION

Accurate class distinctions are critical to fair and reliable automotive performance assessments. Therefore, ASG’s 2019 classifications are based on objective data to the fullest extent possible, using the calculated interior volume index as defined and driven by the Code of Federal Regulations (Title 40 Section 600.315.08, 1 July 2013) Classes of Comparable Automobiles (CCA). Automobiles that fall at a class intersect were further evaluated by interior and exterior dimensions to develop an advanced model that differentiated the class gap.

The automobiles that were included in this Study are model year 2019 Cars, Crossovers and SUVs available to North American consumers, and with full production capabilities. Several model year 2019 EVs are not available to consumers nationwide, and are in fact extremely limited in production numbers and may be considered compliance vehicles; these vehicles were therefore not included in ASG's 2019 findings by class.

Two-seater cars and convertibles were omitted from the 2019 Study given the specialized nature of this class of vehicle and the limited number of vehicles that are of relative size and function.

CAR

While the CCA specified eight unique car classes, ASG determined these classes were not necessarily allocated with mainstream consumer preferences in mind. ASG therefore consolidated several classes based on 2019 market trends to better serve the consumer automotive search.

CCA named Mini-Compact and Sub-Compact classes as distinct; ASG concluded that these two small car classes did not present attributes that were clearly differentiated; ASG therefore consolidated these two classes into ASG’s defined Mini-Compact class.

Further, CCA named three wagon classes - small, mid-size and large wagons, but ASG concluded that one wagon category served the 2019 wagon market offerings most appropriately. ASG determined that some small wagons in CCA’s assessment were in fact small cars with hatchback configurations that better fit standard car classes of relative size. Likewise, some CCA defined Mid-size and Large wagons were in fact Crossover vehicles that better fit into the Crossover class. For these reasons, each vehicle defined by CCA as a wagon in 2019 was scrutinized beyond the interior volume index to ensure appropriate class distinctions.

CROSSOVER / SUV

CCA named two SUV classes – Small and Standard. CCA also defined the SUV class distinctions by Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) – the maximum operating weight/mass of a vehicle including the vehicle's chassis, body, engine, engine fluids, fuel, accessories, driver, passengers and cargo. This method for distinguishing SUVs by GVWR harkens back to a time when SUVs were considered trucks. This does not accurately reflect the marketplace in 2019, in which SUVs are used most commonly as passenger vehicles, not trucks where operating load is of prime consideration.

ASG thereby took a different approach with SUV classification by using Interior Volume Index to calculate the usable interior space as the primary marker for classification, in much the same way as cars were classified. ASG also identified Crossovers as distinct from SUVs, with three crossover classes and two SUV classes that better serve the consumer search – Mini Crossover, Compact Crossover, Crossover, Mid-Size SUV, and Full-Size SUV – given the vast range of sizes across the classes.

TRUCK

ASG adopted the CCA GVWR distinctions between Small and Standard light-duty trucks, however ASG expanded the light-duty truck categories by differentiating between trucks of varying cab sizes. The reason for this distinction was to offer the consumer truck categories that best reflect their preferences. If one desires a crew cab, it is not beneficial for them to see how a regular cab compares in terms of environmental, economic and social performance, for example.

Similarly, ASG defined CCA’s Small Trucks as Mid-Size Trucks in Regular, Extended and Crew Cab classes, with CCA’s Standard Trucks as Full-Size Trucks in Regular, Extended and Crew Cab classes. These detailed class distinctions provide the basis for comparative vehicle assessments.

ASG CLASSES OF COMPARABLE CARS

TITLE 40 SECTION 600.315.08