What are the average dimensions of a car?

What are the average dimensions of a car in Australia?

The average dimensions of a car are 4.9 metres long, 1.94 metres wide and 1.8 metres high.

That figure comes from averaging the dimensions of popular vehicle types spanning the Australian new car market.

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What's the average height of a car? What's the average width of a car? What's the average length of a car?

The average dimensions of a small/compact SUV are 3700mm* long, 1800mm wide and 1600mm high; the average dimensions of a medium SUV are approximately 4400mm long, 1840mm wide, and 1750mm high; the average dimensions of a large SUV are about 4800mm long, 1860mm wide and 1780mm high; the average dimensions of an upper large SUV are about 5200mm long, 1980mm wide and 1880mm high; the average dimensions of a ute are about 5300mm long, 1870mm wide and 1800mm high; and the average dimensions of a US pick-up are about 6000mm long, 2300mm wide and 1920mm high.

Note: Dimensions will be written as millimetres line with standard vehicle-specification details.

Read on.

The average dimensions of a US pick-up are about 6000mm long, 2300mm wide and 1920mm high. (Image: Mark Oastler)

How and why do the dimensions of a car differ? 

Well, there’s a fair bit of logic behind the existence of different car dimensions. Ever tried fitting a rugby team into a Mini Cooper? No, that’s because it simply wouldn’t work – and it’d be bloody stupid, anyway. Imagine the smell!

Car manufacturers build cars to cater for all of the different mobs in the world – single people, couples, families of various sizes, rugby teams – and, of course, to make even more money along the way.

But, generally speaking, cars within the same slice of the market – i.e. hatchbacks, SUVs, utes – will have similar dimensions to each other.

The BMW X7 measures in at 5.2 metres in length. (Image: Tim Nicholson)

Is there an advantage to having a small or big car? 

A major advantage to having a small car (hatchback, etc) is the ease with which you can park it – and, perhaps more importantly to many, the smaller a vehicle is, the less fuel or electricity it will consume.

A major advantage to having a big car (wagon, van, ute) is the fact that the extra size improves the vehicle’s capability to carry people and/or cargo.

How much do vehicles differ within the same category differ? Glad you asked.

Well, I reckon there’s about a school ruler’s length difference between the shortest and the longest in each category, and less than that, in terms of width and height.

But I may be wrong. Wouldn’t be the first time, won’t be the last. Have your say in the comments section.

A major advantage to having a small car (hatchback, etc) is the ease with which you can park it. (Image: Justin Hilliard)

What are the average dimensions of cars? 

For reference, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) defines* selected vehicle types on their footprint (defined as a vehicle’s length [in millimetres] x width [in millimetres], rounded).

This is a better way of considering how much space a vehicle occupies, rather than just taking its length, width or height alone into account.

* But even the FCAI qualifies its category definition with, “Note: These parameters are indicative only; exceptions do occur based on market focus and other subjective criteria. They are largely based on the specifications listed and are reflective of the volume-selling variant where cross over occurs.”

Micro, light or small cars* are vehicles such as the Hyundai Kona, Kia Picanto, Suzuki Ignis, Toyota Yaris and the like.

* Micro: “Hatch, sedan or wagon with a footprint < 6300mm”; Light: “Hatch, sedan or wagon with a footprint range 6301-7500mm”; or Small: “Hatch, sedan or wagon with a footprint range 7501-8300mm”, according to the FCAI.

A vehicles extra size improves the vehicle’s capability to carry people and/or cargo. (Image: Tung Nguyen)

The 2023 VW Polo is listed as “from 4080mm long, 1751mm wide and from 1442mm high”, according to our experts here at carsguide.com.au – and we reckon those offer a pretty good indication of what the average dimensions of a micro, light or small car are.

Moving up to medium SUVs – (with a FCAI-defined footprint between 8101mm and 8800mm) – which include vehicles such as the Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen Tiguan, etc.

These vehicles are referred to as 'medium' or 'mid-size' and may have five or seven seats.

The average dimensions of a medium SUV are approximately 4400mm long, 1840mm wide and 1750mm high.

Large SUVs can carry up to seven people; upper large SUVs are able to carry up to eight passengers. The large SUV category (with an FCAI-listed footprint of between 8801mm and 9800mm) include vehicles such as Land Rover Discovery, Toyota Prado and their ilk.

The average dimensions of a medium SUV are approximately 4400mm long, 1840mm wide and 1750mm high. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

The average dimensions of a large SUV are about 4800mm long, 1860mm wide and 1780mm high.

Upper large SUVs have an FCAI-defined footprint bigger than 9801mm: think Audi Q7 and BMW X7, through to Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series et al.

The average dimensions of an upper large SUV are about 5200mm long, 1980mm wide and 1880mm high.

Utes are classified as light trucks, which are “Vehicles designed principally for commercial but may include designs intended for non-commercial applications”.

These workhorse vehicles are available in two-wheel drive (4x2) or four-wheel drive (4x4), and as a cab chassis or with a tub at the rear.

The average dimensions of a ute are about 5300mm long, 1870mm wide and 1800mm high. (Image: Mark Oastler)

These vehicles can legally carry up to five people in the cabin, depending on the body type, and have a FCAI-defined footprint of between 9001mm and 9501mm.

The average dimensions of a ute are about 5300mm long, 1870mm wide and 1800mm high.

Pick-ups are simply utes that have been on the ’roids for a few solid years – we’re talking about the Ram 1500, the Ram 2500, the Chevrolet Silverado, the Ford F-150 etc. 

The average dimensions of a US pick-up are about 6000mm long, 2300mm wide and 1920mm high. 

Fiat's 500 measures 3571mm long, 1627mm wide and 1488mm wide.

What are the smallest and biggest vehicles available in Australia? 

The prize for the smallest vehicle in Australia should go to… geez, it's close.

Kia's Picanto at 3595mm long, 1595mm wide, and 1485mm high is line-ball with Fiat's 500 which measures 3571mm long, 1627mm wide and 1488mm wide.

For biggest commercially-available mainstream light commercial vehicle in Australia, VW's Crafter Extra Long Wheelbase van is hard to beat at 7391mm long, 2069mm wide and 2637mm high.

But, again, feel free to let us know below if you have other information. We look forward to hearing from you. We really do…

Kia's Picanto at 3595mm long, 1595mm wide, and 1485mm high. (Image: Byron Mathioudakis)

How to find out the dimensions of a particular vehicle?

If you’re reading this feature on the CarsGuide website – and not on a dodgy website that’s pilfered our content and is pretending it’s its own – then look up at the menu bar at the top of the page and tap ‘Pricing and Specs’. That will take you, yes, to the ‘Pricing and Specs’ section. 

Also, feel free to visit the relevant car manufacturer’s website and download any specification details related to the vehicle you’re interested in.

Make sure you look at the correct make-model-variant details and check the model year.