The D-segment is the 4th category of the European segments for passenger cars, and is described as "large cars". It is equivalent to the

Euro NCAP The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is a European voluntary car safety performance assessment programme (i.e. a New Car Assessment Program) based in Leuven, Belgium. Formed in 1996, the first results were released in February ...

"large family car" size class, and the present-day definition of the

mid-size car Mid-size—also known as intermediate—is a vehicle size class which originated in the United States and is used for cars larger than compact cars and smaller than full-size cars. "Large family car" is a UK term and a part of the D-segment in ...

category used in North America.

Compact executive car A compact executive car, also known as a compact luxury car, is a premium car larger than a #Subcompact executive cars, premium compact and smaller than an executive car. Compact executive car is a UK term and a part of the D-segment in the Euro ...

s are part of the D-segment size category. D-segment sales represented about 7% of the market in the 2010s.

Characteristics

Most D-segment cars are sedans/saloons or wagons/estates but

hatchback A hatchback is a car body style, car body configuration with a rear door that swings upward to provide access to the main interior of the car as a cargo area rather than just to a separated trunk. Hatchbacks may feature fold-down second-row sea ...

s, and

coupe A coupe or coupé (, ) is a passenger car with a sloping or truncated rear roofline and typically with two doors. The term ''coupé'' was first applied to horse-drawn carriages for two passengers without rear-facing seats. It comes from the Fr ...

s have been common. Pricing and specification of D-segment cars can vary greatly, from basic low-cost transport to more luxurious and expensive models. As of 2021 the typical D-segment category size ranges from about .

Current models

D-segment cars in Europe are the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class,

Audi A4 The Audi A4 is a line of luxury compact executive cars produced from 1994 to 2025 by the German car manufacturer Audi, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group. The A4 has been built in five generations and is based on the Volkswagen Group B platfor ...

/S4/RS4, Mazda6,

Škoda Superb The Škoda Superb is a Mid-size car, mid-size/large family car (D-segment) that has been produced by the Czech car manufacturer Škoda Auto since 2001. The first generation of the modern Superb, produced from 2001 to 2008, was based on the Volk ...

, Volvo S60/V60,

Jaguar XE The Jaguar XE (X760) is a front engine, rear- or all-wheel drive four-door compact-executive saloon manufactured by Jaguar Land Rover and marketed under their Jaguar marque for model years 2016–2024 — across a single generation. The ...

, Citroën C5, Peugeot 508, Audi A5/S5/RS5,

BMW 4 Series The BMW 4 Series is a range of compact executive cars manufactured by BMW since 2013. The 4 Series was created when BMW spun off the 2-door models (coupé and convertible) of the 3 Series into a separate series. The 4 Series is currently in its ...

, Volkswagen Arteon,

Honda Accord The , also known as the in Japan and China for certain generations, is a series of automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, best known for its four-door sedan variant, which has been one of the best-selling cars in the United States sinc ...

Toyota Camry The Toyota Camry (; Japanese: トヨタ・カムリ ''Toyota Kamuri'') is an automobile sold internationally by the Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota since 1982, spanning multiple generations. Originally compact in size (narrow-body), the Cam ...

and Polestar 2. 100,000 – 200,000 sales (Best-Selling) File:BMW G20 (2022) IMG 7316 (2).jpg, BMW 3 Series
7th generation (2018–present) 50,000 – 100,000 sales File:Volkswagen Passat Variant B9 1X7A1960.jpg,

Volkswagen Passat The Volkswagen Passat is a nameplate of D-segment, large family cars (D-segment) manufactured and marketed by the German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen since 1973 and also marketed variously as the Dasher, Santana, Quantum, Magotan, Corsar ...

9th generation (2023–present) File:Audi A4 B9 sedans (FL) 1X7A6816.jpg,

5th generation (2016–2024) File:Mercedes-Benz W206 IMG 5796.jpg, Mercedes-Benz C-Class
5th generation (2021–present) File:2019 Volvo S60 R-Design Edition T5 Automatic 2.0.jpg, Volvo S60
3rd generation (2019–present) File:Škoda Superb IV Combi IMG 8756.jpg,

4th generation (2023–present) 10,000 – 50,000 sales File:2020 BMW 420i Sport Automatic 2.0.jpg,

2nd generation (2020–present) File:Audi A5 Sportback F5 FL IMG 6127.jpg, Audi A5
2nd generation (2016–2024) File:2019 Peugeot 508 GT-Line BlueHDi 1.5 (130 PS) Front.jpg, Peugeot 508
2nd generation (2018–present) File:VW Arteon Elegance (Facelift) – f 20062021.jpg, Volkswagen Arteon
1st generation (2017–present) File:Polestar 2 1X7A0135.jpg, Polestar 2
1st generation (2020–present)

List of current cars produced in 2024

* ''Alfa Romeo Giulia'' * ''Audi A4/S4/RS4'' * ''Audi A5/S5/RS5'' * '' BMW 3 Series'' * ''

'' * '' BYD Seal'' * '' Citroën C5 X'' * ''Ford Mondeo/Taurus'' * ''

'' * ''Hyundai IONIQ 6'' * '' Hyundai Sonata'' * ''

'' * '' Kia K5'' * ''

Lexus IS The is a compact executive car ( D-segment in Europe) sold by Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota, since 1998. The IS was originally sold under the nameplate in Japan from 1998 until 2005 (the word ''Altezza'' is Italian for 'height' or 'high ...

'' * ''

Lexus RC The Lexus RC (Japanese: レクサス・RC, ''Rekusasu RC'') is a Compact executive car, compact executive two-door Sports car, sport coupé manufactured by Lexus, Toyota's luxury division. The RC which according to Lexus stands for "Radical Coupe ...

'' * '' Mercedes-Benz C-Class'' * '' Peugeot 508'' * '' Polestar 2'' * ''

'' * ''

Subaru Legacy The is a mid-size car built by Japanese automobile manufacturer Subaru from 1989 to 2025. The maker's flagship car, it is unique in its class for offering all-wheel drive as a standard feature, and Subaru's traditional boxer engine. The Leg ...

'' * '' Subaru Levorg'' * ''

Tesla Model 3 The Tesla Model 3 is a Battery electric vehicle, battery electric powered Mid-size car, mid-size sedan with a fastback body style built by Tesla, Inc., introduced in 2017. The vehicle is marketed as being more affordable to more people than pr ...

'' * ''

'' * '' Volkswagen Arteon'' * ''

'' * ''Volvo S60/V60'' * '' XPeng P7''

Sales figures in Europe

Notes: Jump in segment total sales after 2019. year is because premium cars are included. From 2014 to 2018 premium cars are not included in total segment sales. Premium brands and models are marked ''italic''. Electric cars are included in D-segment from 2019. year.

Market share in Europe

2019 - After years of decline, the midsized car segment is actually up 1% in 2019 to 1.05 million sales, maintaining a 6.7% share of the overall car market. 2020 - The midsized car segment is down 25% in 2020 to just under 790,000 sales, as its share of the European car market drops to 6.6%, slightly down from 6.7% last year. And luxury brands have now officially taken over control of this class, improving their share to 62.3% from 60.5% last year and claiming four of the top-5 positions. The top-3 players all gain share, outperforming not only the class but also the overall market.

Historic models

''Note: this list includes cars from these decades which carried a different nameplate or numeric designation to the modern day equivalent, and in some cases there is no modern day direct equivalent''

1960s

* (1960) Peugeot 404 * (1961) Fiat 1300 * (1962) Ford Cortina * (1962) Alfa Romeo Giulia * (1963) Lancia Fulvia * (1964) Austin/Morris 1800 * (1964)

Ford Mustang The Ford Mustang is a series of American Car, automobiles manufactured by Ford Motor Company, Ford. In continuous production since 1964, the Mustang is currently the longest-produced Ford car nameplate. Currently in its Ford Mustang (seventh ...

* (1965) Renault 16 * (1966) BMW 02 Series * (1966)

Chevrolet Camaro The Chevrolet Camaro is a mid-size American automobile manufactured by Chevrolet, classified as a pony car. It first went on sale on September 29, 1966, for the 1967 model year and was designed to compete with the Ford Mustang. The Camaro sha ...

* (1966) Hillman Hunter * (1967)

Fiat 125 The Fiat 125 is a large family car manufactured and marketed by Italian company Fiat from 1967 to 1972. Derivatives were built under license outside Italy until the 1990s. As launched the car was unusual in blending saloon car passenger accommodat ...

* (1968)

Peugeot 504 The Peugeot 504 is a mid-size, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive automobile manufactured and marketed by Peugeot from 1968 to 1983 over a single generation, primarily in four-door Sedan (automobile), sedan and station wagon, wagon configurations – ...

* (1969) Renault 12

1970s

* (1970) Opel Ascona (A) * (1970) Volkswagen K70 * (1974) Fiat 132 * (1972) Alfa Romeo Alfetta * (1972)

Audi 80 The Audi 80 is a compact executive car produced by the Audi subdivision of the Volkswagen Group across four generations from 1966 to 1996. It shared its platform with the Volkswagen Passat from 1973 to 1986 and was available as a Saloon (autom ...

* (1972)

Lancia Beta The Lancia Beta (Type 828), stylised Lancia Beta, β, was an compact executive car, entry-level luxury car produced by Italy, Italian car manufacturer Lancia from 1972 to 1984. It was the first new model introduced by Lancia after it had been ta ...

* (1972) Toyota Carina * (1973)

* (1974) Volvo 200 Series * (1975) BMW 3 Series (E21) * (1975) Leyland Princess * (1975) Opel Ascona (B) /

Vauxhall Cavalier The Vauxhall Cavalier is a large family car that was sold primarily in the United Kingdom by Vauxhall Motors, Vauxhall from 1975 to 1995. It was based on a succession of Opel designs throughout its production life, during which it was built in ...

* (1976)

* (1978)

* (1978) Peugeot 305 * (1978)

Renault 18 The Renault 18 is a large family car produced by French manufacturer Renault between 1978 and 1989, with South American production continuing until 1994. It formed the basis for the closely related Renault Fuego Coupé, with which it shared its ...

* (1978) Saab 900

1980s

* (1980) Morris Ital * (1981) Volkswagen Passat (B2) * (1981)

Fiat Argenta The Fiat Argenta is a large family car produced by the Italian automobile company Fiat from 1981 to 1985. It was a comprehensive update of the Fiat 132 and the last mass-produced Fiat with rear-wheel drive until the Fiat 124 Spider (2016), 2016 1 ...

* (1981) Opel Ascona C * (1982)

BMW 3 Series (E30) The BMW E30 is the second generation of BMW 3 Series, which was produced from 1982 to 1994 and replaced the BMW 3 Series (E21), E21 3 Series. The model range included 2-door saloon (sometimes referred to as a coupé) and convertible body styles ...

* (1982) Citroën BX * (1982)

Ford Sierra The Ford Sierra is a Mid-size car, mid-size/D-segment, large family car manufactured and marketed by Ford of Europe from 1982–1993. It was designed by Uwe Bahnsen, Bob Lutz (businessman), Robert Lutz and Patrick Le Quément, and was noted for ...

* (1982) Mercedes-Benz 190E * (1982) Nissan Stanza * (1984)

Austin Montego The Austin Montego is a British family car that was produced by British Leyland from 1984 until 1988, and then by Rover Group from 1988 until 1995. The Montego was the replacement for both the rear-wheel drive Morris Ital and the front-wheel dri ...

* (1984)

Hyundai Stellar The Hyundai Stellar (Hangul: :ko:현대 스텔라, 현대 스텔라) is a large family car produced by the South Korean Hyundai Motor Company from July 1983 until the 1992 model year. It succeeded the Ford Cortina, which Hyundai had built under ...

* (1985)

Alfa Romeo 75 The Alfa Romeo 75 (Type 161, 162B), sold in North America as the Milano, is a compact executive car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo between 1985 and 1992. The 75 was commercially quite successful: in only three years, 236,907 cars ...

* (1985) Fiat Croma * (1986)

Renault 21 The Renault 21 is a large family car produced by French automaker Renault between 1986 and 1994. It was also sold in North America initially through American Motors dealers as the Renault Medallion and later through Jeep-Eagle dealers as the Eag ...

* (1987)

Peugeot 405 The Peugeot 405 is a large family car manufactured by the French automaker Peugeot from 1987 to 1997. Its production continued under license from outside Europe in Iran by Iran Khodro Company until 2020. It was voted European Car of the Year for 1 ...

* (1988) Audi 80 B3 * (1988) Opel Vectra/

* (1988) Volkswagen Passat B3 * (1989) Hyundai Sonata

1990s

* (1990)

BMW 3 Series (E36) The third generation of the BMW 3 Series range of compact executive cars is designated under the model code E36, and was produced by the Germany, German automaker BMW from 1990 to 2000. The initial models were of the four-door saloon body sty ...

* (1990)

Nissan Primera The is a Mid-size car, large family car which was produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan from 1990 to 2007, for the markets in Japan and Europe. In Japan, it replaced the Nissan Stanza, Auster/Stanza, and was exclusive to ''Nissan Motor Comp ...

* (1991) Audi 80 B4 * (1991) Volvo 850 * (1992)

Alfa Romeo 155 The Alfa Romeo 155 (Type 167) is a compact executive car produced by Italian automobile manufacturer Alfa Romeo between 1992 and 1998. It was unveiled in January 1992 at Barcelona, with the first public launch in March 1992, at the Geneva Motor S ...

* (1992)

Ford Mondeo The Ford Mondeo is a Mid-size/large family car, large (D-segment) car manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company, Ford since 1993 across five generations for model years 1993-2022. As Ford self-declared world car, the Mondeo was intended to ...

* (1993) Citroën Xantia * (1993) Renault Laguna * (1993) Rover 600 Series * (1993) Volkswagen_Passat_(B4) * (1994) Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W202) * (1994) Saab 900 * (1995) Opel/Vauxhall Vectra * (1995) Peugeot 406 * (1996) Audi A4 B5 * (1997)

Alfa Romeo 156 The Alfa Romeo 156 (Type 932) is a compact executive car produced by the Italian automobile manufacturer Alfa Romeo. It was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show#1997, 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show as the replacement for the Alfa Romeo 155. The 156 ...

* (1997)

Volkswagen Passat (B5) The Volkswagen Passat (B5) is a large family car which was produced by German manufacturer Volkswagen from 1996 to 2006. The car, based on the Volkswagen Group B5 platform, was originally launched in Germany in 1996 and 1997 in North America ...

* (1997) Volvo S70 * (1998) BMW 3 Series (E46) * (1998) Saab 9-3 * (1998)

Toyota Avensis The is a mid-size/ large family car built in Derbyshire, United Kingdom by the Japanese automaker Toyota from October 1997 to August 2018. It was the direct successor to the European Carina E and was available as a four-door saloon, five-door ...

* (1999) Kia Clarus * (1999) Lancia Lybra * (1999)

2000s

* (2000)

* (2000) Volvo S60 * (2001) Audi A4 B6 * (2001) Citroën C5 * (2001) Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W203) * (2001) Nissan Primera (P12) * (2001) Renault Laguna II * (2001)

* (2002) Jaguar X-Type * (2002) Opel/Vauxhall Vectra * (2003) Acura TSX * (2003) Infiniti G25/35 * (2003) Saab 9-3 * (2004)

Acura TL The Acura TL is a car that was manufactured by Acura, the luxury division of Honda. It was introduced in 1995 to replace the Acura Vigor and was badge engineering, badged for the Japanese-market from 1996 to 2000 as the Honda Inspire and from 1996 ...

* (2004) Peugeot 407 * (2005) Alfa Romeo 159 * (2005) BMW 3 Series (E90) * (2005) Fiat Croma * (2005) Renault Samsung SM5 II * (2006) Audi A4 B7 * (2006)

Cadillac BLS The Cadillac BLS is a compact executive car that was marketed in Europe by Cadillac, sharing General Motors' GM Epsilon platform, Epsilon architecture, as a restyled variant of the Saab 9-3. Development was carried out by Saab Automobile, Saab ...

* (2006)

Lexus IS (XE20) The Lexus IS (XE20) is a car produced by the Japanese carmaker Toyota under its luxury division, Lexus. Classified as a compact executive car, it represented the second generation of the Lexus IS. Serving as Lexus's entry-level sedan from 2005 ...

* (2006) Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ * (2006) Volkswagen Passat (B6) * (2007) Renault Laguna III * (2008) Acura TSX * (2008) Audi A5 8T/8F * (2008) Citroën C5 * (2008)

* (2008) Infiniti G37 * (2008) Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W204) * (2008)

* (2008) Volkswagen CC * (2009) Audi A4 B8 * (2009)

* (2009)

Lexus HS The Lexus HS (Japanese: レクサス・HS, ''Rekusasu HS'') is a dedicated hybrid vehicle introduced by Lexus as a new compact executive car Sedan (automobile), sedan in 2009. Built on the Toyota MC platform#New MC, Toyota New MC platform, it is ...

* (2009) Opel/Vauxhall Insignia/

Buick Regal The Buick Regal is a line of mid-size cars marketed by Buick since 1973. Serving as the premium mid-size/intermediate car of the Buick product range for nearly its entire production, the Regal initially served as the divisional counterpart of t ...

* (2009) Renault Samsung SM5 III * (2009) Seat Exeo

2010s

* (2010) Peugeot 508 * (2011) DS 5 * (2011) Hyundai i40 * (2011)

Volkswagen Volkswagen (VW; )English: , . is a German automotive industry, automobile manufacturer based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Established in 1937 by German Labour Front, The German Labour Front, it was revitalized into the global brand it ...

Passat (B7) * (2011) Volvo S60 * (2012)

BMW 3 Series (F30) The sixth generation of the BMW 3 Series consists of the BMW F30 (sedan version), BMW F31 (wagon version, marketed as 'Touring') and BMW F34 (fastback version, marketed as 'Gran Turismo') compact executive cars. The F30/F31/F34 generation was ...

* (2013) BMW 4 Series (F32) * (2013) Cadillac ATS * (2014) DS 5LS * (2014)

/ Fusion * (2014) Infiniti Q50 * (2014)

Lexus IS (XE30) The is a compact executive car ( D-segment in Europe) sold by Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota, since 1998. The IS was originally sold under the nameplate in Japan from 1998 until 2005 (the word ''Altezza'' is Italian for 'height' or 'highn ...

* (2014) Lincoln MKZ * (2015) Acura TLX * (2015) Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W205) * (2015) Renault Talisman * (2015) Volkswagen Passat (B8) * (2016) Alfa Romeo Giulia (952) * (2016) Audi A4 B9 * (2016) Audi A5 8W6 * (2016)

* (2016) Škoda Superb III * (2017) Opel/Vauxhall Insignia/

* (2018) Genesis G70 * (2018) Kia Stinger * (2018) Volkswagen Arteon * (2019) BMW 3 Series (G20) * (2019)

BMW 4 Series (G22) The second generation of the BMW 4 Series consists of the BMW G22 (coupé version) along with the BMW G23 (convertible version) and BMW G26 (5-door liftback version, marketed as the Gran Coupé) compact executive cars. The G22 4 Series was launc ...

* (2019) Volvo S60

2020s

* (2020) Cadillac CT4 * (2021) DS 9 * (2022) Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W206) * (2022) Citroën C5 X

References

{{Automobile configuration Euro car segments it:Segmento D

Characteristics

Current models

List of current cars produced in 2024

Sales figures in Europe

Market share in Europe

Historic models

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

See also

References