The size is similar to North-American [[Compact Car]] current size, i.e. approximately {{convert|4100|mm|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|4450|mm|0|abbr=on}} long for [[hatchback]]s, or {{convert|4400|mm|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|4750|mm|0|abbr=on}} long for [[Sedan (automobile)|sedans (saloon)]] or [[station wagon|station wagons (estate car)]].
As the "segment" terminology became more commonincommon in the United States, in 2012 the New York Times described the differences, saying "today’s small cars actually span three main segments in the global vehicle market. The tiny A-segment cars include the [[Chevy Spark]] and [[Smart Fortwo]]. They’re extremely short and very light. Slightly larger are B-segment cars like the [[Ford Fiesta]] and [[Chevy Sonic]]. The A- and B-cars are known as subcompacts. In the C-segment — typically called compacts — are the largest of the small cars. Examples include the [[Toyota Corolla]], a perennial sales leader, as well as the [[Ford Focus]], [[Chevy Cruze]], [[Hyundai Elantra]], [[Honda Civic]] and [[Volkswagen Golf|Volkswagen’s Golf]] and Jetta." <ref name="segment">{{cite web
| title = Taking the ‘Cheap’ Out of the Small Car
| publisher = The New York Times, September 9, 2012, Phil Patton
