The E-segment is the 5th category of the European segments for passenger cars, synonymous with the term

executive car Executive car is a British term for a large car which is equivalent to the European E-segment and American full-size classifications. Executive cars are larger than compact executive cars (and the non-luxury equivalent mid-size cars), and sm ...

. E-Segment is a niche in Europe (2-3% penetration in 2010s). As of 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, E-segment sales account for 2.7%, 2.7%, 2.3% and 2.1% market share in Europe respectively.

Characteristics

Most E-segment cars are sedans/saloons, however several models are also produced in other body styles such as wagons/estates and

hatchback A hatchback is a car body configuration with a rear door that swings upward to provide access to a cargo area. Hatchbacks may feature fold-down second row seating, where the interior can be reconfigured to prioritize passenger or cargo volume. ...

European vs. American classification

The terms E-segment or executive car do not have a one-to-one equivalent in the American car classification. However, if a modern E-segment sedan by a European brand is sold in the U.S., it falls into the category of both mid-size and full-size sedan, usually a mid-size luxury sedan. The American mid-size sedan classificationAlso, the American full-size sedan classification does not have any equivalent in the European classification with the exception of full-size luxury cars which belong to the F-segment. As European segments denote both size and equipment level, American full-size cars that are not luxury cars simply do not belong to any of the European segments. Considering length only, they would always fall into the F-segment or even exceed its dimensions - with a possible exception of the Toyota Avalon and Nissan Maxima which may or may not be short enough to be considered E-segment (this is as of 2021). spans both the

D-segment 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 "large family car" size class, and the present-day definition of the mid-size car category us ...

and the E-segment. With size brackets of European car segments increasing, the Toyota Camry fell from the E-segment into the D-segment while remaining a mid-size car.

Current models

In 2020 the highest selling E-segment cars in Europe were the Mercedes-Benz E-class, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, Volvo V90/S90 and Porsche Taycan. 50.000 - 100.000 sales (Best-Selling) File:Mercedes-Benz W213 Facelift IMG 5257.jpg, Mercedes-Benz E-Class
5th generation (2017–present) File:BMW G30 FL IMG 5351.jpg,

BMW 5 Series The BMW 5 Series is an executive car manufactured and marketed by BMW since 1972, succeeding the New Class Sedans, and currently in its seventh generation. The 5 Series was initially available as a sedan, with a wagon/estate body style (marke ...

7th generation (2016–present) File:2018 Audi A6 TDi Quattro Front.jpg, Audi A6
5th generation (2018–present) 10.000 - 50.000 sales File:2018 Volvo S90 R-Design D4 Automatic 2.0 Front.jpg,

Volvo S90 The Volvo S90 is an executive sedan manufactured and marketed by Swedish automaker Volvo Cars since 2016. Its estate variant is called the Volvo V90. Models For the model year of 2017 (the first model year), a short and long wheelbase sedan a ...

1st generation (2016-present) File:2020 Porsche Taycan 4S 79kWh Front.jpg, Porsche Taycan
1st generation (2019-present) Fewer than 10.000 sales File:2018 Audi A7 S Line 50 TDi Quattro 3.0 Front.jpg, Audi A7
2nd generation (2018-present) File:Tesla Model S in Limburg (2).jpg,

Tesla Model S The Tesla Model S is a battery-powered liftback car serving as the flagship model of Tesla, Inc. The Model S features a dual-motor, all-wheel drive layout, although earlier versions of the Model S featured a rear-motor and rear-wheel drive ...

1st generation (2012-present) File:Mercedes-Benz C257 at IAA 2019 IMG 0391.jpg,

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class The Mercedes-Benz CLS (initially called the CLS-Class) is a series of executive cars produced by Mercedes-Benz since 2004. The original model was a four-door fastback sedan based on the E-Class platform, marketed as a four door coupé. An esta ...

3rd generation (2018-present) File:Lexus ES 350 (GSZ10) IMG 4332.jpg, Lexus ES
7th generation (2018-present) File:2017 Jaguar XF Portfolio D Automatic 2.0.jpg, Jaguar XF
2nd generation (2015-present) File:BMW 640d GT xDrive 1X7A0311.jpg, BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo
4th generation (2017-present) File:2018 Maserati Ghibli GranLusso Diesel 3.0 facelift Front.jpg, Maserati Ghibli
3rd generation (2013-present) File:Audi RS e-tron GT IMG 5290.jpg,

Audi e-tron GT The Audi e-tron GT is a battery electric executive car produced by Audi since late 2020 as part of the e-tron battery electric sub-brand, and the third fully electric car model, after e-tron and e-tron Sportback SUVs. Based on the J1 platfor ...

1st generation (2020–present) Moved to F-segment File:2017 Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid 4 S-A 2.9 Front.jpg,

Porsche Panamera The Porsche Panamera is a mid/full-sized luxury car (E-segment/F-segment in Europe) manufactured and marketed by German automobile manufacturer Porsche across two generations using a front-engine, rear or all-wheel drive configuration. Pors ...

2nd generation (2017-present) File:2020 BMW 840d xDrive Automatic Gran Coupe 3.0 Front.jpg, BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé
2nd generation (2018-present)

Sales figures in Europe

Notes: 1. The table includes not only E-segment cars, but also a car fitting the F-segment in terms of size (the 2011 Chrysler 300). 2. Our source of information initial include BMW 8 Series in E-segment, but latter moved to F-segment.

Market share in Europe

2019 - Sales of large cars in Europe were down 13% in 2019 to 362,300 units, a new record low annual volume for this class, which now accounts for 2.3% of the total European car market, down from 2.7% in 2018. 2020 - The large cars segment in Europe is down 32% in 2020, to just over 246,000 deliveries. This means the segment loses ground on the overall market again and now accounts for just 2.1% of the total European car market, down from 2.3% in 2019. With the exception of a newcomer, the entire top-8, which accounts for nearly 91% of the segment’s sales, drops by 29% or more and thus falls behind the overall market. Only one single model in the class manages to keep its decline limited to single digits.

Notes

References

{{Automobile configuration Euro car segments