Does the Hyundai Fista belong to the B-segment car category?

[VanJameson]

The Hyundai Fista does not belong to the B-segment car category; it is classified as an A-segment car. A-segment cars, also known as compact cars, typically have a body length ranging from 4.3 meters to 4.79 meters, a wheelbase between 2.35 meters and 2.79 meters, and engine displacements generally from 1.4 liters to 2.0 liters, meeting the diverse needs of average families. The Fista is a sporty compact sedan under the Hyundai brand, with dimensions of 4660mm in length, 1790mm in width, and 1425mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2700mm. The Fista is equipped with two engine options: a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine and a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine. The 1.4-liter turbocharged engine delivers a maximum power of 103 kW and a maximum torque of 242 Nm, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The 1.6-liter turbocharged engine offers a maximum power of 150 kW and a maximum torque of 265 Nm, also matched with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

[DeNatalie]

I find the Fista quite an interesting car, with a somewhat ambiguous positioning. In terms of dimensions, its 4.6-meter length and 2.7-meter wheelbase are actually very close to the traditional standard-wheelbase B-segment sedans, like the entry-level versions of the Accord and Camry which are around this size. However, in China, it's now common to classify cars with a wheelbase above 2.8 meters as B-segment, such as the Passat. Sitting in the back seat of the Fista feels more like a compact car, mainly because the sloping roofline compromises headroom. The power is quite impressive though, with the 1.6T producing 204 horsepower, which is stronger than many entry-level B-segment cars, but its price range falls into the A+ segment. So strictly speaking, it's more accurate to classify it as an A+ segment sports sedan.

[MacColeman]

I drove my friend's Fista just the other day and looked up some info. Internationally, car classifications are mainly based on wheelbase and engine displacement. According to German standards, a B-segment car has a wheelbase between 2.6-2.75 meters, and the Fista's 2.7m just barely makes the cut. But domestic car websites are very clear in their classifications—both Autohome and Dongchedi categorize it as a compact car, grouping it with the Civic and Sagitar. The key point is its price range of just 130,000-160,000 yuan, which doesn't even reach the entry-level price of a Regal. If you ask me, don't overthink the classification when buying this car—its performance and handling truly outshine other joint-venture cars in its class, and it can out-accelerate many luxury brands from a stoplight.

[SanLouis]

The answer depends on classification standards. By North American standards, vehicles under 4.8 meters in length are considered Compact class (equivalent to China's A-class), and the 4660mm-long Fista clearly doesn't qualify. Europe prefers letter classifications, where its 2700mm wheelbase places it in C-segment (like the Golf). Chinese popular classification is more straightforward: anything above 200,000 RMB is considered B-class, and no Fista model exceeds 180,000 RMB. Hyundai's own Sonata is the proper B-class sedan with 4.9-meter length and 1.5T/2.0T engines. As a sporty fastback design, the Fista was never meant to excel in space - forcing it into B-class would be odd.