It might feel a tad bit unfair to slap a gender sticker on something as fundamentally… well, vehicular as a car. After all, at their core, they’re just a collection of metal, rubber, and clever engineering, designed to get us from point A to point B. Yet, why is it that we can often hear proper car enthusiasts referring to their prized possessions with a “she”. Let’s say they’ve just bought the car of their dreams, and, whilst admiring it, they go “Isn’t she a beauty?”. It also makes one wonder, that perhaps it’s those particularly beautiful cars, the ones with a certain elegance or a more “feminine” flow to their design, that subconsciously nudge us towards personifying them as female.

But then that nagging question pops up again: is it really fair to box them in like that? Masculine cars, feminine cars – whatever labels we might playfully (or not so playfully) attach – it’s undeniable that certain traits in automobiles can be described as leaning one way or the other. A hulking great truck with its roaring engine might feel inherently more “masculine” in its presence than a delicate little hatchback.

What Does The Everyday Girl Want?

We look at this through the perspective of the general woman, the everyday “girl” – the sort of person who sees cars as a fundamental necessity, as well as a source of innocent fun. The type of person who doesn’t pay attention to a car’s specs, rather, on how cute it looks. What sort of cars do they gravitate towards? What design cues and features catch their eye?

Now, to be clear: this isn’t about painting everyone with the same brush. It’s not about some sweeping generalisation. But it’s also true that certain cars are consciously designed and marketed with a particular demographic in mind, and women often form a significant part of that target audience. After all, the vast majority of adults drive. You don’t need to be able to rebuild an engine in your garage to appreciate owning a nice, reliable, and yes, even aesthetically pleasing car.

The Girl Car Spectrum

And that’s where the idea of the “girly car” or the “girl car” comes into play. Now, I don’t think it’s a singular entity. Instead, I reckon there’s a whole spectrum of what might be considered a “girl car”. At the two opposite ends of this spectrum, you find vehicles that are worlds apart in their design and appeal, yet both are undeniably enjoyed by different types of women for different reasons. It’s a fascinating duality, a show of variety. The different faces of the “girl car”.

So, let’s start exploring this “girl car” spectrum. On one end of this spectrum, you can find a clear preference for cars that exude a certain charm, a delicate aesthetic. Think of vehicles with softer, more flowing lines, rather than sharp, aggressive angles. These are the cars that tend to be curvier, more compact, making it a breeze to manoeuvre through busy city streets and slot into those tight parking spaces that always seem to be the last ones available. Often, these designs feature a shorter overhang at the front and rear, contributing to their nimble appearance.

And when you think of the quintessential cute girl car, the one that seems to have captured the hearts of so many girls over the years, the Mini Cooper, invariably springs to mind. I remember, even back in my younger days, it felt like every other girl I knew had a secret (or not-so-secret) yearning for a Mini. Its cheeky little face, the sheer array of customisation options including those delightful pastel hues that looked like they’d been lifted straight from a box of macarons, and the reputation for being an absolute joy to drive – it all combined to create the ultimate girl car!

Because sometimes, let’s be honest, the most crucial factor in choosing a car is simply how utterly adorable it is!

Then, gliding a little further along this end of the spectrum, we encounter the Porsche Macan. Take a look at the lines of this vehicle. They’re not harsh or abrupt; instead, they flow with a gentle grace. The overall silhouette is smooth, a far cry from the boxy, more aggressively styled SUVs that dominate the roads. There’s a certain visual softness to the Macan, an elegance that simply soothes the eyes that land on it. You could almost imagine it gracing the streets of a chic European city, its presence understated yet stylish. It possesses a certain poise that some might indeed describe as inherently “girly” in its aesthetic.

Next, have you ever heard of Polly Pocket? That beloved toy line of tiny dolls and figures that often came nestled within these incredibly compact-sized cases, like little worlds you could carry in your pocket. Of course, it sometimes comes equipped with its own miniature vehicle, a tiny car often rendered in vibrant pink. And what real-life car was the iconic Polly Pocket car modelled after? It’s the Volkswagen Beetle. Which, by the way, can also be seen as the ultimate girl car. Now, just picture it: a Volkswagen Beetle, coated in a shade of bright pink. With its unmistakable curved roofline, those endearing, almost cartoonish headlights that give it a perpetually cheerful “face”, and that unapologetically bright pink hue, it’s a car that seems to embody a certain type of feminine ideal. It’s the kind of car that feels like it belongs to someone who loves to embrace their inner “girl”, someone who isn’t afraid of a bit of playful flamboyance. And, it looks striking to boot. Definitely the sort of car that would turn heads and bring a smile to anyone’s face as it glides across the streets. It’s not just a transport; it’s a rolling embodiment of joy and nostalgia. The girl car of every girl’s dreams.

Now, it’s time to pivot, and venture to the completely opposite end of the “girl car” spectrum. Here, the preference shifts dramatically. Instead of compact cuteness, we find an attraction to bigger cars. And when I say bigger, I often mean the larger, the better. It surely is a stark contrast. So, what accounts for this fascination with vehicles that command more road presence?

One of the most common reasons cited by women who favour these larger vehicles is a feeling of enhanced safety on the road. Especially when navigating amongst other substantial vehicles like lorries and larger SUVs, being in a smaller car can, understandably, be a bit daunting. It’s a matter of perception, perhaps, but the feeling of being surrounded by more metal, of having a higher driving position, can be incredibly reassuring. These are the types of cars that sit high off the ground, providing a commanding view of the road ahead and the surrounding environment. From behind the wheel, there’s a sense that everything is easily within your control, a feeling of solidity and security that smaller cars might not offer in the same way.

Think of something like the BMW X5. It’s a hefty vehicle, for sure, and it exudes a sense of capability and presence on the road. Or, if you really want to embrace the “go big or go home” philosophy, consider the Mercedes Benz G-Class. This is a vehicle that makes a statement, a boxy behemoth that’s as comfortable cruising through city streets as it is tackling off-road terrain. It’s a symbol of power that stands firm. As some people say, “small girls drive big cars.”

At the end of the day, a “girl car” can actually be… anything. From the charmingly compact to the confidently colossal, the spectrum is far wider and more nuanced than simple stereotypes might suggest. It’s a reminder that women’s tastes in cars, just like their tastes in everything else, are wonderfully varied and driven by a multitude of factors, from practicality and aesthetics to personal preference and a sense of how a car makes them feel. And perhaps, in the end, the best “girl car” is simply the one that makes its driver feel happy, safe, and empowered on their journey, whatever that journey may be.