This debate has split enthusiasts into two camps for over a decade. On one side, naysayers protest sticking the Coupé label on a four-door model is a trend that needs to be checked rather than cultivated. On the other, fans argue quibbling over semantics is petty and carmakers are free to call their models whatever they want, even if it defies historical nomenclature by bending a definition.

Whether you refer to it as a Coupé, a fastback or something else, what’s certain is that the body style is here to stay because it lures younger buyers into showrooms while being more profitable than an SUV. Here’s how it all started, where it stands in 2020 and where it’s going in the coming years: