What kind of car was invented first?

The first car is a matter of definition, as there's no single invention but rather a gradual evolution. However, the generally accepted answer is a self-propelled vehicle built by Karl Benz in 1886. This was a three-wheeled vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. While other inventors created steam-powered or electric vehicles earlier, Benz's is considered the first practical automobile using an internal combustion engine, the type that would become dominant.