Glossary

Car words, explained

200 terms. The words dealers, window stickers and spec sheets use, in plain English. On our answer pages, any word with a dotted underline is defined here too.

Buying and pricing

accessory: A part the dealer fits after the car leaves the factory, like floor mats, wheel locks or a spoiler. Installation is often charged on top of the part.Factory options are built in on the assembly line and listed in the order guide. Accessories are added at the dealer, so you can often add them after you buy.See also: option, order guide, spoiler
build: One exact car: its model year, body style, trim, and every package and option added. Price, towing and mileage can change from one build to the next, even within the same trim.See also: model year, body style, trim, package, option
configurator: The build-and-price tool on a maker's website. It shows current prices and which options need, or rule out, other options.We check prices there. It can disagree with the order guide, especially about cars already built and waiting on dealer lots, and we say so when it does.See also: order guide, option, MSRP
destination charge: A delivery fee the maker adds to the price of every new car. Prices on this site are before it, so add it when you compare with a dealer's window sticker.The maker sets it, not the dealer. It isn't part of MSRP as this site shows it.See also: MSRP
equipment group: A numbered level of equipment within a trim, from base to high. Each step up adds more equipment, and some options need a particular group.Ford sells most F-150 equipment this way, and the group's order code is on the window sticker. Two trucks of the same trim can differ a lot depending on the group.See also: trim, option, order code, package
factory order: A car built to your exact choices, rather than picked from what a dealer already has. Some options are only available this way, and it takes weeks or months to arrive.See also: build, option
model year: The year a car is sold as, which isn't always the calendar year: a 2026 model often goes on sale during 2025. Equipment and prices can change from one model year to the next.
MSRP: Manufacturer's suggested retail price: the price the maker sets, before the destination charge, taxes, fees and discounts. What you pay can be higher or lower.Base MSRP is a trim's price with nothing added. Each package and option adds its own price on top. The window sticker on a car at the dealer usually includes the destination charge.See also: destination charge, trim, package, option
option: One item you can add to a trim for a price, like a bigger engine or a sunroof. “Optional” means you can order it; the car doesn't have it unless you do.See also: trim, package, standard
order code: The short code a maker gives each option and package, like 53T or 51D. Dealers and window stickers use them, so they're a quick way to check exactly what a car has.See also: option, package, order guide
order guide: The maker's book for dealers listing every trim, package and option, what each includes, and which ones need or rule out others. It's the main source behind this site.See also: trim, package, option
package: A set of options sold together for one price, like a cold-weather or towing package. You usually can't buy one piece of a package on its own.Some packages need another package first, and some can't be combined. The guides show those rules as you build. An equipment group is a kind of package that sets a trim's overall level.See also: option, equipment group, trim
standard: Included with the trim at no extra cost. Every car of that trim has it, unless an option you pick replaces it.See also: trim, option
stock: The trim as it comes from the factory, before any packages or options. The “vs. stock” numbers show how your build differs from that.See also: trim, build, package, option
trim: A named version of a model, like the Camry SE or the F-150 XLT. Each trim has its own starting price and standard equipment; packages and options go on top.See also: standard, package, option, MSRP

Cabs, beds and doors

2-door: The short-wheelbase Bronco or Wrangler, with two doors and a smaller back seat. It's shorter and turns tighter than the 4-door, and gets over sharp crests more easily.See also: 4-door, wheelbase, breakover angle
4-door: The long-wheelbase Bronco or Wrangler, with four doors, a roomier back seat and more cargo space. It rides more steadily on the highway; the 2-door is nimbler on tight trails.See also: 2-door, wheelbase
bed: The open cargo area at the back of a pickup, measured by its floor length in feet. A longer bed carries more, but makes the whole truck longer to park and turn.See also: cab, short bed
body style: The shape of the car: 2-door or 4-door, sedan, or a pickup's cab and bed. Body style changes the price and the room inside, and sometimes which trims and options you can get.See also: 2-door, 4-door, cab, bed, trim, option
cab: The passenger part of a pickup. Cabs run from one row of seats to a full back seat behind four full-size doors, and a bigger cab means a shorter bed or a longer truck.See also: regular cab, SuperCab, SuperCrew, Crew Cab, bed
Crew Cab: A pickup cab with four full-size doors and a full back seat. It's the Silverado cab this site covers; Ford's version on the F-150 is the SuperCrew.See also: cab, SuperCrew
curb weight: What the vehicle weighs empty, with fuel and fluids but no people or cargo. A heavier car usually uses more fuel, and on a truck, weight from options eats into payload.See also: payload, GVWR, option
dual tops: A hard top and a soft top, sold together. You can run the hard top in winter and the soft top in summer, but you need somewhere to store the one you're not using.See also: hard top, soft top
hard top: A removable roof made of rigid panels. It's quieter and more secure than a soft top; the front panels come out on their own, but the whole top takes two people and storage space.See also: soft top, removable top, Freedom Top
regular cab: A pickup cab with one row of seats and two doors. It's the shortest cab, so it pairs with the longest beds, but there's no back seat.See also: cab, bed
removable top: A roof you can take off for open-air driving, as on the Bronco and Wrangler. It comes as a soft top, a hard top, or both.See also: soft top, hard top, dual tops
rocker panels: The strip of body below the doors, between the front and rear wheels. Off-road, it's the part that hits rocks and ledges, which is what rock rails protect.See also: rock rails
short bed: The shorter of a pickup's bed lengths. It carries less, but keeps a big-cab truck shorter and easier to park.See also: bed, cab
soft top: A fabric roof that folds or slides back without tools. It's the quickest way to open up, but it's louder at highway speed and less secure than a hard top.See also: hard top, removable top
spoiler: A lip or small wing on the trunk lid. On the cars here it's mostly about looks; it doesn't change any published number.See also: underbody spoiler
SuperCabFord: Ford's middle F-150 cab: a back seat behind smaller rear doors. It has more room inside than a Regular Cab and less than a SuperCrew.See also: cab, regular cab, SuperCrew
SuperCrewFord: Ford's biggest F-150 cab, with four full-size doors and a full back seat. Some trims, engines and tow ratings are SuperCrew-only.It's Ford's version of what Chevrolet calls a Crew Cab.See also: cab, Crew Cab, SuperCab, trim, tow rating
track: The distance between the left and right tires on the same axle. A wider track makes a truck steadier in fast corners and on side slopes, but wider on narrow trails.See also: axle
underbody spoiler: A low panel added under the front, sides or rear of a car, for looks. It sits closer to the ground, so it can scrape on steep driveways.See also: spoiler, ground clearance
wheelbase: The distance from the front axle to the rear axle. A longer wheelbase rides more smoothly and makes room inside; a shorter one turns tighter and clears crests more easily off-road.See also: axle, breakover angle

Drive and 4x4

2H: The two-wheel-drive setting on a 4x4's transfer case: only the rear wheels are driven. It's the right mode for dry pavement.See also: 4x4, transfer case, 4H
2WD: Only two wheels are driven, the front pair or the rear pair. A 4x2 truck is the 2WD version, driven by the rear wheels; it costs less, but has no 4x4 for snow or trails.See also: rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, 4x4
4A: An automatic 4WD setting that brings in the front axle as grip changes. You can leave it on for a road that's icy in one spot and dry the next.Part-time 4x4 doesn't have it: in 4H the front and rear are locked together, which binds on dry pavement. Ford calls the Bronco system that adds 4A Advanced 4x4, Jeep calls the setting 4H Auto, and Chevrolet's Autotrac has an AUTO mode.See also: 4x4, 4H, part-time 4x4, binding, Advanced 4x4, Autotrac, full-time 4WD, axle
4H: Four-wheel drive, high range: front and rear axles locked together at normal speeds. It's for snow, sand, mud and loose dirt; on dry pavement a part-time system binds in turns.See also: 4x4, 4L, part-time 4x4, binding, axle
4L: Four-wheel drive, low range: an extra set of gears that multiplies the engine's pull at walking pace. It's for steep climbs, rocks and deep sand or snow, not normal driving.The low-range ratio, written like 4:1, says how many times it multiplies; a higher number is slower and stronger. Only a two-speed transfer case has low range.See also: 4x4, 4H, two-speed transfer case, transfer case
4x4: A drive system that can power all four wheels, for snow, mud and trails. Most 4x4 trucks drive the rear wheels day to day, and you switch the front axle in when you need it.4x4 and 4WD mean the same thing. What separates one system from another is whether it has an automatic mode (4A) you can leave on, and whether it has low range (4L) for slow, steep ground. AWD is a different design aimed at roads: it powers all four wheels on its own, often only when a wheel slips, and has no low range.See also: 4A, 4L, 4H, part-time 4x4, full-time 4WD, AWD, transfer case, axle
automatic locker: A differential that locks by itself when one wheel starts spinning much faster than the other. There's no button, so you can't lock it ahead of time.Chevrolet calls it G80. A driver-selectable locker, by contrast, locks when you press the button and stays locked.See also: differential, locker, rear locker
AWD: A drive system that can power both front and rear wheels for extra grip. Unlike 4WD with low range, it is aimed at roads; some models let you switch rear-wheel assistance on or off.See also: 4x4, 4L, e-AWD, front-wheel drive
axle: The assembly that carries a pair of wheels and, on a driven axle, turns them. It houses the differential, and its gearing is the axle ratio.See also: differential, axle ratio
axle ratio: How many times the driveshaft turns for each turn of the wheels, like 3.73. A higher number pulls harder from a stop and helps with towing and bigger tires, at some cost in fuel.People call a higher number “shorter” gearing. It's why packages with bigger tires often change the axle ratio too: taller tires act like taller gears, and the shorter ratio wins the pull back.See also: axle, tow rating, tire height, package
binding: What happens when a part-time 4x4 in 4H or 4L turns on dry pavement: the front and rear can't turn at different speeds, so the drivetrain winds up and the tires scrub.Loose surfaces let the tires slip enough to relieve it, which is why part-time 4x4 is for snow, mud and dirt. 4A and full-time systems are built to avoid it.See also: part-time 4x4, 4H, 4L, 4A, full-time 4WD, drivetrain, 4x4
crawler gear: A very low first gear in a manual transmission, for creeping over rocks without slipping the clutch. It's a different thing from low range, though the two work together.See also: manual transmission, 4L
CVT: A transmission with no fixed gears: it changes its ratio smoothly to keep the engine at its most efficient speed. You won't feel shifts, which some drivers like and some don't.See also: transmission, eCVT
differential: The gear set in each axle that lets the left and right wheels turn at different speeds, which they must in a turn. Lockers and limited-slips change how it shares power.See also: axle, open differential, locker, limited-slip differential
drive modes: Settings, picked with a dial or button, that retune throttle, shifting and traction control for a surface like snow, sand or rock. They don't add hardware; lockers and low range do that.See also: traction control, locker, 4L, G.O.A.T. modes
drivetrain: Everything that carries power from the transmission to the wheels: the transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials.See also: transmission, transfer case, axle, differential
e-AWD: All-wheel drive with an electric motor on the rear axle and no driveshaft to the front. The motor drives the rear wheels when the front ones need help.See also: AWD, axle
eCVT: The transmission in many hybrids, including the Camry: the hybrid system blends engine and motor power with no fixed gears. It behaves like a CVT, though it's built differently.See also: CVT, hybrid, transmission
front locker: A locker in the front axle. With a rear locker too, all four wheels turn together, so a truck can keep climbing with two wheels in the air.See also: locker, rear locker, axle
front-wheel drive: The engine drives the front wheels only. It's the usual layout for sedans: light, efficient and fine in light snow, but the front tires do both the steering and the pushing.See also: AWD
full-time 4WD: A 4WD system that can stay engaged on any surface, including dry pavement, because it lets the front and rear turn at different speeds.Jeep's full-time Rock-Trac has an automatic setting, 4H Auto, for changing roads, plus the locked 4H and 4L settings of a part-time system for loose ground.See also: 4x4, part-time 4x4, 4A, binding, Rock-Trac, 4H, 4L
limited-slip differential: A differential that shifts some power to the wheel with more grip when the other starts to slip. It works on its own and helps on roads, but doesn't lock the wheels together like a locker.See also: differential, locker, open differential
locker: A differential you can lock so both wheels on that axle turn together. Then a wheel in the air can't take all the power, and the wheel with grip keeps pushing.Lockers are for slow, low-traction ground like rocks and ruts. Switch them off on pavement, where the wheels need to turn at different speeds in corners. Most here are electronic and work with a button; Chevrolet's G80 locks on its own.See also: differential, front locker, rear locker, automatic locker, axle
manual transmission: A transmission you shift yourself, with a clutch pedal and a stick. Few trucks still come with one, and choosing it can rule out other options.See also: transmission, crawler gear, option
open differential: The everyday differential, which lets the wheels on an axle turn at different speeds. Its weakness: if one wheel is in the air or on ice, the power goes to that wheel and it spins.See also: differential, locker, traction control, axle
part-time 4x4: A 4x4 system that drives the rear wheels until you shift into 4H or 4L, which lock the front and rear axles together. It's for snow and mud; on dry pavement it binds in turns.See also: 4x4, 4H, 4L, 2H, binding, 4A, axle
rear locker: A locker in the rear axle, so both rear wheels turn together. It's the first locker most off-road trims get, and on some pickups it comes with the towing axle.See also: locker, front locker, axle, automatic locker, trim
rear-wheel drive: The engine drives the rear wheels only. It's how pickups and 4x4s normally drive on pavement, and all a 2WD truck has.See also: 2WD, 4x4, 2H
traction control: A system that brakes a spinning wheel or cuts engine power until the tires grip again. It helps on slick roads; off-road it's slower and less certain than a locker.See also: locker
transfer case: The part of a 4x4 that splits power between the front and rear axles. It holds the drive settings, 2H, 4H, 4L and sometimes 4A, and its design decides which ones you get.See also: 4x4, 2H, 4H, 4L, 4A, axle
transmission: The gearbox between the engine and the wheels that changes gears as you speed up. More gears let the engine stay near its best speed for power or for mileage.See also: CVT, manual transmission
two-speed transfer case: A transfer case with a second, low set of gears: that's what gives a 4x4 its low range (4L). A single-speed case can drive all four wheels but has no low range.See also: transfer case, 4L, 4x4

Off-road

approach angle: The steepest slope the front of a vehicle can drive up without the bumper hitting first. Bigger is better for climbing onto rocks and out of ditches.See also: departure angle, breakover angle
articulation: How far the wheels can move up and down independently, so each one stays on the ground over rocks and holes. More articulation means more grip on uneven ground.See also: sway-bar disconnect, suspension
breakover angle: The sharpest crest a vehicle can drive over without its belly scraping between the wheels. A shorter wheelbase and taller tires make it bigger.See also: wheelbase, tire height, approach angle, departure angle
bypass dampers: Dampers with extra internal passages that keep them soft over small bumps and firm on big hits. They're for fast driving over rough ground, more than for climbing.See also: dampers, position-sensitive dampers
dampers: Shock absorbers: the parts that slow the springs' bouncing, so the body settles after a bump. Off-road dampers are tuned to take bigger, faster hits without bottoming out.See also: suspension, bypass dampers, position-sensitive dampers
departure angle: The steepest slope the rear of a vehicle can leave without the rear bumper or hitch dragging. Bigger is better when coming down off a ledge.See also: approach angle, breakover angle, receiver hitch
fender flares: The molded edging around each wheel opening. Taller, wider flares leave room for bigger tires to move up into the fender without rubbing.See also: tire height
ground clearance: The gap between the ground and the lowest point under the vehicle, often a differential. More clearance lets you drive over rocks and ruts without hitting the underside.See also: differential, tire height, lift
hill descent control: Holds a slow, steady speed down steep hills by braking for you, so you can concentrate on steering.See also: Trail Control
independent suspension: Each wheel moves on its own instead of sharing a solid axle with the wheel opposite. It rides and handles better on the road; most cars and many pickup front ends use it.See also: solid axle, suspension
lift: How much higher a build sits than the standard one, from taller springs, taller tires or both. More lift adds clearance and better angles, but a higher step in and more lean in corners.See also: ground clearance, approach angle, tire height, build
long-travel suspension: Suspension that lets the wheels move much farther up and down than standard, for fast driving over rough desert. It usually needs a wider track and wider fenders.See also: suspension, track, fender flares
modular bumper: A heavy steel front bumper built to take add-ons like a winch. It can trade away other parts, like the fog lamps.See also: steel bumpers, winch-ready
off-road package: A maker's bundle of trail hardware for a trim, like off-road dampers, skid plates and a locker. FX4 and Z71 are examples; each guide lists what its package adds.See also: package, trim, dampers, skid plates, locker, FX4, Z71
position-sensitive dampers: Dampers that firm up near the end of their travel, so big hits don't bottom out, while staying soft over small bumps.See also: dampers, bypass dampers
rock rails: Steel rails bolted to the frame below the doors that protect the rocker panels when you slide off a rock. They're not the same as side steps, which are for climbing in.See also: rocker panels, side steps
side steps: Steps or boards below the doors that make it easier to climb in. They aren't built to take rock hits the way rock rails are.Power running boards fold out when you open a door and tuck away when you close it. On some off-road trims, choosing running boards replaces the rock rails.See also: rock rails, trim
skid plates: Metal plates under the vehicle that shield parts like the engine, transmission, transfer case and fuel tank, so a rock scrapes a plate instead of something that breaks.See also: transfer case, transmission
solid axle: One rigid beam carrying both wheels, so when one goes up the other is pushed down. It's strong and flexes well off-road, but rides and steers less precisely on the road.See also: independent suspension, articulation, axle
sport-tuned suspension: Firmer springs, dampers and sway bars than the standard setup. The car leans less in corners and feels more direct, and rides a little firmer over bumps.See also: dampers, sway bar
steel bumpers: Bumpers made of steel instead of molded plastic. They can take a rock or a tree without cracking, and they're where a winch mounts.See also: winch-ready, modular bumper
suspension: The springs, dampers and linkages between the wheels and the body. It sets how the vehicle rides, how high it sits, and how far the wheels can move off-road.See also: dampers, articulation, lift
sway bar: A bar linking the left and right wheels that keeps the body flat in corners. Off-road, it also stops one wheel from dropping far into a hole.See also: sway-bar disconnect, articulation
sway-bar disconnect: A button that frees the front sway bar, so each front wheel can drop into holes and stay on the ground. It's for slow off-road driving; on the road the bar stays connected.See also: sway bar, articulation
winch-ready: A bumper with a mount for a winch: a motorized cable for pulling a stuck vehicle out. The winch itself can be a separate purchase.See also: steel bumpers, modular bumper

Towing and hauling

4/7-pin connector: The trailer plugs at the hitch. A 4-pin plug runs a small trailer's lights; a 7-pin also carries power for trailer brakes and charging, which bigger trailers need.See also: receiver hitch, trailer brake controller
door-jamb label: The sticker inside the driver's door frame with that exact truck's payload. It's lower than the best-case number in brochures, because options add weight.See also: payload, option
GCWR: Gross combined weight rating: the most the loaded truck and loaded trailer may weigh together. Stay under it even when the trailer alone is under the tow rating.See also: tow rating, GVWR, payload
GVWR: Gross vehicle weight rating: the most the vehicle may weigh fully loaded, with people, cargo and the trailer's tongue. GVWR minus the empty weight is the payload.See also: payload, tongue weight, curb weight
Max Tow axleFord: Ford's towing rear axle for the F-150's top tow ratings. It comes only with the Tow/Haul package and has an electronic rear locker.See also: Tow/Haul package, tow rating, rear locker, axle, package
Max TraileringChevrolet: Chevrolet's Silverado package for the highest tow ratings: a heavier rear axle and springs, more cooling and specific axle ratios. It can't be combined with the Z71 off-road package.See also: tow rating, axle ratio, axle, Z71, off-road package, Trailering Package, package
payload: How much weight the truck can carry in the cab and bed: people, cargo, and the tongue of a trailer. Towing uses up payload before you load anything else.Makers publish a best case for each engine. A real truck's payload, printed on the label in its door jamb, is lower, because every option adds weight.See also: tongue weight, GVWR, door-jamb label, cab, bed, option
receiver hitch: The square socket under the rear bumper that a trailer ball mount slides into. Having one doesn't set how much you can tow; the tow rating does.See also: tow rating
tongue weight: The downward push a trailer puts on the hitch, usually 10 to 15% of the trailer's weight. It rides on the truck, so it counts against the truck's payload.See also: payload, receiver hitch
tow rating: The heaviest trailer the maker says a build can pull. It depends on the cab, bed, engine, axle ratio and towing equipment, so two trucks of the same trim can differ by thousands of pounds.It's one limit of several. The trailer's tongue weight also has to fit within the payload, and truck plus trailer must stay under the GCWR.See also: axle ratio, cab, bed, trim, build, tongue weight, payload, GCWR
Tow/Haul packageFord: Ford's F-150 towing package: a built-in trailer brake controller and an electronic-locking rear axle for towing. It's also the way to get the Max Tow axle.See also: trailer brake controller, rear locker, Max Tow axle, package, axle
trailer brake controller: A control in the truck that works the trailer's own brakes when you brake. Heavier trailers need one; a factory controller is built into the dash.See also: 4/7-pin connector
Trailering PackageChevrolet: Chevrolet's basic Silverado hitch package: a receiver hitch and trailer wiring plugs. It's not Max Trailering, which changes the axle, springs and cooling for heavier trailers.See also: receiver hitch, 4/7-pin connector, Max Trailering, axle, package
weight-distributing hitch: A hitch with spring bars that spreads a heavy trailer's tongue weight across both of the truck's axles, so the front end stays down. Makers require one above a set trailer weight.See also: tongue weight, receiver hitch, axle

Engines and fuel economy

city mpg: The EPA's fuel-economy estimate for stop-and-go driving. Hybrids often beat their highway number here, because they recover energy every time they slow down.See also: mpg, EPA rating, hybrid, regenerative braking
combined mpg: One fuel-economy number that blends the city and highway estimates, weighted a little toward city driving. It's the single number most comparisons use.See also: mpg, city mpg, highway mpg
diesel: An engine that burns diesel fuel and makes a lot of torque at low speed, which suits towing. It usually gets better mileage than a gas engine of similar power, and costs more up front.See also: torque, Duramax
displacement: An engine's size, in liters: the “2.7L” in an engine's name. Bigger usually means more power, but a turbo lets a smaller engine match a bigger one.See also: turbo
EPA rating: The fuel-economy estimate from the Environmental Protection Agency's lab tests. Your own mileage will differ, but every car goes through the same tests, so the ratings are fair to compare.See also: mpg
four-cylinder: An engine with four cylinders in a row. It's the smallest and most efficient type here, and with a turbo it can make as much torque as a bigger engine.See also: turbo, torque, V6
highway mpg: The EPA's fuel-economy estimate for steady highway driving. Bigger tires and lifts usually lower it.See also: mpg, EPA rating, tire height, lift
horsepower: How much work an engine can do at speed: more horsepower means quicker acceleration and easier passing. Torque matters more for pulling a trailer from a stop.See also: torque, system horsepower
hybrid: A gas engine paired with electric motors and a small battery that charges itself as you drive and brake. You never plug it in, and it saves the most fuel in town.See also: plug-in hybrid, regenerative braking, city mpg
inline-six: An engine with six cylinders in one straight row. It runs smoothly, and it's the layout of the Silverado's diesel.See also: diesel, Duramax
kW: Kilowatts, a unit of power used for electric motors and generators. For a generator, it's how much it can run at once: a few kW runs tools, more can run a house's essentials.See also: Pro Power Onboard
mpg: Miles per gallon: how far the car goes on a gallon of fuel. Higher means you spend less on fuel.See also: city mpg, highway mpg, combined mpg, EPA rating
naturally aspirated: An engine without a turbo or supercharger, breathing air on its own. It's simpler, and its power comes in more gradually.See also: turbo, supercharged
plug-in hybrid: A hybrid with a bigger battery you charge from an outlet, so it can drive some distance on electricity alone. The hybrids on this site aren't plug-ins.See also: hybrid
powertrain: The engine and transmission together, plus the motors and battery on a hybrid. Picking a powertrain sets power and mileage, and often how much you can tow.See also: transmission, hybrid, tow rating
regenerative braking: On a hybrid, the electric motor slows the car and turns that motion back into charge for the battery. It's why hybrids do so well in stop-and-go traffic.See also: hybrid, city mpg
supercharged: An engine with a belt-driven pump that forces in extra air for more power. Unlike a turbo, it responds instantly, but it uses some of the engine's own power to run.See also: turbo, naturally aspirated
system horsepower: A hybrid's combined output from its engine and motors working together. It's less than the engine and motor ratings added up, so compare system figures with each other.See also: horsepower, hybrid
torque: Twisting force, measured in pound-feet (lb-ft): how hard the engine pulls, especially from low speed. More torque makes towing and climbing easier.See also: horsepower
turbo: A turbocharger uses exhaust to force extra air into the engine, so a smaller engine makes big-engine power. It saves fuel when you drive gently, less so when you tow hard.See also: displacement, EcoBoost
V6: An engine with six cylinders in two rows of three, set in a V. It's the middle size here, and many are turbocharged.See also: V8, turbo
V8: An engine with eight cylinders in two rows of four. It's the biggest and usually the thirstiest type here; some buyers pick it for its sound and simpler design.See also: V6, naturally aspirated

Wheels and tires

airing down: Letting air out of the tires before a trail, so they spread out and grip rocks and sand better. Pump them back up before you drive on pavement again.See also: beadlock
all-season tires: Road tires built to be quiet and efficient in rain, heat and light snow. They grip least on dirt and rocks.See also: all-terrain tires
all-terrain tires: Tires with a chunkier tread that grip on dirt, gravel and snow and are still fine on the road. They're a little louder and use a little more fuel than all-seasons.See also: all-season tires, mud-terrain tires, rugged-terrain tires
alloy wheels: Wheels cast from aluminum alloy. They're lighter and come in more finishes than steel wheels, but they're harder to straighten if you bend one on a rock.See also: steel wheels, forged wheels
beadlock: A wheel with a ring that clamps the tire's edge to the rim, so you can run very low air pressure without the tire coming off. True beadlocks are usually sold for off-road use only.See also: beadlock-capable wheels, airing down
beadlock-capable wheels: Wheels with a ring you can later swap for a real beadlock. As delivered, they look the part but don't clamp the tire.See also: beadlock, airing down
forged wheels: Wheels pressed from a solid block of metal instead of poured into a mold. They're stronger for their weight than cast alloy wheels.See also: alloy wheels
low-profile tire: A tire with a short sidewall, usually on a big wheel. It sharpens steering, but rides harsher over potholes and is easier to damage.See also: sidewall, wheel size
LT tire: A tire built to light-truck specs, marked with LT before its size. It has stiffer sidewalls for heavy loads and rocks, and rides a little firmer.See also: tire size code, sidewall
mud-terrain tires: Tires with big, widely spaced tread blocks that clear mud and bite on rocks. They're louder on the road and wear faster than all-terrains.See also: all-terrain tires, rugged-terrain tires
rugged-terrain tires: A tread between all-terrain and mud-terrain: more bite off-road than an all-terrain, and a little quieter on the road than a mud tire.See also: all-terrain tires, mud-terrain tires
sidewall: The side of the tire between the wheel and the tread. A taller sidewall cushions bumps and rocks; a shorter one steers more sharply.See also: low-profile tire
spare tire: A fifth tire for a flat. A compact spare is smaller and meant for short, slow trips; some cars, often hybrids, come with a repair kit instead.See also: tire repair kit, hybrid
steel wheels: Plain stamped-steel wheels. They're heavier and simpler-looking than alloys, but cheap to replace and easy to bend back after a hit.See also: alloy wheels
tire height: A tire's overall height in inches: “35s” are about 35 inches tall. Taller tires raise the axles and body for more clearance, at a cost in mileage, noise and replacement price.The inch figure is a rounded name: a “35” can measure a little under 35 inches. Fitting much taller tires usually needs higher fender flares and a shorter axle ratio too.See also: ground clearance, tire size code, axle, fender flares, axle ratio
tire repair kit: A can of sealant and a small air pump in place of a spare tire. It fixes small punctures, not torn sidewalls.See also: spare tire, sidewall
tire size code: The code on the tire, like 315/70R17: 315 mm wide, a sidewall 70% as tall as that, R for radial, on a 17-inch wheel. From it you can work out the tire's height.Off-road tires sometimes use inches instead, like 37x12.50R17: 37 inches tall, 12.5 wide, for a 17-inch wheel. LT at the start marks a light-truck tire.See also: tire height, sidewall, wheel size, LT tire
wheel size: The wheel's diameter in inches, like 17 or 20. Bigger wheels usually come with shorter-sidewall tires that ride firmer; smaller wheels leave more sidewall for potholes and trails.See also: sidewall, low-profile tire

Comfort and tech

360° camera: Cameras around the car stitched into a bird's-eye view on the screen. It makes parking easier and, on trucks, shows obstacles you can't see past the hood.See also: parking sensors
adaptive cruise control: Cruise control that slows down and speeds up to keep a set gap to the car ahead. It makes long highway drives less tiring.See also: Traffic Jam Assist
blind-spot monitoring: A light in the side mirror that warns you when a car is beside you, where you can't see it. It helps with lane changes; it doesn't steer for you.See also: cross-traffic alert
cross-traffic alert: Warns you of cars crossing behind you as you back out of a space, or in front as you nose out. Versions with braking will stop the car for you.See also: blind-spot monitoring
digital gauge cluster: The screen behind the steering wheel that shows your speed and other readouts. Bigger ones can show maps and more information.See also: head-up display
Digital Key: Your phone works as the car key, to open and start the car. It can need a connected-services subscription.See also: keyless entry
head-up display: Projects your speed, directions and other readouts onto the windshield in front of you, so you can read them without looking down.See also: digital gauge cluster
heated seats: Seats with built-in heating, for cold mornings. They warm you faster than the car's heater, which has to wait for the engine to warm up.See also: ventilated seats, heated steering wheel
heated steering wheel: A steering wheel with a heating element in the rim, so it's warm to hold in winter.See also: heated seats
HomeLink: Buttons built into the car, here in the rearview mirror, that you program to open a garage door or gate. They replace the remote clipped to your visor.
keyless entry: With the key fob in your pocket, you open the doors by touching the handle and start the car with a button. Some cars also lock themselves when you walk away.See also: Digital Key, remote start
lane-keeping: Warns you, or steers gently, if the car drifts out of its lane without a turn signal.See also: Traffic Jam Assist
moonroof: A glass panel in the roof over the front seats that tilts up or slides open. It can take a little headroom.See also: panoramic roof
panoramic roof: A glass roof that runs over both rows of seats, usually with a front section that opens. It brings light to the back seat too.See also: moonroof
parking auto-brake: Brakes the car for you at parking speeds if it senses you're about to hit something.See also: parking sensors
parking sensors: Sensors in the bumpers that beep faster as you get close to something while parking. They warn you; on their own they don't brake or steer.See also: parking auto-brake, 360° camera
phone mirroring: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: your phone's maps, music and messages on the car's screen. Wireless versions connect without a cable.
remote start: Starts the car from the key fob or an app, so the cabin can warm up or cool down before you get in.See also: keyless entry
Traffic Jam Assist: A driver aid for slow highway traffic that steers and keeps a gap to the car ahead. You still have to watch the road, and many versions need your hands on the wheel too.See also: adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping
ventilated seats: Seats with fans that move air through small holes in the cushion, so you don't stick to them in hot weather.See also: heated seats

Makers' names for things

Advanced 4x4Ford: Ford's name for the Bronco 4x4 system that adds 4A, the automatic mode, to 2H, 4H and 4L. A Bronco without it has part-time 4x4.See also: 4A, 2H, 4H, 4L, part-time 4x4, 4x4
AutotracChevrolet: Chevrolet's name for the Silverado's 4WD, with an automatic mode you can leave on. Only the two-speed version adds low range for trails.See also: 4x4, 4A, 4L, two-speed transfer case
BadlandsFord: The Bronco's off-road trim. It comes with Advanced 4x4, front and rear lockers, steel bumpers, bash plates, rock rails and 33-inch tires.See also: trim, Advanced 4x4, locker, front locker, rear locker, steel bumpers, skid plates, rock rails, tire height
BisonChevrolet: A package for the Silverado ZR2 that adds AEV steel bumpers, skid plates, rocker protection and AEV wheels. It keeps the ZR2's tires.See also: ZR2, steel bumpers, skid plates, rocker panels, package
Black DiamondFord: A Bronco package for the Big Bend trim: 4A, a rear locker, steel bumpers, full bash plates and rock rails, without the 35-inch tires.See also: package, trim, 4A, rear locker, steel bumpers, skid plates, rock rails, Sasquatch, tire height
Command-TracJeep: Jeep's basic part-time 4x4 on the Wrangler, with 2H, 4H and 4L. It has no automatic mode, so 4H is for loose or slippery ground only.See also: part-time 4x4, 2H, 4H, 4L, 4A, Rock-Trac, 4x4
DSSV dampersChevrolet: The dampers on the Silverado ZR2, made by the supplier Multimatic. No other Silverado here has them.See also: dampers, ZR2
DuramaxChevrolet: Chevrolet's diesel engine. In the Silverado here it's a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel inline-six, with the most torque in the lineup.See also: diesel, inline-six, torque
EcoBoostFord: Ford's name for its turbocharged gas engines, from the Bronco's 2.3-liter four-cylinder to the 3.5-liter V6 that's the F-150's towing engine.See also: turbo, four-cylinder, V6
Freedom TopJeep: Jeep's name for the Wrangler's three-piece hard top: removable front panels and a rear shell. You'll need somewhere to store the pieces.See also: hard top
FX4Ford: Ford's F-150 off-road package: off-road dampers, skid plates, hill descent control and a locking rear axle. It's 4x4 only.See also: off-road package, package, dampers, skid plates, hill descent control, rear locker, 4x4
G.O.A.T. modesFord: Ford's name for the Bronco's drive modes, which retune throttle, shifting, traction control and the 4x4 for a surface. Some trims get extra modes such as Rock Crawl and Baja.See also: drive modes, traction control, 4x4, trim
HOSSFord: Ford's name for the Bronco's suspension setups, numbered 1.0 to 4.0. Higher numbers are tuned for rougher, faster off-road driving, up to the Raptor's long-travel 4.0.HOSS 1.0 is tuned for ride comfort. 2.0 adds Bilstein position-sensitive dampers, 3.0 adds FOX bypass dampers, and 4.0 is the Raptor's long-travel suspension with FOX Live Valve dampers.See also: suspension, dampers, long-travel suspension, position-sensitive dampers, bypass dampers, Raptor
HPDHonda: Honda's accessory styling line for the Accord. The HPD Styling package adds underbody spoilers, a trunk-lid spoiler, black mirror covers and an HPD badge; the wheels are sold separately.See also: accessory, underbody spoiler, spoiler, package
LoboFord: An F-150 package that makes a lowered street truck, with 22-inch wheels, the V8 and dual exhaust.See also: package, V8
one-pedal driveFord: A Bronco off-road mode: ease off the accelerator and the truck brakes itself, so you can crawl over rocks with one foot.See also: Trail Control
PowerBoostFord: Ford's name for the F-150's full hybrid, a 3.5-liter V6. It has the best city mileage of any F-150 engine and a Pro Power Onboard generator in the bed.See also: hybrid, V6, city mpg, Pro Power Onboard
Pro Power OnboardFord: Ford's name for F-150 power outlets that run off the truck. The basic version is outlets in the cab and bed; the bigger ones are generators, rated in kW, that can run tools or a house's essentials.See also: kW, PowerBoost, cab, bed
RaptorFord: Ford's high-speed off-road versions of the Bronco and F-150, with long-travel FOX suspension, the biggest tires in each lineup and the most powerful engines.See also: long-travel suspension, suspension, tire height, HOSS
Rock-TracJeep: Jeep's 4x4 system on the Wrangler Rubicon, with a lower low range than Command-Trac for slow rock crawling. A full-time version, with the Xtreme 35 package, adds 4H Auto.See also: 4x4, 4L, Command-Trac, 4A, full-time 4WD, Xtreme 35, Rubicon, package
RubiconJeep: The Wrangler's off-road trim: front and rear lockers, a sway-bar disconnect and Rock-Trac 4x4 with a 4:1 low range. Rubicon X adds leather, steel bumpers and a painted hard top.See also: trim, locker, front locker, rear locker, sway-bar disconnect, Rock-Trac, 4x4, 4L, steel bumpers, hard top
SasquatchFord: The Bronco's big off-road package: 35-inch tires, front and rear lockers, a 4.70 axle ratio, high-clearance suspension and flares, and 4A if the truck doesn't already have it.See also: package, off-road package, tire height, locker, front locker, rear locker, axle ratio, suspension, fender flares, 4A
SofTexToyota: Toyota's name for its synthetic leather seat material.
Trail BossChevrolet: Chevrolet's lifted Silverado trims: a factory lift, two-speed Autotrac 4WD with low range and an automatic locking rear differential. Custom Trail Boss has the simpler cabin; LT Trail Boss has bigger screens.See also: trim, lift, Autotrac, 4x4, two-speed transfer case, 4L, automatic locker
Trail ControlFord: Cruise control for crawling off-road: you set a walking pace, and the truck handles the throttle and brakes while you steer.See also: one-pedal drive, hill descent control
Trail Turn AssistFord: Brakes the inside rear wheel to pivot the truck around tight switchbacks on a trail.
TremorFord: The F-150's off-road trim short of a Raptor: 33-inch all-terrain tires, off-road suspension and a locking rear axle.See also: Raptor, trim, tire height, all-terrain tires, rear locker, suspension
TurboMaxChevrolet: Chevrolet's 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder for the Silverado. It makes more torque than the 5.3-liter V8, but some packages aren't available with it.See also: turbo, four-cylinder, torque, V8, package
two-motor hybridHonda: Honda's hybrid system, with no conventional transmission. The engine mostly turns a generator that powers the electric drive motor, and at steady speeds a clutch can link the engine to the wheels.See also: hybrid, transmission, CVT
WildtrakFord: A Bronco Badlands package that bundles the V6, the automatic, Sasquatch with FOX bypass dampers and blacked-out styling.See also: Badlands, Sasquatch, V6, bypass dampers, package
WillysJeep: A Wrangler trim with a rear locker, 33-inch mud-terrain tires and rock rails, but no front locker or sway-bar disconnect.See also: trim, rear locker, tire height, mud-terrain tires, rock rails, front locker, sway-bar disconnect, Rubicon
Xtreme 35Jeep: Jeep's factory 35-inch tire package for the Wrangler: 35s on beadlock-capable wheels, a 4.56 axle ratio, full-time Rock-Trac and suspension to suit. It needs the automatic.See also: package, tire height, beadlock-capable wheels, axle ratio, Rock-Trac, full-time 4WD, suspension
Z71Chevrolet: Chevrolet's off-road package: off-road suspension, skid plates, hill descent control and two-speed 4WD with low range. It doesn't lift the truck, and can't be combined with Max Trailering.See also: off-road package, package, suspension, skid plates, hill descent control, two-speed transfer case, 4x4, 4L, lift, Max Trailering
ZR2Chevrolet: The Silverado's off-road trim: driver-selectable front and rear lockers, DSSV dampers, 33-inch mud-terrain tires and a cut-back front bumper.See also: trim, locker, front locker, rear locker, DSSV dampers, mud-terrain tires, tire height, Bison