Crucial Vehicle Specs to Know When Car Shopping

It is important to understand basic vehicle specifications to know if a vehicle is suitable for your needs. Vehicle specs, however, can confuse drivers who are looking to buy a new vehicle or understand the one they own.

In order to help you out, we at Thornhill CDJR have compiled a list of the most common vehicle specs. You can use this jargon list to navigate car shopping and find the right model.

We'll help you make sense of the car-buying process, even if you're not an expert. Whenever you're ready to purchase, stop by our dealership in Logan, WV, to take a test drive.

A Quick Guide to Common Car Specs

Certain car specifications are obvious: "eight airbags" means eight airbags are in the car. However, when shopping for a car, people interpret specs such as torque, wheelbase, and even more familiar ones, such as horsepower and weight, differently. Below are some common terms you might see on a spec sheet.

Engine

When you go shopping for a vehicle, you'll find four engine types: gasoline, diesel, electric, and hybrid engines that combine gasoline and electricity. Hybrid vehicles utilize various gasoline-electric systems depending on their subtype. The engine in your vehicle produces power using these types of fuels and energies.

Transmission

The transmission transmits the engine's power and torque to the drive wheels so that the car can move. Manual, automatic, torque converter, automated manual, dual-clutch transmission (DCT), and continuously variable transmission (CVT) are some of the transmission types available today. With the manual transmission, drivers can shift gears manually; with the automatic transmission, they do not have to do so.

Horsepower

The horsepower rating of an engine indicates how much power it can generate. Horsepower is traditionally linked to thoroughbred strength. For example, one horsepower can lift 550 pounds, one foot per second.

Horsepower cannot tell you how powerful or capable a vehicle is. Many factors contribute to a vehicle's performance and strength, including torque, aerodynamics, gearing, and engine displacement.

Torque

Torque in vehicles refers to how powerfully a vehicle can rotate its wheels at its lowest end. Torque is usually measured in pounds-per-foot rather than Newton meters, or N m. Diesel engines typically produce more torque than gas engines.

Drivetrain

A drivetrain is a system that drives wheels using an engine or transmission. Most vehicles come with four-wheel drive (4WD), all-wheel drive (AWD), or front-wheel drive (FWD).

• All-wheel drive (AWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD). Since off-road vehicles require more traction control, power is distributed evenly among all four wheels.
• Rear-wheel drive (RWD). The rear wheels are the only ones that receive power from performance cars' engines.
• Front-wheel drive (FWD). Power is only sent to the front wheels.

MPG or Miles Per Gallon

You can find out how far an automobile can go on one gallon of fuel by checking its miles-per-gallon rating. Often, people factor this into their decision to buy a car, but you should take this with a grain of salt. The U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) tests vehicles' MPG ratings under ideal conditions, not in actual driving conditions. Vehicles can only achieve up to 30 miles per gallon when conditions are ideal.

Wheelbase

The wheelbase measurement of a car starts from the centers of the wheels to the axle lines. It can affect vehicle handling, ride quality, and appearance, but you should look at those factors directly, not through the lens of the wheelbase as a whole.

Shop Your Next Vehicle at Thornhill CDJR

You can find the perfect car at Thornhill CDJR in Logan, WV, no matter your lifestyle or budget. Our inventory includes a wide range of top-of-the-line vehicles from Jeep, RAM, Dodge, and Chrysler. Overwhelmed by the options? Let us assist you. You will be amazed at how advanced features, impressive performance, and versatility will transform your driving experience.