Car glossary

The words on a spec sheet, an invoice and an insurance policy, in plain English. You can also ask the search box: "what is LKAS" or "AWD vs 4WD".

Common mix-ups

• AWD vs 4WD
• BSM vs Blind view monitor
• ESC vs Traction control
• NMC vs LFP
• kW vs kWh
• AMT vs TC
• iMT vs AMT
• Zero depreciation cover vs RTI
• Ex-showroom price vs On-road price
• LKA vs LDW
• ACC vs Cruise control
• AEB vs FCW
• Mild hybrid vs Strong hybrid
• Strong hybrid vs EV
• Bharat NCAP vs Global NCAP
• Comprehensive car insurance vs Third-party insurance
• Turbocharged engine vs NA
• Diesel engine vs Turbocharged engine
• AC vs DC
• ps-vs-bhp
• Power vs Torque
• Hill hold assist vs Auto hold
• spare-types
• monocoque-vs-ladder
• GDI vs MPFI
• wet-vs-dry-dct
• CVT vs e-CVT
• Locking differential vs LSD
• ARAI vs Real-world range
• flat-vs-reducing
• Sub-4 vs Hatchback, sedan, SUV, MPV
• Standard warranty vs Extended warranty
• NCB vs Cashless claim
• BH vs RTO
• Sunroof vs Panoramic sunroof
• headlamp-types
• cng-fitment
• IDV vs Ex-showroom price

Price and paperwork

• BH series (Bharat series) registration
• CBU and CKD
• Ex-showroom price
• Exchange bonus
• Extended warranty
• Facelift (and new generation)
• FASTag
• Form 20
• Form 21 (sale certificate)
• Form 22 (roadworthiness certificate)
• Form 29 and 30 (ownership transfer)
• GST on cars
• Handling (logistics) charges
• HSRP (high security registration plate)
• Hypothecation (loan on RC)
• NOC and Form 35 (removing hypothecation)
• On-road price
• RC (registration certificate)
• Road tax
• RTO and registration charges
• TCS (tax collected at source)
• Temporary registration
• Variant (trim)

Insurance

• Cashless claim
• Comprehensive car insurance
• Consumables cover
• Deductible (compulsory and voluntary)
• Engine protection cover
• IDV (insured declared value)
• Insurance add-ons
• Key replacement cover
• NCB protection
• No claim bonus (NCB)
• Own damage (OD) cover
• Personal accident cover (owner-driver)
• Return to invoice (RTI) cover
• Third-party insurance
• Total loss (write-off)
• Tyre protect cover
• Zero depreciation cover (nil dep)

Loans and finance

• APR and Key Facts Statement
• Car leasing and subscription
• Down payment (margin money)
• EMI (equated monthly instalment)
• Flat rate vs reducing-balance rate
• Processing fee (and other loan charges)

Taking delivery

• Engine number
• Manufacturing date (old stock)
• PDI (pre-delivery inspection)
• Tyre DOT code (manufacture date)
• VIN (vehicle identification number)

Gearboxes

• AMT (automated manual transmission)
• Automatic (AT)
• CVT (continuously variable transmission)
• DCT (dual-clutch transmission)
• e-CVT (hybrid transmission)
• iMT (clutchless manual)
• Manual gearbox (MT)
• Paddle shifters
• Single-speed gearbox (EVs)
• Smooth automatic (axler8 'no AMT' filter)
• Torque converter automatic (TC)
• Wet-clutch vs dry-clutch DCT

Engines and fuel

• 3-cylinder vs 4-cylinder engine
• AdBlue (DEF, urea)
• ARAI mileage (claimed mileage)
• BS6 and BS6 Phase 2 (RDE)
• CNG (compressed natural gas)
• Diesel engine
• Direct injection (GDI)
• DPF (diesel particulate filter)
• E20 petrol
• Engine size (cc / displacement)
• Factory-fitted vs dealer-fitted CNG
• Flex fuel
• ICE (internal combustion engine)
• Idle start-stop
• Mild hybrid (smart hybrid)
• Mileage (fuel efficiency, km/l)
• MPFI (multi-point fuel injection)
• Naturally aspirated (NA) engine
• Octane (RON) and premium petrol
• Pickup (acceleration, 0-100 km/h)
• Plug-in hybrid (PHEV)
• Power (PS, bhp, hp, kW)
• Strong hybrid (self-charging hybrid)
• Torque (Nm)
• TSI, T-GDi and other engine badges
• Turbocharged engine (turbo petrol)

Electric cars

• 10-80% charging time
• AC charging (home charging)
• AVAS (pedestrian warning sound)
• BaaS (battery as a service)
• Battery cooling (thermal management)
• Battery health (SoH) and degradation
• Battery warranty
• CCS2 charging port
• DC fast charging
• Efficiency (km per kWh)
• EV (electric vehicle, BEV)
• EV tax benefits (GST and road tax)
• Green number plate (EV plate)
• kW (power and charging speed)
• kWh (battery size)
• LFP battery (lithium iron phosphate)
• MIDC (Modified Indian Driving Cycle)
• NMC battery (nickel manganese cobalt)
• Onboard charger (OBC)
• One-pedal driving
• Portable charger (15 A socket)
• Range (claimed EV range)
• Real-world range
• Regenerative braking (regen)
• State of charge (SoC)
• Type 2 AC connector
• Usable vs gross battery capacity
• V2L (vehicle to load)
• Wall box (home charger)

Drive and off-road

• All-wheel drive (AWD)
• Approach, departure and breakover angles
• Brake locking differential (BLD)
• Differential
• Four-wheel drive (4WD / 4x4)
• Front-wheel drive (FWD)
• Ground clearance
• Limited-slip differential (LSD)
• Locking differential (diff lock)
• Low range (4L)
• Part-time 4WD (2H, 4H, 4L)
• Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
• Terrain modes
• Water wading depth

Safety

• ABS (anti-lock braking system)
• Airbags
• AOP (adult occupant protection)
• Auto hold
• Bharat NCAP
• Brake assist (BA)
• COP (child occupant protection)
• Crash test star rating
• Crumple zone
• Curtain airbags
• EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution)
• Electronic parking brake (EPB)
• Electronic stability control (ESC / ESP)
• Euro NCAP and ASEAN NCAP
• Global NCAP
• Hill descent control (HDC)
• Hill hold assist (hill start assist)
• ISOFIX child-seat mounts
• Pedestrian protection
• Seat belt reminder
• Side airbags
• Traction control
• Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS)

Driver assistance (ADAS)

• Adaptive cruise control (ACC)
• ADAS (driver assistance systems)
• Auto high beam (high beam assist)
• Automatic emergency braking (AEB)
• Automatic parking assist
• Blind spot monitor (BSM / BSD)
• Blind view monitor (camera)
• Cruise control
• Driver attention warning
• Forward collision warning (FCW)
• Lane centring assist
• Lane departure warning (LDW)
• Lane keep assist (LKA / LKAS)
• Level 2 ADAS
• Parking sensors
• Rear cross traffic alert (RCTA)
• Reversing camera
• Traffic sign recognition (TSR)

Comfort and tech

• 360-degree camera (surround view)
• 60:40 split-folding rear seat
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (wireless)
• Automatic climate control
• Automatic headlamps
• Captain seats (6-seater vs 7-seater)
• Connected car tech
• Daytime running lamps (DRL)
• Digital instrument cluster
• Drive modes (Eco, Normal, Sport)
• Driver seat height adjust
• Head-up display (HUD)
• IRVM and ORVM (mirrors)
• Keyless entry and push-button start
• Leatherette upholstery
• LED, projector and halogen headlamps
• NVH (noise, vibration, harshness)
• Over-the-air (OTA) updates
• Panoramic sunroof
• Powered (electric) seats
• Premium audio (branded speakers)
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Rear AC vents
• Ride quality
• Sunroof
• Tilt and telescopic steering
• Ventilated seats
• Wireless phone charger

Body and size

• Boot space (litres)
• Hatchback, sedan, SUV, MPV (body types)
• Kerb weight
• Monocoque vs ladder frame
• Spare wheel (full-size vs space saver)
• Sub-4 metre car
• Turning radius
• Tyre size code (e.g. 215/60 R17)
• Wheelbase

Owning and servicing

• 10- and 15-year rule (Delhi NCR)
• AMC and service packages
• PUC certificate
• Registration renewal after 15 years
• Resale value and depreciation
• Roadside assistance (RSA)
• Running cost (cost per km)
• Service interval
• Standard warranty
• Vehicle scrappage (RVSF)

Checked 18 Sep 2026.