What is Torque? A Breakdown of the Basic Terms
Starting the search for a new car can be intimidating, especially when you don’t know the lingo. You start searching for a new car, comparing brands, and these crazy words fly by as you scroll through the website. The salesman sounds like he’s speaking Latin, and everything seems to fly over your head. 4-cylinder, 356 lb-ft of torque, Supercharged engine (Like Superman? Just a super-duper engine, right?). It can be overwhelming.
To help you decide which specs (Oops, there’s another term for you; specs = specifications) are most important for your car search, here is a list of some of the basics to get you started.
| Engine displacement | Volume of all the cylinders in the engine; The higher the displacement, the larger and more powerful the engine is |
| Cylinders | The place where the car burns the gasoline; More cylinders = more power; less cylinders = better gas mileage |
| Supercharged & Turbocharged | Increases the power of the engine without additional cylinders; A Turbocharged 4-cylinder can produce the power of a 6-cylinder; Here’s the difference between Supercharged and Turbocharged |
| Torque | How much work an engine can do; The higher the torque, the more a vehicle can tow |
| Horsepower | How quickly an engine can do that work; The higher the horsepower, the faster the vehicle can accelerate |
| Transmission | How the vehicle shifts gears; This is where you choose if you want automatic or manual |
| RWD/FWD/AWD | Rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive; Determines which of the wheels the engine provides power to |
| Fuel capacity | How many gallons of gasoline the vehicle can hold at one time; Affects how often you fill up your tank (and how much it costs when you do) |
| MPG | Miles-per-gallon; This is how many miles you can travel with one gallon of gas |
| MSRP | Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price; this is the price the car company suggests dealers should sell the car for |
If you are ever unsure about any of these terms during the car buying process, don’t be afraid to ask someone at the dealership. They are always happy to help you with any questions you may have.
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.