This vs That: What some of those confusing car terms mean

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What’s in a name? A lot if you’re an automaker, because you want to tell people about your vehicle’s features in the ads. But sometimes these go by proprietary names, or there’s not enough room to explain what’s meant.

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Or sometimes one item might have a few names, used interchangeably, depending on who’s telling the story. We’re here to help with some you’ll hear.

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This vs That: What some of those confusing car terms mean Back to video

Sunroof vs moonroof

The story goes that, originally, a sunroof was a metal panel that you slid back to let in sunshine, while a moonroof was glass. They’re all made of glass now, and automakers tend to use the terms interchangeably, but they’re the same thing. A panoramic sunroof is large and takes up most of the roof, and generally only the front section tilts or opens.

Wheel vs rim

Automakers will always say wheel, but some people prefer rim, as in, “Hey, nice rims!” They’re talking about the wheels, of course, but the terms aren’t the same. The wheel is the entire unit, while the rim is the edge.

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Wheels are measured by their diameter, such as a 17-inch wheel, and the tire size — its inside diameter — corresponds to that. So what’s up with huge numbers, like the 35-inch tires we’re hearing about on the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler?

No, the wheel itself isn’t that big. Instead, in addition to wheel size, off-road tires are also measured by their outside diameter. It’s used by serious off-roaders when retrofitting their vehicles, since they have to know if an extra-tall tire will fit inside the wheel wells without interference.

Wheel Cover vs hubcap

Although most new vehicles have alloy wheels and so don’t use either one, we still tend to say hubcap for anything that covers a wheel — but in reality, most of these are wheel covers or wheel discs.

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Properly, a hubcap is a smaller cover that goes over the hub (and usually the wheel nuts too), descended from the caps used to keep grease in and dirt out of the hub on early cars with wooden-spoke wheels. If it goes all the way to the edge of the wheel, it’s a wheel cover.

Ventilated vs cooled seats

Heated seats have been around for a long time, but now an increasing number of manufacturer are offering chairs that keep you cool as well. These seats contain fans that blow air through perforations in the seat upholstery.

Ventilated seats blow ambient air, so it’s the fan effect that’s cooling you off. (A few suck air into the seat, drawing it away from your warm body so you feel cooler.) Cooled seats first pass the air over a cooling element inside the seat, or use refrigerated air from the air conditioning system. Cooled seats are costlier units, so they’re more likely found on pricier vehicles.

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Name vs no-name leather

If the leather has a brand name, such as Artico, NuLux, SofTex, or Alcantara suede, these are generally synthetic materials. They’re often almost impossible to distinguish from real leather, and don’t require as much maintenance.

Some genuine leather does have a name, such as Nappa leather, a generic name for a type of soft leather; or the U.K.’s Bridge of Weir brand, used by automakers such as Aston Martin. But most of the time, if your upholstery has a trademarked name, it’s never actually seen the outside of a cow.

Active vs adaptive vs dynamic cruise control

Cruise control maintains your speed, but these versions go a step beyond. They also keep a pre-set distance from the vehicle in front. The name used depends on the automaker, but they all describe the same basic function. Beyond that, some may only work at higher speeds, while more sophisticated systems can handle heavy traffic, stopping completely and then following the car ahead when it moves.

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Liftgate vs tailgate

Generally, a liftgate is hinged at the top and lifts up, such as on an SUV, while a tailgate is hinged at the bottom and pulls down, as on a truck. However, you’ll sometimes find one name used for the other. A power liftgate opens and closes electrically; a hands-free liftgate does this when you activate its sensors, usually by kicking your foot under the bumper. Some upper-trim trucks have power tailgates that lower electrically, and may also close themselves too.

All-wheel drive vs four-wheel drive

Generally, all-wheel drive automatically transfers power between the front and rear wheels as needed for traction; while four-wheel drive, or 4×4 or 4WD, is a driver-selectable system that you switch between powering two or four wheels. All-wheel is usually on cars and SUVs, while four-wheel is generally on trucks or truck-based SUVs.

Usually automakers use the terms that way, but we have occasionally seen “four-wheel” for all-wheel systems, because it sounds more rugged and capable. If you’re not sure what you’re getting, find out before you buy. Also, note that many 4×4 vehicles can only be used in four-wheel on soft or slippery off-road surfaces. Unless there’s an “Auto 4×4” setting, driving it on pavement can potentially damage the driveline.