Have you ever looked at a car and wondered what trims were all about? If so, you’re not the only one who has this question.
The trim level of a car is the set of features that come with it. Not every car of the same model comes with the same set of tools. Most of the time, manufacturers use a combination of letters to describe their trim levels. These codes tell you what kind of extra equipment is available for each vehicle.
They might even tell you about their engines sometimes.
Most cars have a base model and a few upgrades on top of that. Different trim names are given to each upgrade. The price goes up as the trim level goes up. When people shop, they might sometimes be looking for a certain trim level. So, they can even affect how much your car is worth when you sell it.
What Do Car Trims Mean?
Each manufacturer has its own way of naming the trim. So it’s not easy to just compare different brands. But there are a few standard names for trims.
Most of the time, “S” means “standard” or “base” model of a car.
GT is often short for “Gran Turismo,” which is a kind of sports model.
Most luxury lines have trim names that begin with the letter L.
You might notice that some letters go together. The first one usually refers to the trim level as a whole.
The rest of the letters usually tell you about other packages you can get.
Example 1: 2021 Hyundai Tucson Sport
There are a few ways in which the Hyundai Tuscon Sport is different from the other trims. It has 19-inch alloy wheels, which are bigger. Also, a power lift tailgate has been added. Also, this trim level has leather accents on the seats inside.
Lastly, they have added wireless chargers to the car. Even the transmission is better.
Example 2: 2021 Ford F-150 XLT
The Ford F-150 XLT is a big step up from the base model.
It has a brand-new set of sport alloy wheels. It also has a bigger screen for entertainment. And there’s a WiFi hotspot built right in!
This trim level also adds some safety features for the driver, like monitoring for blind spots.
Do Vehicle Trims Matter?
The trim level of a car affects how much it will cost you. And it tells you what kinds of choices you’ll have in it. Some people don’t care at all about trims.
They’re just happy to have something that works. Some people might want nothing but a top-of-the-line model.
If you want a certain engine or transmission, the trim level might be important. Some car companies only put their best engines in the most expensive models.
You should also look at the inside. The electronics in base models tend to be less. But if you buy a more expensive model, you might be able to get a wireless hotspot.
You might also want to sell the cars after you’ve had them for a while. Most of the time, the trim level of a car has a big effect on its resale value.
So, if you want something that holds its value well, you might want a higher trim level.
How to Find the Trim of Your Vehicle?
You might be looking for the trim level of a car you already own. They will have them on sale stickers at the car lot. Once you get them home, you’ll have to look a little harder to find them.
They are sometimes stuck to the back of cars. See if you can find any letters near the trunk. Those usually mean what level of trim it has. If that doesn’t work, you could look at the sticker on the inside of the door. Most of the time, there’s something there that tells you the trim level.
Most of the time, they will also be in the owner’s manual. Look in yours to see if there is anything about it there. You could also try to look up your car’s VIN. This is the number that identifies the car. The VIN is unique to each car and tells you everything you need to know about it.
You could also look at the options that your car has. Then you can compare that to what the manufacturer has to offer. For instance, you might have a set of wheels that measure 19 inches. And I looked it up, and that size of wheel is only on one trim level.
Understanding Vehicle Trims
Trim levels make it easy to find out what kinds of options your car has. Most cars have what’s called a “base model.” Most of the time, this is marked with the letter S.
Each maker comes up with its own names, so they aren’t all the same. But the car always gets more options as the trim level goes up. Most of the time, they’ll also raise the price.
They can even affect how much your car is worth when you want to sell it. Some trim levels might also keep their value for longer.
