BMW 3 Series 320d Luxury Edition

Time the car takes to reach 100kmph from a standstill

The official title given by the manufacturer in terms of the name of the engine, the displacement and the number of cylinders.

All cars in India either run on petrol, diesel, CNG, LPG or electric power.

Gives a good idea of the performance of the vehicle under full thrust. A higher figure here usually means a higher top speed as well.

Relates to in-gear acceleration. A higher figure here means better roll-on acceleration, fewer gear shifts, and possibly better fuel efficiency.

This is the maximum fuel efficiency that an engine gives. All numbers are provided by the manufacturer based on tests conducted and specified by the standards of the ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India)

Approximate maximum number of kilometers which can be traveled on a full tank of fuel or fully charged battery

Cars come with different drivetrain configurations depending on the segment.

Type of transmission used to transfer power from the engine to the wheels

Set by the Indian Government, this governs the amount of air pollutants released by cars to make the atmosphere safer for humans.

Manufacturers today offer turbochargers to boost engine power without affecting its fuel economy. Superchargers are found in more expensive cars but on the downside, they are not very efficient.

The length of the car decides its segment. In India, cars that are less than 4 metres in length enjoy reduced excise duties.

• Length: 4709

A car's width is defined as its widest point without its mirrors.

• Width: 1827

The height of the car denotes the highest point of the vehicle from the ground.

• Height: 1435

The space between the center of the front and rear wheels.

• Wheelbase: 2851

It’s the space between the lowest point of the car and the ground.

• Ground Clearance: 135

The number of doors define the category of car. For example – four door means sedan, two-door means coupe while five-doors usually refer to a hatchback, MPV or an SUV.

• Doors: 4

The number of people that can be seated comfortably in the car, which has also been mandated by the car manufacturer.

• Seating Capacity: 5

Smaller cars usually have two rows which can seat five, but some SUVs and MPVs have three rows and can seat around 7-8 passengers.

Boot space defines how practical the car is with respect to how much luggage it can carry.

• Bootspace: 480

The official volume of the fuel tank of a car, usually denoted in litres.

Almost all cars in India use an independent front suspension which is usually the MacPherson Strut type.

The rear suspension can either be non-independent or independent.

Most of the vehicles sold in India get ventilated or non-ventilated disc brakes upfront.

In affordable cars, drums brakes are fitted at the rear as they are cost effective.

The official kerb-to-kerb minimum radius a car takes to complete a 180-degree turn.

Almost all steering systems in cars today have an assist to help park them better at low speeds - these can be hydraulic, electro-hydraulic or electric.

The wheels used on cars are either steel rims with plastic wheel cover hub or alloy wheels on higher spec models or expensive cars.

Important in a country with varying quality of roads, spare wheels ensure one doesn’t get stranded when one of the main tyres gets damaged.

The profile/dimension of rubber tyre that fits on the front wheels.

The profile/dimension of rubber tyre that fits on the rear wheels.

Mandatory safety system for cars sold in India, a single beep is emitted after 80kmph and continuous ones after 120kmph

This function detects when the car is drifting out of its lane and cautions the driver through audio/visual alerts

The brake lights flash in a quick intermittent fashion to indicate to the following vehicles to slow down quicker than usual

These enable users to repair a puncture effortlessly, saving the time/effort involved in replacing it with the spare wheel

The driver is warned of an impending crash due to stopped/slowing vehicles ahead of them

This system automatically stops the car if it senses an obstacle where the driver fails to take action

This feature spots oncoming vehicles at night to shift the headlight between high and low beam

The official crash test safety rating given to a car by one of the many testing agencies around the world

Blind Spot Detection systems use sensors to detect and alert the driver of any sudden movements in his/her blind spot

This feature automatically steers the car to prevent it from moving out of the lane when there is no driver input

An assistance feature that alerts the driver who is backing out of a parking space if another vehicle is approaching

Safer three-point seatbelts for passengers seated in the middle of the second row of seats.

A headrest for the middle occupant of the second-row of seats.

A digital gauge that provides the live status of the air pressure in every tyre of a car.

Anchor points or strap systems built into car seats to keep child seats in place, especially during a crash

Mandatory fitment in cars sold in India, emits loud beeps when it detects that occupants are not wearing their seatbelts.

An electronic system that prevents the tyres from locking and skidding in emergency braking situations by pulsing the brakes (quickly releasing and reapplying the brakes)

An electronic system that redirects braking forces among the four brakes to stop the car as quickly and stably as possible

A system that increases brake pressure to help the car stop quicker

System designed to improve car stability and control, especially when the car is accelerating.

A system that sends the car's power to all the four wheels at the same time

A feature that prevents the car from rolling backwards when stopped on a slope

This system cuts power to those wheels that are spinning without grip/traction

A feature that allows the user to alter the ride height of the car

A feature that limits the car's speed without any driver input while traversing down descents

This function prevents wheelspin and maximises traction by shuffling torque between wheels

Locking differentials split power/torque evenly among both tyres on an axle.

A security device that prevents the engine from being started unless the key is present

This feature let's one unlock all the doors remotely or with a key

This feature automatically locks the car's doors when it reaches a preset speed

Such locks are built into the rear doors to prevent rear seat occupants from opening the doors

The different types of air-conditioning systems used to cool the cabin

This feature allows warm air to pass through the air-con vents for heating the cabin

Compact mirrors fitted to the inside of the sunvisor

The option of being able to access the boot space while sitting inside the car

These mirrors negate the glare from headlight beams of cars behind you

A feature that aids drivers park with ease and greater precision using sensors/cameras

Sensors that are usually located on the bumpers of a car to assist/alert the driver while parking

A system that automatically controls the speed of the car

An alert that warns one from leaving the car with the headlight and ignition switched on

When fitted, this system allows the car to be switched on without removing the key from the driver’s pocket or vicinity.

A function where the steering wheel moves up/down, in/out as per the driver's requirement

This socket provides current to a cigarette lighter style 12 volt plug

An app based feature that allows one to find where their car is located/parked

The requisite app will provide information regarding various functions such as speed and fuel alerts

A service that triggers actions like notifications and security alerts when a car enters/leaves a set location

A call that's made automatically by the car to the local emergency services in the event of a crash

Similar to how smartphones receive updates, a vehicle too (if equipped with connected car features) receives updates over the air via a cellular or WiFi connection

The smartphone app turns on the car's AC to attain the required cabin temperature even before one boards it

The smartphone app allows one to remotely lock/unlock the car's doors from just about anywhere

The smartphone app lets you remotely open/close the sunroof of your car

The smartphone app sounds the horn and flashes the headlights of your car so that you can locate it

Alexa is a virtual assistant technology that allows voice interaction to perform various tasks

The armrest located between the front passengers which helps comfort the driver's arm while driving

This row could either be a bench or a pair of jump/captain seats

Cooled air from the AC system passes through the perforations on the seat to comfort the occupant

Depicts if the cabin comes with a single or dual-tone colour scheme

The various color shades used within the cabin

Some rear seats have the option to be be folded to offer more practicality

Sections of the rear seat are capable of being folded down separately

The pockets behind the front seats which help rear seat occupants store their stuff

The portion extending from or fixed to the seat that supports the head

The storage space within the armrest that's located between the front passengers

A feature where cool air from the air-conditioner is diverted to the glovebox

Mirrors that are placed on the car's exterior, around the door, to aid the driver see behind the vehicle

This is fitted where the door meets the frame to protect it from scratches and dust

When the car's windows can be raised/lowered by pressing a button/switch

This feature allows a user to roll down the windows with a single press of a button

This feature allows a user to roll up the windows with a single press of a button

Different ways of adjusting the door mirror to suit the driver's requirement

Turn indicators are fitted to the door mirrors for improved visibility

A feature that removes condensed water droplets from the rear windscreen to improve visibility

When the system detects water droplets on the windshield, it activates the wipers to improve driver visibility

These protective shields keep the sun's rays from affecting the occupants

The various methods of opening the boot lid

A manually/electrically operated, usually translucent, screen designed to reduce the sunlight filtering into the cabin through the rear windshield to improve rear-cabin comfort and privacy

Functional or purely aesthetic parts added to the car's body such as side skirts and roof/bonnet scoops

A strip of rubber fitted to the sides of the car's doors or bumpers to prevent dents and dings

Such headlights automatically switch on and off when they sense bright or dark driving conditions

The headlamps remain lit for sometime when the car is locked/unlocked to aid user visibility in dark surroundings

These lights turn left and right based on steering inputs to illuminate the sides of the car

Lights that automatically switch on during the day for increased visibility

A type of lamp that improves driver visibility while driving through fog

Additional lighting apart from the roof-mounted courtesy/map lamps. These are added for a sense of style and luxury rather than utility.

Incorporated into the bottom section of a car's door mirrors, they light up the ground underneath the front door when the door is unlocked

A lamp that's located around the vanity mirror behind the sun visor

Allows adjustment to the height of the headlight beams via a switch on the dashboard

It indicates how much fuel is being used that very instant your car is moving

A screen situated mostly behind the steering wheel displaying information and warning lights regarding the car's various vitals

The amount of fuel consumed by the engine (kmpl) is displayed on the instrument cluster in real time

The total distance traveled divided by the time taken to cover that distance

The approximate distance a car will run with the amount of fuel remaining in the tank

A warning light that pops up on the instrument cluster when the doors are not shut properly

The brightness of the instrument cluster can be adjusted via controls

It notifies the driver about which gear the car is being driven in and can also suggest down- or upshifting to improve efficiency

Notifies the driver about the optimum instances to shift gears

This function allows specific data like 'speed' to reflect/project on the windscreen in the driver's line-of-sight

An instrument that measures engine speed in revolutions-per-minute (rpm)

The ability to connect to the internet and communicate with smart devices to perform various functions

A touchscreen or display that acts as a user's interface to the various functions of the car

The ability to recognise and interpret specific movements of the occupant to perform functions without any direct contact with any of the car's switches or buttons

A touchscreen or display that acts as a user's interface to the various functions of the car

The music player that comes factory fitted

Number of speaker units as part of a car’s surround-sound system

The widely-used controls are placed on the steering wheel to ease driver usage

When the car's system responds to the occupant's voice to perform certain features

A system that uses satellite signals to help the driver with directions to reach a destination

Allows devices with bluetooth functionality connect wirelessly to the car's infotainment system

The car's music player can play tracks off a portable device via an aux cable

Is the music system's capability of playing broadcasted radio channels

When tracks can be played from a USB/pen drive

These pads can charge equipped smartphones without using a cable

The size of the music system fitted to a car. Traditionally 1-DIN or 2-DIN, are being replaced by touchscreen units of varying sizes.

The storage device within the car's infotainment system

The capability of the infotainment system to play DVDs

The number of years the EV battery is covered under the manufacturer's warranty

The number of kilometres the EV battery is covered under the manufacturer's warranty

In these instances, the seat is not fixed and can slide back and forth