At Consumer Guide, we know shopping for a vehicle can be daunting. It’s made even harder by the proliferation of gee-whiz and techno-gadgets available on cars, trucks and SUVs. To help you simplify things a bit, here is a glossary of common automotive innovations, some of which may not have existed the last time you bought a vehicle. We’ll help you learn what new features are in your dashboard and under your hood.

Adaptive Automatic Transmission

Some transmissions can “learn” and adapt to the driver’s style, altering shift points and other transmission functions to produce the most efficient operation.

Adaptive Cruise Control

One step beyond cruise control, adaptive cruise control uses a radar sensor mounted in the front of the vehicle to maintain a safe cruising distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. Most systems allow you to set the interval (distance between vehicles) and will then accelerate and brake (within reason) to maintain that interval. In many cases, the systems can take into account hilly terrain and passing situations. All have the ability to act like regular cruise control, and they still require the driver to steer the vehicle normally. Some automakers refer to it as “intelligent” cruise control.

Air Suspension

Instead of steel coil or leaf springs, some vehicles have a bellows-like unit at each corner that contains pressurized air. As a rule, air suspensions can produce a softer ride.

Adjustable Suspension

Provides better ride or handling. A variety of systems are used to vary shock-absorber firmness. Some automatically sense road conditions and adjust shock-absorber settings accordingly. Others include a switch on the dashboard or console that allows the driver to adjust shock-absorber settings to provide a softer or firmer ride, or sharper handling.

Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)

Helps maintain control in emergency stops. Particularly useful on slick pavement. While the driver applies steady pressure to the brake pedal, the system automatically “pumps” the brakes many times per second to prevent wheel lock-up.

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