Vehicle Jargon And Terminology Confuses UK Car Buyers

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Fri, 04 Jan 2008

Today’s UK motorists are becoming increasingly puzzled by the technical jargon and terminology used to describe modern day vehicles, a new study has revealed.

Research carried out by used car website motors.co.uk found that many of the 2,500 UK drivers surveyed are ignorant of technical terms, despite frequent usage of them by motoring magazines and car salesmen.

Nearly 50 per cent of those polled said they were unsure of what ESP (electronic stability programme) stood for, while a third were puzzled by ABS (anti-lock braking system) and a quarter were completely clueless when it came to the meaning of BHP (brake horse power).

When quizzed about what they would most like to read in a car review, 88 per cent of motorists thought value for money was more important than speed, while just over half prioritised comfort and 41 per cent said they wanted more information about a car's ‘green’ credentials.

The majority of men included in the study (68 per cent) wanted to know whether a car fits into the needs of their lifestyle, while women were much more concerned with practical gadgets, with 57 per cent saying they wanted more information provided on in-car features such as satnav devices and cup holders.

Katie Armitage, head of marketing at motors.co.uk said: "Boot space, comfort and cup holders are the kind of things buyers want to know about rather than being overwhelmed with technical jargon they don't understand."