Glossary

Bluetooth is a wireless communication standard – used to connect your mobile phone or other Bluetooth equipped devices to compatible cars, it helps you keep your hands free for the important business of driving.

These small, supplementary speakers help ensure perfect clarity of sound for your in-car entertainment system. Mounted front side, tweeters complement more high-specification packages, reducing distortion and making those high notes sound pitch perfect.

Our anti-lock braking system (ABS) prevents your wheels from locking when you brake in an emergency, so you can still steer your car away from obstacles.  So you stay in control, no matter the weather.

Taking the stress out of motorway driving, our Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) technology helps you maintain a healthy speed and safe distance from the vehicle in front.
Fitted inside the front grille, a radar measures the distance to the vehicle ahead and regulates how close you get. ACC works once user-activated.

Active front head restraints help to protect your head, neck and spine from the impact when someone crashes into the back of you.

During a rear-end collision the passenger's body is pushed against the seatback, this pressure is then mechanically transmitted from the lumbar area via links which push the head restraint up and forward - reducing the gap between the head and head restraints, and limiting the possibility of a whiplash injury.

In the fractions of seconds before an accident, our active safety technology can make all the difference. Systems include Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and Vehicle Stability Assist ( VSA). Each one works to keep you safe by working to prevent an accident in the first place.

ADAS is an umbrella term covering Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) and Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS).

Designed to keep you safe in the event of a frontal collision, our cars are fitted with a frame structure specially engineered to reduce impact. 

The innovative body design absorbs crash energy across a large area to preserve the space inside your car, keeping you and your passengers safe. As well as redirecting frontal force, Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) can also minimise damage to other vehicles involved in a collision. 

Enjoy a smoother, quieter ride, whilst saving fuel. Our cars are designed to be aerodynamic and we work hard to make the Coefficient of Drag (Cd) as low as possible. It’s a technical process, but the lower the number gets, the less wind resistance – helping you glide effortlessly along.

Detects if you make an emergency stop and automatically increases braking power. This powerful braking helps to reduce your stopping distance.

Our Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS) alerts you of an impending collision, or - if it's too late to tell you - applies the brakes automatically.

A small radar mounted behind the grille acts as an 'eye', constantly transmitting a signal and evaluating the return echo. The system can detect an obstruction and calculate its distance and closing speed.

If the system detects an obstruction above a certain threshold it will alert you with a flashing indicator and alarm. If you don't react, the system will lightly apply the brakes and give a gentle tug at your seatbelt. If you still don't react and a frontal collision is imminent, both front seatbelts pull tight and the brakes are strongly applied.

CMBS lowers impact speed, reduces potential damage to your car and, importantly, looks after you and your passengers.

A common rail diesel engine allows extremely precise amounts of fuel to be injected into the combustion chamber quickly. As a result the fuel forms a finer mist and burns more efficiently. 

The result is a quiet, economical engine that offers lower emissions too.

Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is a clever twist on the automatic gearbox. By seamlessly shifting across an almost infinite range of gear ratios, it offers silky smooth efficiency and better fuel economy.

Thieves attempting to steal your car from the outside, or from inside by smashing the window, still cannot gain access - as deadlocks can only be controlled by you and your key fob.

This suspension layout delivers the ultimate precision in wheel movement and also reduces body movement when braking and turning corners. That means you can count on predictable, reliable handling and get on with enjoying the drive.

Works in tandem with the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) to direct your stopping power exactly where it needs to be. The system adjusts braking force to front and back wheels to maximise braking efficiency.

This computer looks after your engine and manages what it’s getting up to.

Also known as drive-by-wire, this system uses electronic sensors to detect the throttle position and direct your engine management system. The result is an instant, smooth response when you touch the throttle without the need for a mechanical connection.

Electric Power Steering (EPS) uses a motor to assist steering instead of hydraulics, and runs off the battery rather than the engine – helping to lower fuel consumption and emissions.

Ergonomics is an applied science, used to designing the optimum human environment. At Honda, we use ergonomics to ensure your car is the pinnacle of safety and comfort.

You'll find your car's controls and instruments where they make sense, and we make sure they are easy to understand and use. And we've paid attention to the smallest detail - from the steering mounted controls, to driver's seats that are designed to keep you comfortable yet alert.

Looking at fuel consumption and CO2 emissions gives a good indication of a car's performance.

The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) makes sure all car manufacturers measure fuel consumption in the same way, using an industry standard test so you can compare models with confidence.

Used on some automatic transmissions, this intelligent in-built system finds the optimum gear ratio to suit your driving style and the road condition. It’s particularly handy for hills and corners.

Instead of a bulb, HID lamps contain xenon gas which is ignited by an electric spark, producing true white light to illuminate the road ahead. So you enjoy brighter headlights and improved visibility.

A helping hand with those tricky hill starts - this system holds your car steady for a second as you switch from brake to accelerator.

Our hybrid vehicles are engineered to use both petrol and electricity - creating lower emissions and better economy.

Depending on the context, this acronym refers to your car’s stereo, or engine (though it’s usually the former).

This is a type of diesel engine you'll find fitted to some of Honda’s cars which use Common Rail injection.

This engine increases economy and reduces emissions thanks to the timing of its spark plugs.

An intelligent, new generation engine, the i-DTEC uses both the latest common rail and variable turbocharger technology to give you a smoother, quieter yet powerful ride.

Combining a petrol engine and an electric motor, Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) harnesses the power of hybrid technology to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy.

Unlike an automatic, i-SHIFT does not have a torque converter. Instead it has the same clutch as a 1.4 manual and can be used with steering wheel mounted paddle shifts or your sequential shift lever.

Designed to keep your children safe, the International Standards Organisation Fix (ISOFix) ensures every child seat is safely secured to the chassis of your car.

Combining Variable Valve Timing and Lift with Electronic Control (VTEC) and Variable Timing Control (VTC), this intelligent petrol engine improves performance, fuel economy and emissions.

Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) helps you stay in lane on motorways or other roads with boundary markings.

A camera mounted behind your windscreen processes images from the road ahead, then calculates the steering torque needed to keep you in lane. If you almost cross the lane marking, a continuous beep will sound to alert you.

Fitted to some higher performance cars, a Limited-Slip Differential (LSD) improves the traction of your wheels under power.

Gone in a puff of smoke…or at least in a pull of the strap under your seat. These rear seats fold down to make the load floor completely flat. Additionally the seat cushion can fold up, creating extra luggage space behind the front seats, for when you need a bit more space.

Smooth and simple, our one-motion folding seat mechanism means you can move your seats with minimal fuss. Simply release the rear seat and the headrest automatically folds, the seat cushion tilts forward and seat back folds flush to the floor.

A term encompassing the features of our cars that help protect you if you have an accident. Features like airbags (=active safety), crumple zones, side impact bars and Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) seatbelts (=active safety).

Passive safety is any equipment that adds to your safety while remaining passive. If it moves, it’s part of the active safety.

This technology is included as part of your car’s In-Car Entertainment (ICE). Essentially data such as song titles, transmitted through the radio waves and displayed to you.

An intelligent four wheel drive system that automatically sends power to the wheels with best grip, for when you need it most. Great for acceleration or driving on slippy terrain.

We call technology such as airbags a Supplemental  Restraint System (SRS). These include technologies in addition to seat belts to restrain occupants in the event of an impact.

Sequential-Shift (SS) gives you the ability to select gears manually through your automatic gearbox.

In broad terms, torque is a twisting, rotational force. In relation to your car, low engine speed torque is important for your engine to be able to accelerate effortlessly from lower revs.

Our Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) System works in harmony with Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) technology to ensure the highest level of safety when towing a trailer.
Using sensors the TSA system can apply the brakes appropriately, to keep both your car and trailer stable as you drive.

Experience instant, smooth acceleration thanks to the variable turbocharger fitted to the i-DTEC engine. Turbochargers use rotors to pressurise the air going into the cylinders. This increases the air’s oxygen density, improving combustion and producing more power. Variable turbochargers can automatically vary the pressure as it is needed.

The vehicle identification number (VIN) is a unique number used to identify of your car. It is like a passport for your car.

This system detects loss of traction in corners to help keep you on the right track. 

The intelligent system monitors your speed, throttle position, steering angle, individual wheel speeds, lateral G-force and yaw rate to monitor for under or over steering. If either is detected, VSA uses the ABS system to apply brakes to each wheel to keep your car stable - particularly handy in adverse driving conditions, or if you enter a corner faster than is ideal.

Variable timing control (VTC) is a mechanism that significantly improves torque and the performance of your car, by changing the timing angle of the intake side camshaft relative to the crankshaft as engine speed and load change. All very clever – and it helps to deliver more torque at lower engine speeds.

Creating more power when you need it most, Variable Valve Timing and Lift with Electronic Control (VTEC) adjusts the engine valves to give you a boost. VTEC also delivers lower emissions and superior fuel economy over regular petrol engines.