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Trim levels are used by manufacturers to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.[1][2][3] The equipment and features fitted to a particular vehicle also depend on any options packages or individual options that the car was ordered with.
For a given car model, the trim level denotes which equipment and features are included as standard. A car buyer may add to this standard equipment with trim packages or individual options. The trim level with the least equipment/features is referred to as the "base model,"[2] and the trim level with the most equipment/features is referred to as "highest specification" or colloquially as "fully loaded." Differences between trim levels typically consist of interior equipment (e.g., leather seats and reversing cameras) and cosmetic changes;[2][3] however, a trim level can sometimes include mechanical changes such as different engines, suspension, or all-wheel-drive systems.[4][5]
Some car brands use a different car model for what could be instead considered a trim level; therefore, the distinction between a model and trim level can vary between brands. For example, Volkswagen could choose to market the Golf GTi either as a standalone model, or as a trim level within the Golf model.
Manufacturers sometimes offer "delete options," with which several standard items of equipment from a certain trim level may be deleted, typically for free or with a credit. Sometimes, the delete option costs extra: for example, in the 1980s, German luxury car buyers began to pay manufacturers extra not to have the badges indicating the type of engine to be installed. Debadging went on to gain popularity across the market, both as a form of reverse snobbery while also allowing buyers to obscure lower-spec models or trim.
Trim levels are often designated by a pair of letters; for example, DX, LX, LS, EX, GL, SE, or GT.[1] They can also be designated an alphanumeric code (e.g., Z28, XR5, GT3), or using a word (e.g., Executive, Ambition or Deluxe). Many of the letter combinations have their origins in named trim levels, with DX and DL meaning "Deluxe," GL "Grand Luxe," SE "Special Edition," GT "Gran Turismo," and so on.
En Norteamérica, las designaciones de larga data para niveles de equipamiento de alto rendimiento incluyen " SS " de Chevrolet (introducido por primera vez en el Impala de 1961 ) [6] y "GT" de Ford (utilizado por primera vez en el Mustang de 1965 ). [7] [8] General Motors también utiliza codificación alfanumérica para indicar paquetes de manejo instalados en vehículos de alto rendimiento, como " Z28 " en el Camaro , Buick GS o Oldsmobile 442 , y actualmente utiliza la designación "Z71" en el Suburban. y Tahoe (para las camionetas Silverado/Sierra , es un paquete, aunque era una versión separada de 2004-2005 y 2014-2018).
Algunos fabricantes han utilizado constantemente la misma palabra para el nivel de equipamiento más alto en varios modelos. Por ejemplo, Nissan usó la palabra "Brougham" como el nivel de equipamiento más alto tanto en el Cedric [9] [10] como en el Gloria . [11] La designación "Brougham" como nivel de equipamiento se originó en el mercado norteamericano (EE. UU.); Originalmente era un estilo de carrocería .
Los fabricantes a veces venden paquetes de opciones como un paquete de opciones, generalmente a un precio con descuento en comparación con la compra de cada opción individualmente.
Los paquetes de opciones comunes actualmente incluyen: