A frame design that resembles a rectangular “C” when viewed as a cross section. It is one of three frame construction techniques used in the Toyota TripleTech™ truck frame.

The third pillar from front to rear that connects the rocker panel (the section below the doors) and the roof.

A shaft (or shafts) in the engine driven by the crankshaft via gears, belts or chains. The camshaft incorporates egg-shaped “lobes” (bumps) that open the intake and exhaust valves, which are then closed with spring pressure. Most contemporary engines utilize single or double overhead cams, meaning that the camshafts are located in the cylinder head instead of the cylinder block, as is the case with some overhead valve (OHV) engines.

These let you and your crew ride large and in charge, with an upright posture. With armrests integrated into the backrest, these seats mimic a large, comfortable chair. Captain’s chairs are specific to minivans and large SUVs because these vehicles have the interior height to accommodate a raised, upright design.

Designed to resemble the lightweight carbon fiber used in race car construction, this finish shows the characteristic diamond-mesh pattern of carbon fiber fabric, embedded within a glossy transparent surface. It’s typically used to accent the dashboard, console, door surfaces and transmission shifter.

Need to store something small? This hidden compartment, built into the hollow space of a vehicle’s inner fender, is the place to do it. Accessed via the trunk, cargo area or pickup bed, these compartments often incorporate shelves and may have Velcro^® straps for securing smaller cargo (like a purse) that needs to be stored out of sight.

Secure cargo is safe cargo. These hinged eyelets are mounted flush with the floor or cargo area walls, and are usually bolted into the vehicle’s chassis or bodywork. When heavy or bulky cargo needs to be tied town, the eyelets provide a convenient attachment point for bungee cords or rope.

A retractable shade that extends across the cargo area of a liftback car, SUV or minivan, keeping items in the cargo area out of sight.

Attached to the rail of your pickup truck bed, it basically turns your pickup’s cargo area into a giant trunk. Tonneau covers come in many varieties, from soft vinyl to fiberglass and aluminum, and can be opened/closed in several different ways depending on the design.

Perhaps the most important component in your vehicle’s emissions control system, the catalytic converter (or “cat” for short) helps reduce harmful emissions like oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide. Catalytic converters require high heat and a very specific amount of air in the exhaust to operate efficiently, which is why they incorporate oxygen sensors (also called “O2 sensors”) to monitor the amount of air in the exhaust before and after it enters the catalytic converter. This data is continually fed to the engine computer, which can adjust the air/fuel ratio controlled by the fuel injection system.

A small door in the rear seatback that flips down so certain types of long cargo (such as skis) can be “passed through” into the passenger compartment from the cargo area.

Essentially the brains of a full-time four-wheel-drive (4WD) or all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, the center differential allows the front and rear axles to turn at different speeds (hence “differential”) when the vehicle is cornering. By contrast, when a part-time 4WD system is in 4WD mode, the front and rear axles are locked and cannot turn at different speeds. As a result, a part-time 4WD vehicle should not be driven on dry pavement with 4WD engaged, as the vehicle will not corner smoothly.

If you’ve never been involved in a rear-end accident, you’ve probably got this to thank. The center high-mount stop lamp is a third brake light positioned in the direct line of sight of the following driver, at a point higher than the taillights. On trucks and SUVs, it may be above the rear window; on sedans and coupes, it may be inside the base of the rear window. On newer vehicles, the center high-mount stop lamp is often integrated into the trailing edge of the trunk or trunk spoiler.

Works in conjunction with the Center Stow™ system to enhance the vehicle’s range of seating and storage capabilities. When not in use, the Center Stow™ second-row seat conveniently stows under the front center console.

A busy family’s best friend. When in place between the second-row seats, this king of consoles provides additional storage space, cup holders and a tray table for rear passengers. It can be removed, folded and stored in a compartment below the front-row center console, allowing walk-through access to the third-row seats or rear cargo area.

A vehicle air conditioning system that uses environmentally friendly R-134a refrigerant instead of CFC-based refrigerant (usually known as Freon).

A standardized design of upper and lower anchors that can secure a CRS-compatible child safety seat without using the vehicle’s seatbelts. The two lower anchors are U-bolt-shaped rods located in the seam between the bottom seat cushion and seatback. The upper anchor is a ring-like device at the top of the seatback where the child safety seat tether attaches. In the U.S., CRS may also be referred to as a LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren), and in Canada, it is referred to as LUAS (Lower Universal Anchorage System).

Activated by a switch on the perimeter of the rear doors, these locks prevent children from opening the rear doors using the inside handle, even if the door is unlocked. The outside door handle will still respond to normal locking and unlocking functions so that the door can still be opened from the outside, but the inside door handle will be disengaged. Flipping the door perimeter switch will reconnect the inner door handle for adult use.

This safety device in manual transmission-equipped vehicles prevents the vehicle’s starter motor from engaging unless the clutch is depressed.

A thick steel wire that has been coiled and heat-treated to form a very strong spring. Coil springs are used in most contemporary suspension systems in one form or another, and can vary in stiffness, commonly known as rate. Progressive-rate springs offer varying degrees of stiffness in the same spring (getting progressively stiffer as the spring compresses), while a linear-rate spring has a single rate throughout its travel.

Combines a coil spring and shock absorber into a single, compact component. The coil spring is installed over the shock absorber, which is constructed with a spring “perch” to locate the bottom of the coil spring. During assembly, the spring is compressed and secured over the shock with a support assembly that also serves as the upper mount.

A column-mounted shifter (i.e., column shifter) is a traditional automatic transmission shift lever with a long lever attached to the right side of the steering column.

Full steam ahead! When you want hard acceleration, the Hybrid Synergy Drive^® (HSD) powertrain combines the maximum horsepower of the gasoline engine and the front motor/generator (MG2). Together, at maximum output, the gasoline engine and electric motor/generator create the combined horsepower figure listed for HSD vehicles.

When the air/fuel mixture in your engine ignites, this is where it happens. The combustion chamber is located at the top of the cylinder, in the cylinder head.

Metal rods that connect the pistons to the crankshaft. Need we say more?

A console shifter is located between the front seats or (you guessed it) in the center console of the dashboard.

This joint is really jumping. Consider that a front-wheel-drive vehicle delivers power from the transaxle to the front wheels through short axles known as half shafts. Now, because the front wheels also steer the car and move up and down with bumps, the end of each half shaft must be able to articulate. So it is fitted with a special flexible coupling called a constant velocity universal joint, or simply, CV joint.

Instead of the perceptible shifting common in most automatic transmissions, the CVT changes ratios steplessly through an infinite number of gear ratios. By enabling the engine to run at its most efficient rpm for a wide range of vehicle speeds, a CVT can improve fuel economy. The Toyota Prius hybrid, for example, uses an Electronically Controlled CVT (ECVT).

A part of the suspension system designed to control wheel movement. May also be referred to as a wishbone or an A-arm, due to its triangular shape.

A wide-angle convex mirror that allows the driver to keep an eye on every seating position (read: child) in the vehicle. Perhaps it should be called a “Mom and Dad Mirror.”

Located at the bottom of the engine in the engine block, the crankshaft is fitted with connecting rods, which in turn are fitted with pistons. During the combustion process, the piston and rod assembly is forced downward in the cylinder, which spins the crankshaft.

Like a low-speed, off-road cruise control, it helps you maintain slow, steady progress in difficult off-road driving situations. By automatically controlling engine power and the brake-actuated Active Traction Control (A-TRAC) system, CRAWL can ease the vehicle over uneven terrain with limited wheelslip and minimal strain on the drivetrain. CRAWL also allows you to focus on steering rather than throttle control.

The perpendicular roof rack rails that suspend cargo or serve as the attachment point for bikes, skis and other fun stuff.

Literally a “step” in a truck’s ladder frame design. It is a horizontal or transverse frame member that joins the parallel longitudinal rails, providing additional structural support.

After hours on the road, your right ankle starts begging for mercy. Engage cruise control, and you can maintain a set speed on the open road without holding down the accelerator pedal. The control stalk has a master ON/OFF switch, a speed SET function, and a +/- function that provides moderate acceleration or coasting/deceleration.

Sections of the vehicle structure that are actually designed to bend and deform upon impact. By bending along predetermined lines, crumple zones absorb energy from the impact that might otherwise reach the passenger cabin. Toyota designs crumple zones into the front of all vehicles and, with the exception of body-on-frame pickups and SUVs, into the rear body structure as well. For body-on-frame pickups and SUVs, crumple zones can be constructed by gradually increasing the thickness of the frame side rails.

A sacrificial, high-tensile steel box (or boxes) built inside Toyota bumpers to help absorb a minor impact, thereby limiting or preventing damage to the body structure. Bolted inside the bumpers, crush boxes can be removed after a minor collision by a qualified body shop and replaced, which can help reduce repair costs. Crush boxes are used in the front and rear bumpers of some Toyota cars and crossover SUVs, and the front bumpers of Toyota trucks and full-size SUVs.

It’ll make you feel right at home. This carpet is manufactured with synthetic loops of yarn that are trimmed at the top, so each tightly twisted strand stands alone, giving the carpet a loose, soft feel.

One of several holes (four, six or eight) in the engine block that houses a piston.