The Federal Tier II rating places vehicles in categories according to their exhaust emissions. The categories are called “bins” and range from bin 1, a zero emissions vehicle, to bin 8, a vehicle with relatively high levels of exhaust emissions.

Also commonly referred to as a “final drive ratio,” this figure refers to the number of teeth on a ring gear divided by the number of teeth on a pinion gear, both of which are inside the vehicle’s drive wheel differential. For example, if the ring gear has 40 teeth and the pinion has 10, the axle ratio is 4:1. This means the pinion gear must make four revolutions for every one revolution of the ring gear.

Positioned low and aimed at the pavement directly in front of the vehicle, these lights are designed to shine “under” the fog rather than into it, and are therefore less prone to reflect light beams back into the driver’s eyes.

There are some things you just don’t want to put in your pickup’s bed—like a new flat-screen TV, for instance. Not to worry—this seat with a backrest folds flat and locks against the lower cushion to create a level load space inside the cabin.

It’s raining, and you’ve got groceries. Thanks to this pickup truck seat, with a rear-hinged lower cushion that can flip 90 degrees rearward, you can put them inside–safe and dry.

Used in some models of Sienna, these clever, multi-function rear seats feature folding seatbacks, sliding capability and quick-release frames that allow them to be easily removed for trips to the local home improvement super center.

Your right foot’s on the gas pedal. Where’s your other foot? On the footrest, of course—a stationary “dead pedal” located to the left of the brake pedal (with automatic transmission) or clutch pedal (manual transmission).

A passenger-side airbag that deploys from underneath the dashboard and responds to the same sensors and under the same conditions as the driver knee airbag. In addition, the front passenger knee airbag responds to the Occupant Classification System (OCS): The knee airbag, along with the front passenger airbag, seat-mounted side airbag and seatbelt pretensioner, can be activated or deactivated according to the OCS weight sensor in the seat.

Located in the outer bolster of the front seatbacks, these airbags are designed to help provide torso and upper arm protection for the driver and front-seat passenger during some types of severe side-impact collisions.

Seat and seatback cushions designed to hold the driver and passengers in place when cornering.

Literally injects precisely metered gasoline into the intake manifold (just above an intake valve), or directly into the cylinder (the latter is known as direct injection). Modern fuel injectors fire sequentially, delivering finely atomized fuel at the exact moment the intake valve is opening. This precise timing prevents fuel from “puddling” in the intake manifold. With fuel injection, fuel is measured so accurately and burned so completely that exhaust emissions are reduced while power is increased.

The pump that draws fuel from the fuel tank and delivers it to the fuel injectors.

It’s always on, so you’re always ready. Designed primarily for on-road use, this system continuously delivers power to the front and rear axles while allowing the vehicle to maneuver more smoothly on dry pavement. A center differential distributes power to the front and rear axles and also enables the axles to turn at different speeds when the vehicle is cornering. Although often interchangeable with the term “All-Wheel Drive” (AWD), “full-time 4WD” is typically applied to trucks and truck-based SUV drive systems.

Strength where you need it most. “Fully boxed” describes the cross-sectional view of a frame, where the rails are completely closed in the shape of a box. A fully boxed frame provides maximum torsional rigidity to support weight, provide solid mounting points for suspension/steering components and improve impact protection. That’s why the second generation Toyota Tundra uses a fully boxed frame section up front.