No, not a 4 back and sides, cut long on the top . . .
In fact, car trims can be a lot more impactful (and expensive) than your average haircut, so it's important to get it right.
But just what is a car trim, exactly?
In this post, we explain all.
A car trim (also known as a spec level) is basically a version of a vehicle, with higher trim levels offering more advanced equipment and features.
Different car trims usually don't just add one new feature onto the vehicle. They'll involve a collection of features that's marketed and labelled as an upgrade over the standard, 'base' version of the car.
The top trim level of a car is often referred to as 'fully loaded' because it comes with all of the features and equipment from the lower-level trims, whilst also adding its own unique ones.
The entry-level trim is the factory default one that comes standard with the car. In other words, it's the lowest level trim. The base model.
If a trim is entry-level, you'll normally see the letters 'SE' (Standard Edition) at the start of its name.
The bundle of equipment on an entry-level trim definitely won't be 'bad', but it's usually on the more basic side of things. For example, many entry-level trim vehicles may only have cloth upholstery, no extra exterior features and a lower-end version of the infotainment system.
Back in the good old days, it was even sometimes the case that entry-level trims didn't include a car radio, but thankfully times have changed. Entry-level trims have improved significantly over the years, with the vast majority now including features which we all take for granted like electric windows, LED headlights, air-conditioning, and touchscreen infotainment systems.
It varies depending on the car and whether you're looking at, say, a sports coupe or an SUV.
Some trim levels might not be objectively 'better', but will just have a specific style or focus such as sportiness or off-road optimisation. So a 'better' trim in some aspects could actually downgrade a car in other aspects.
In general, however, higher car trims usually do 'improve' a vehicle and mostly include changes in the following areas:
Exterior
A great many car trim levels (such as BMW’s M Sport line, Audi’s S line and Volkswagen’s R-Line) are geared towards making a car appear more like a performance model. You could call these 'appearance packages'.
Which means that exterior changes can include newly designed front and rear bumpers which make the car look more muscular, and black trim instead of silver trim fitted around the windows, or they might feature 2 exhaust pipes instead of 1.
An upgraded trim level car will also often see larger alloy wheels compared to an entry-level model, whilst tinted rear windows are another common change.
Interior
Trim changes to the interior or cabin of a car often include better upholstery, the addition of leather, a panoramic sunroof, side panels, better main control surfaces, higher-quality roof lining materials, and other niceties.
Same as with exterior trim details, certain enhancements are best experienced up close and personal. Never underestimate the impact that 'interior furnishings' and nicer seat fabric can make, for example.
Specifically, interior changes might include:
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A higher-quality headliner (the vehicle's ceiling)
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Leather (and not cloth) seats
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Leather (and not a plastic) steering wheel
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Nicer dashboard plastics and/or a leather dashboard
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Better-quality seat upholstery
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Power-adjustable front seats
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Height adjustable front seats
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Heated front seats
Or a better technology package and upgraded interior tech, such as:
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A bigger touchscreen
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Keyless entry
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Wi-fi hotspot
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Upgraded stereo (so more speakers, better audio quality etc.)
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A head-up display
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Climate control (as an alternative to air-conditioning)
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A heated steering wheel
Safety and Engineering Upgrades
Not only do different trim levels affect your car's cosmetics and how it looks, they can also fundamentally alter how your car performs on the road, such as through engine upgrades.
That's through things like the following:
Upgraded lane-assist technology As an additional safety package, many cars now have lane-assist technology that's mandated by legislation, but more sophisticated versions intervene more subtly and change lane more smoothly, keeping you in your lane with natural steering inputs instead of correcting you if you happen to drift across the line.
Adaptive cruise control Which makes use of sensors to discover the speed of the vehicle in front of you, and automatically slowing or accelerating you to match the speed of that vehicle. So it's like normal cruise control except more adaptive (clue's in the name, really). And when combined with a sophisticated lane-keep system like the one described above, it can really take a lot of the strain out of those long drives.
All-round parking sensors/cameras Front and rear parking sensors will obviously beep as you come near outside objects when manoeuvring, whilst cameras will of course show you your surroundings. Top-notch cameras will give you a top-down view of the car, provided by footage from multiple cameras dotted around the exterior of the vehicle.
Driving modes These change how the car behaves on the road by altering things like steering sensitivity, acceleration, suspension, and the rate at which, say, an automatic gearbox changes up and down a gear. You might also get different driving modes for different weather conditions as well. For example, Alfa Romeo models often feature 'Dynamic', 'Natural' and 'Advanced/All-weather' driving modes.
How Many Trim Levels Are Usually Offered?
It really depends on the specific model and manufacturer, but a total of 5 or 6 car trim levels will usually be offered on a single vehicle.
However, there can sometimes be as few as 1 or 2.
Are Higher Trim Levels Always More Expensive?
Almost always, yes.
Unless it's a limited edition short-life trim or has limited runs. Also, certain manufacturers might sometimes offer special deals on certain model/trim types.
The reason for the gap in price is that they're simply more advanced than entry-level models.
How Much Do Higher Trim Levels Cost?
That's the 50-dollar question, isn't it?
If you're leasing a car, then you can expect to see at least a £20 jump in your monthly payments when upgrading to the next trim level, or as much as several hundred £££ when upgrading to the very highest trim level.
The exact price will however vary from car to car. It'll generally be more expensive to upgrade high-end performance vehicles like a BMW than it will to upgrade a basic Honda hatchback.
It’s also generally the case that upgrading from an entry-level to a mid-level trim is less expensive than upgrading from a mid-level to a top-level trim.
Trim Levels and Optional Extras – Adding and Subtracting
Say you're happy with an entry-level trim, but you really want the reversing camera that belongs to a higher trim. Is there a way to get that camera as an extra without having to buy the whole trim package?
Usually, yes. You may be able to add the camera on its own for an additional cost.
But note that this doesn't work the other way around. So you can't buy a trim, find out there's something you don't like, and then choose not to pay for it.
Also, just be aware that trim level packages usually represent better value for money than ordering extra pieces of equipment individually. So think carefully before you pay for something extra that might not get used much.
What Trim Level Should I Choose?
It's a broad question . . .
Each of us have our own tastes and circumstances, and not everybody's vehicular needs will be the same. A sports trim won't be ideal if you're a driver who's looking to do a lot of off-roading, for example.
And nifty features like heated seats might be great at first, but the novelty could wear off after a while. Plus, it's not exactly an 'essential' driving need.
On the other hand, something like a head-up display (which is included in a lot of higher-level trims) could be a feature that you might rely on every day, and therefore worth considering.
Almost every car manufacturer's website includes detailed information on what is and isn't included in a certain trim, so just remember to read the fine print and look closely at what each trim level is going to give you.
Think about what features you really need and couldn't imagine driving without. Or if you really have to, don't be afraid to check out the car and the trim level in person.
Summary
So, you hopefully now know all about trims and are well-placed to pick the right one.
Individual trims can radically alter your experience of a certain car, so they're well worth knowing about!
FAQs
Is trim the same as model?
No. A car trim refers to a specific configuration of a vehicle model.
What is the trim on my car?
The easiest way to find out is via the original sales invoice or the vehicle handbook.