What do LE, SE, XSE, XLE, CE and S mean? (Meaning)

What exactly do the letters in a car model name such as LE, XSE, CE, GLC, SE or S mean for each manufacturer? Are these letters in the car name important?

Toyota's marking systems

  • CE – Classic Edition
  • DX – Deluxe
  • L – Indicates entry-level grade
  • LE – Luxury Edition or Long Edition
  • S – Sport
  • SE – Sport Edition
  • SLE – Sport Luxury Edition
  • SR5 – Sport Rally 5-Speed
  • VE – Value Edition
  • XL – Executive Luxury
  • XLE – Executive Luxury Edition
  • XLS – Executive Luxury Sport
  • XSE – Extreme Sport Edition
  • XR – Extreme Rally
  • XRS – Extreme Rally Sport

 

  • GT – Gran Turismo (Porsche cars use also GTs and GTx)

Mercedes abbreviations

With Mercedes-Benz manufacturer, letters are widely used as the mode name for example Mercedes SLK stands for Sport, Lightweight and Kompressor or GLC stands for G-class, Lightweight and Compact. *G-class means Geländewagen (German name for off-road vehicle)

GL prefix signify civilian SUVs:

  • Mercedes GLA – A Sedan (GLA launched under new process)
  • Mercedes GLC – C Sedan (GLC was formerly GLK)
  • Mercedes GLE – E Sedan (GLE was formerly ML)
  • Mercedes GLS – S Sedan (GLS was just GL)

 

The alphabetical suffixes on Mercedes-Benz vehicles indicate the body style and engine type.

  • C –  coupe or cabriolet body style
  • D – indicates the vehicle is equipped with a diesel engine.
  • E – "Einspritzung" indicates the vehicle's engine is equipped with petrol fuel injection. In most cases (the 600 limousine being the exception), if neither "E" or "D" is present, the vehicle has a petrol engine with a carburettor.
  • G – indicates the Geländewagen off-road vehicle.
  • K – was used in the 1930s, indicating a supercharger ("Kompressor") equipped engine. One exception is the SSK, where K indicates "Kurz" (short-wheelbase)
  • L – "Leicht" (lightweight) for sporting models, and "Lang" (long-wheelbase) for sedan models
  • R – "Rennen" (racing), used for racing cars (for example, the 300SLR)
  • S – Sonderklasse "Special class" for flagship models
  • T – indicates "Touring" and an estate (or station wagon) body style
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