Vehicle turn-in is the transition between forward motion and a turn — the nature of which varies considerably from vehicle to vehicle when the driver turns the steering wheel.
A vehicle’s turn-in may be gradual or rapid — the latter is often preferred by driving enthusiasts, especially in sporty vehicles. Understand that turn-in is not solely a reflection of the steering ratio, which is the amount the front wheels turn in response to a given degree of rotation of the steering wheel. A vehicle can have quick-ratio steering and still exhibit gradual turn-in. To oversimplify a bit, a vehicle with “crisp” turn-in reacts rapidly, getting you well into the turn with minimal rotation of the steering wheel beyond its center position.
A vehicle’s turn-in response is no accident. Engineers tailor it to match the experience to the character of the car. Safety is a major factor as well: Gradual turn-in is the norm in sport utility vehicles, which typically have a high center of gravity and a greater propensity to roll. Sharp turn-in could make this hazard even more likely.
Information for this was taken from the Cars.com’s glossary, written by Joe Wiesenfelder.
Learn more
See if your question has already been asked and answered
Your question has been successfully submitted to Ask.cars.com. It will now be reviewed by our editors and we'll answer it soon if we think it's a useful question. You will be notified via e-mail when the answer is posted. Ask.cars.com tackles your questions about new cars and the car-buying process. Unfortunately we can't answer questions regarding:
Have our experts answer any of your questions about new cars.
Don't worry — we won't publish your last name or email.
