What do turbocharged and naturally aspirated engines mean?

These terms describe how an engine gets the air it needs to burn fuel — and it has a real impact on how the car performs and feels to drive.

The difference:

• Naturally aspirated — the engine draws in air using normal atmospheric pressure, with no forced-induction assistance. Power delivery tends to be more linear and predictable, and there's typically less complexity (and fewer parts) to go wrong long-term.
• Turbocharged — the engine uses a turbine, driven by exhaust gases, to force more air into the cylinders than atmospheric pressure alone would allow. This lets a smaller engine produce more power, which is why many modern small-capacity engines are turbocharged rather than needing a larger naturally aspirated equivalent to get similar performance.

A few practical differences:

• Turbocharged engines often deliver strong power at lower revs (better for everyday driveability and towing), but can involve more complex components — like the turbo itself, intercooler, and associated plumbing — that carry their own wear and repair considerations over time
• Naturally aspirated engines are generally simpler mechanically, which some buyers value for long-term reliability, though they typically need to work harder (and use more fuel) to match a turbocharged engine's power output

Neither is universally "better" — it comes down to your priorities around performance, fuel economy, and long-term maintenance simplicity.