Eco Mode: How It Works and When to Use It

Last Updated on June 24, 2022

With newer cars, it’s an eventuality. You’re going to look down at your dash or steering wheel and see a control you don’t fully understand. Don’t fret it. With all of the innovations that manufacturers are plugging into new cars at breakneck speed, it can be hard to keep up.

One of the newer and most common innovations in Eco mode. But what is Eco Mode, and how does it work? Keep reading, and we’ll break it all down for you.

What is Eco Mode?

Eco Mode is a newer technology that manufacturers have started to install on vehicles with increased frequency. By enabling Eco Mode, you can decide to sacrifice some of your vehicle’s power and responsiveness, and in return, you get slightly better fuel economy.

Some drivers swear by Eco Mode, while others insist that it’s no different than adapting your driving style manually. While there is some truth to both viewpoints, Eco Mode will improve your fuel economy no matter how you drive.

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How Does Eco Mode Work?

Eco Mode works by restricting engine and transmission performance to give you better fuel economy. This means when you stomp on the gas, your vehicle won’t do everything in its power to go as fast as possible. Instead, it’ll do everything that the manufacturer allowed it to do when installing Eco Mode.

In addition to restricting both engine and transmission performance, Eco Mode fine-tunes all of the fuel, air, and other significant adjustments to get the maximum fuel economy out of your vehicle without any severe side effects. All you’ll notice is slightly decreased power and responsiveness.  

Essentially Eco Mode is nothing more than a set of restrictions that the manufacturer put on your car when you enable it. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s not some form of revolutionary technology that they equipped.

When Should You Use Eco Mode?

You should use Eco Mode whenever you want to save fuel, of course! But since it affects your vehicle’s performance, you shouldn’t use Eco Mode anytime you anticipate you might need the extra performance.

This means on highways and other busy roads; you should consider keeping Eco Mode switched off. You might end up going to the gas station just a bit more, but you don’t want to be stuck not being able to accelerate like you need to, to avoid an accident.

Meanwhile, in cities, there’s not much of a drawback to driving in Eco Mode. You don’t need to accelerate quickly, and it’s a lot of stop and go traffic. It’s the perfect opportunity to try and improve your fuel economy without any tradeoff!

So, when should you use Eco Mode? Whenever you’re comfortable with your vehicle having a little less power.

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Is It OK to Use Eco Mode All the Time?

Absolutely! While you might suffer from some reduced performance while you’re driving in Eco Mode, you can drive in Eco Mode all the time without having to worry. No engine damage, increased maintenance, or any other additional problems will occur.

The manufacturer specifically designed vehicles with Eco Mode to function perfectly fine with it enabled. All of the car electronics adjust according to the new engine and transmission outputs, so you don’t have to worry about anything misfiring and causing any damage.

In fact, unless you’re in a situation where you need that extra power and responsiveness, driving in Eco Mode all the time is the recommended way to drive!

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Does Eco Mode Really Save Gas?

Many people think that you can get the same results as Eco Mode by adjusting your driving patterns. While it’s certainly possible to get better gas mileage if you accelerate slower and keep your top speeds down, Eco Mode will help you get even better fuel economy.

While the exact amount of fuel saved by switching to Eco Mode varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, there’s no doubt that Eco Mode improves your fuel economy. However, it would help if you realized that Eco Mode isn’t going to take your car from a 20 MPG behemoth to a 45 MPG hybrid with the click of a button.

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In reality, Eco Mode only boosts your fuel economy by around five percent. So, if you spend $200 at the pump every month, you can expect to save about $10 a month. Yes, it works; no, it’s not significant cost savings.

Finally, if you drive in a way that consumes excess fuel, you’ll likely see even more savings at the pump. That’s because Eco Mode can make you more aware of your driving habits, and eco-driving can lower your fuel consumption by as much as 24 percent! However, you’re also more likely to notice the difference in performance more acutely than other drivers.

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It might not be the most exciting feature on the car, but Eco Mode is a great way to save a few bucks at the fuel pump and emit a few less CO2 emissions into the atmosphere!