What is Eco Mode in a Vehicle? Effectiveness, When to Use, and More

Have you ever looked down at your dashboard and wondered about a particular control? You’re not the only one. Modern vehicles have all kinds of features designed to improve the overall driving experience, such as Eco mode. There are different versions of this feature depending on the vehicle’s make and model. But what exactly is Eco mode and how does it function? You might be wondering: “what does the eco button mean in a car?” Let’s take a deeper look at Eco mode in this article.

What is Eco Mode in a Car?

Eco mode means “economical mode.” Eco Mode was designed to improve a vehicle’s fuel economy by limiting engine and transmission performance. Manufacturers have different names and fuel-saving measures for their systems. You can typically activate eco mode using a button located on your vehicle’s dashboard. This button is sometimes located beside the steering wheel. In some vehicles, eco mode is activated through the vehicle’s head unit.

What Does Eco Mode Do?

When activated, Eco mode typically instructs the engine computer to reduce throttle response and shift the transmission into higher gears faster to maximize fuel efficiency. As a result, acceleration will be slower and the transmission will be less responsive. Some systems can improve your vehicle’s fuel economy by managing other operations, such as air conditioning, heating, and cruise control. Eco mode basically places a set of restrictions on your vehicle’s engine, transmission, and other functions for better fuel efficiency.

The exact way a vehicle reacts will vary depending on the vehicle. For some vehicles, activating eco mode can mean that your vehicle will need more throttle pedal input before the automatic transmission shifts to a lower and higher-revving gear.

If you’re driving in s a sports car with a turbo, enabling eco mode can introduce a lot of turbo lag. This is what happens in a turbocharged vehicle if it’s kept at a high gear with low engine revs. If you’re driving a vehicle with a V6 or V8 engine, enabling eco mode might deactivate some cylinders. This is a feature found in some vehicles and it deactivates some engine cylinders to save fuel.

How Effective is Eco Mode in Saving Gas?

It’s hard to say whether Eco mode saves significant amounts of fuel because most manufacturers don’t publish their projections. Fuel gains also vary depending on the system.

However, according to Consumer Reports tests, Eco mode has no proven benefit for both city and highway driving. The slower throttle response encourages cautious driving, but it’s unclear how much Eco mode improves a vehicle’s fuel economy.

When to Use Eco Mode?

Eco mode is ideal for city driving because it reduces your vehicle’s acceleration and throttle response. It also forces you to drive more judiciously for better fuel economy. Bad driving habits such as excessive idling, speeding, and aggressive maneuvering have to be avoided to keep your engine from guzzling fuel. However, if you’re driving on the highway, switch back to Normal mode so you can accelerate quickly and avoid passing cars.

Should You Leave Eco Mode on at All Times?

Generally speaking, there’s no harm in leaving your vehicle in Eco mode all the time. However, the reduced engine and transmission performance can make your vehicle feel sluggish and unresponsive on busier roads. You should only use Eco mode when you don’t have to keep a heavy foot on the pedal and accelerate quickly. Think regular grocery runs, school pickups, and other driving errands.

Final Verdict on Eco Mode

Switching to Eco mode won’t automatically improve your vehicle’s fuel economy. You still have to practice conscientious driving to see any MPG gains. With gas prices now topping 5 dollars per gallon, Eco mode can surely help cut down on costs, even if it’s just a small improvement.