What does eco mean in a car?

Nowadays, cars may be designed to include dynamic driving modes that allow your car’s computer to alter its mechanical output based on your driving needs. These modes are often named something like “sport,” “snow” or “eco.”

While something like snow mode is fairly self-explanatory, what does “eco” mean in a car? Simply put, eco is short for “economical,” and this driving mode prioritizes fuel efficiency over performance. But how does eco mode change how your car drives, and when should you use it? Let’s learn more.

What does eco mode do?

A car’s eco mode is designed to improve fuel efficiency by temporarily reducing how much energy is used by your car’s engine. While driving with this setting could help you save money on gas, the car may feel a little different when you’re behind the wheel.

Typically, eco mode lowers a car’s agility and response time in favor of a smoother, more fuel-efficient drive. Here are some of the mechanical changes eco mode might make:

• Throttle response: Eco mode may reduce how reactive your gas pedal is to pressure, which might desensitize your car’s throttle to sudden inputs. As a driver, you may feel that your car generally performs a little smoother but accelerates more slowly.
• Transmission mapping: In eco mode, your car may adjust how often it switches gears to focus on stability and fuel efficiency. You might hear differences in your engine as it revs between gear shifts compared to how it normally does.
• Electrical output: In eco mode, your car may restrict how much power is delivered to your car’s electrical components including air conditioning, heating and ADAS features like cruise control. As a driver, you might notice your air conditioner blowing harder intermittently, rather than consistently, from your car to save power.

When should you use eco mode?

While there isn’t any set-in-stone situation where you “should” use eco mode, there are certain driving conditions that it may be better suited for. Since eco mode tends to lower your car’s response time, you may want to toggle it on when you’re taking a leisurely cruise and performance isn’t as important as enjoying the scenery. In practice, knowing when to use eco mode may simply take some time and experimentation to see when it makes sense for you based on your driving habits.

When should I use economy mode to save fuel?

If you’re looking to use your car’s eco mode to save gas, know that eco mode is not a magic button that will instantly save fuel. Turning on your car’s eco mode typically brings up a fuel consumption display showing your car’s estimated milage per gallon (MPG) on your car’s dashboard or external display panel. This display might show how your estimated MPG changes as you drive. You may use this information to tailor your driving habits based on your car’s reported fuel efficiency.

When shouldn’t you use eco mode?

Eco mode may reduce your car’s response time, which includes your ability to accelerate quickly. When you want your car’s full performance capabilities, you may not want to use eco mode. For example, you might turn eco mode off when you’re driving uphill, merging on a highway or other situations when you may need your car’s power to drive effectively. Once again, it may take some experimenting to learn when eco mode is appropriate.

Is eco mode bad for a car?

These days, many modern cars come equipped with some combination of eco, normal and sport modes. While each mode may alter some of your car’s performance components, like transmission shifts, each mode is typically designed to work safely with your car regardless of driving conditions. That said, each mode is optimized for a specific condition, and the overall driving experience may be affected if you’re driving in modes that don’t match your conditions. As a result, while eco mode isn’t necessarily bad for your car, it may be better to only use eco mode in slower driving conditions.

In summary

Modern cars may often come with dynamic driving settings like eco (or economy) mode, which allows your car to change its operational output based on your driving needs. Turning on eco mode may help your car maximize fuel efficiency, at the cost of potentially reduced responsiveness and acceleration. And while eco mode may not be bad for your car, you may feel safer driving with eco mode off when you need some horsepower or the full handling and performance capabilities of your car.