With fuel prices continuing to fluctuate, many drivers are seeking practical ways to make their current vehicles more economical. While switching to an electric vehicle or downsizing to a smaller car may seem like obvious solutions, the cost of changing vehicles can often outweigh any fuel savings. Fortunately, there are several effective strategies to enhance the fuel efficiency of the car you already own.
Keep Your Tyres in Check
One of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce fuel consumption is to ensure your tyres are correctly inflated. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, which forces the engine to work harder and burn more fuel. Maintaining the manufacturer-recommended tyre pressures can improve fuel efficiency by up to 10%.
However, resist the temptation to overinflate your tyres. Although higher pressures can reduce rolling resistance slightly, they also reduce the contact area with the road, potentially compromising safety and handling.
Enhance Aerodynamics
While most of us aren’t designing Formula One cars, there are still basic aerodynamic improvements that can benefit everyday drivers. Items such as roof racks and roof boxes create drag and increase fuel usage—remove them when not in use. Also, check your car for any loose trim or damaged bodywork that might be disrupting airflow.
Windows or Air Conditioning?
There’s a long-standing debate about whether it’s more efficient to open the windows or use air conditioning on warm days. The answer largely depends on your speed.
At speeds under 80 km/h, it’s generally more efficient to open the windows. However, once you’re above that threshold, keeping the windows closed and using the air conditioning is the better option, as open windows create significant aerodynamic drag at higher speeds. Thankfully, modern air conditioning systems are more energy-efficient than those of the past.
Heating your car is less of a concern in terms of efficiency. Since more than 60% of the energy from petrol or diesel is lost as heat, using some of that waste energy to warm the cabin is actually quite economical.
Reduce Unnecessary Weight
Carrying extra weight means your vehicle has to work harder, especially when accelerating. Go through your boot and remove any non-essential items, and think twice before overloading the car on long journeys.
Car manufacturers themselves have taken this principle to heart—many new vehicles no longer include a spare wheel as standard, simply because the extra weight can negatively impact fuel consumption ratings during official testing.
Slow Down and Drive Smoothly
Reducing your speed is one of the most effective ways to lower fuel consumption. For instance, driving at 80 km/h instead of 100 km/h on main roads can reduce your fuel use by up to 15%. Similarly, on motorways, lowering your cruising speed from 120 km/h to 110 km/h significantly cuts fuel burn due to the exponential increase in aerodynamic drag at higher speeds.
It’s not just about your top speed, though. How you accelerate and brake also matters. Gentle acceleration, early gear changes, and anticipating traffic flow all contribute to better efficiency. Avoiding unnecessary speeding up and slowing down helps maintain momentum and reduces the amount of fuel wasted.
Manual vs Automatic: Which Is More Efficient?
Historically, manual gearboxes were more fuel-efficient than automatics due to lower weight and reduced power loss. However, modern automatics — including conventional and dual-clutch transmissions — have caught up and often surpassed manuals in efficiency.
Unless you’re an expert at perfectly timing every gear shift, today’s automatic gearboxes are likely to give you better fuel economy in day-to-day driving. They’re optimised to change gears at the most efficient points, making them a smart choice for fuel-conscious drivers.
Use Cruise Control Wisely
Cruise control can be a valuable tool for maintaining steady speeds and reducing fuel consumption, especially on flat, straight roads. However, on hilly terrain, cruise control can actually work against you by holding the throttle open to maintain speed uphill, even when easing off would be more economical.
To maximise fuel savings, only use cruise control on motorways or gently undulating roads where your car doesn’t have to work too hard to maintain a constant speed.
