How to Maximise Fuel Efficiency in an Automatic Car

The Automatic Advantage

In the past, automatic gearboxes were notoriously thirsty, burning significantly more fuel than their manual counterparts. However, modern 7, 8, and 9-speed automatics are incredibly advanced, often outperforming human shifting. To get the absolute best fuel economy out of your automatic, you need to work with its computer, not against it.

Mastering the "Kick-Down"

Automatic gearboxes have a feature called "kick-down." If you press the accelerator pedal too quickly or too close to the floor, the car assumes you need emergency power. It will instantly drop down two gears and send the engine RPM soaring, chugging fuel in the process. To save money, imagine there is an egg under your accelerator pedal. Press it smoothly and progressively to encourage the car to shift up early and keep the RPMs low.

Utilize Eco Mode

Almost all modern automatics come with an "Eco" driving mode. This changes the software mapping of the gearbox. In Eco mode, the car will desperately try to get into the highest gear possible as quickly as possible, and will actively resist downshifting when you accelerate. It will also reduce the power sent to the air conditioning compressor.

Coasting and Anticipation

Many modern automatics feature a "coasting" or "sailing" function. When you take your foot off the accelerator on a flat road or downhill, the car automatically disengages the clutch, dropping the engine to idle speed and letting the car roll freely without engine braking. Look far ahead down the road-the earlier you lift off the pedal, the more free momentum you gain. Combine these smooth driving techniques with finding the cheapest fuel in your town, and your monthly transport costs will plummet.

Prices vary widely between sites even within one chain - see current Esso fuel prices across the UK.

Cheaper fuel beats better mileage

Driving technique is worth a few percent on consumption. Choosing the right forecourt is often worth more. With more than 10p a litre between the cheapest and dearest stations in most towns, a two minute check before you set off usually saves more than a month of careful driving. We publish live prices for 2,283 UK towns - find fuel prices near me or browse prices by region.