Does Cruise Control Save Gas?
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Cruise control is a popular car feature that many take advantage of on the road. It’s convenient, but there might be other benefits to this vehicle addition. If you’ve ever used cruise control, there’s a popular question you might have - does cruise control save gas? Will cruise control help you go farther?
We’ve got the answer right here! In this article, we’ll talk about if cruise control saves gas, as well as the impact it can have on your and your car. Does cruise control save gas? Let’s dive right into it.
Does Cruise Control Save Gas?
Does cruise control save gas? According to motortrend.com, there is little doubt that cruise control saves gas. A Canadian study revealed that varying your speed between 46 and 56 miles every 18 seconds decreases your efficiency by about 20%. Cruise control helps to keep your variation in check.
If you want a way to save gas, think about cruise control. Of course, some terrains and conditions are better for cruise control than others. We’ll dive into this next, so you know the best time and place to implement this feature for gas-saving purposes.
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When is the Best Time to Utilize Cruise Control?
There is a time and a place to utilize cruise control. When asking the question - does cruise control save gas? It’s vital to add some specifications for this statement. It doesn’t save gas in all circumstances.
According to thedifferenceisclear.com, some of the best times to utilize cruise control include:
- Clear, dry weather conditions
- Empty or spaced-out roads
- Smooth terrain
These conditions provide the most effective cruise control circumstances.
Cruise control works to keep a speed limit in between a certain range. If you’re going uphill or downhill, it has to work that much harder to keep your speed at the same pace. These conditions cause more gas to leave your engine, rather than less. Does cruise control save gas? Yes, on flat and clear surfaces in beautiful weather.
How Does Cruise Control Save Gas?
We know that cruise control saves gas, and we know the best conditions to utilize this feature in reality. How does it save gas? What is it that cruise control brings to the table?
According to kia.com, there is a specific way that cruise control works to save gas when you drive. Cruise control saves gas by maintaining a level speed on flat ground. Because of this, the driver doesn’t need to brake or accelerate as often. Lack of foot on the pedal means less gas is drained from the vehicle as the car moves down the road.
Standard cruise control works best on flat terrain, as discussed above. More advanced versions of cruise control have been updated to work on an inclined surface. However, this technique uses more gas than utilizing the feature on a flat surface.
Is Using Cruise Control Bad for Your Car?
Cruise control might save gas, but you might wonder if it’s good for your car. After all, many excessive features seem like a good idea but prove to be more harmful than good for your vehicle. What about cruise control? Is it bad or good when looking at the driving experience as a whole?
While cruise control is not inherently bad for your car, there are some definitive pros and cons that come with the feature. These are important to understand as a driver, as your safety is on the line.
Let’s go over the downsides and the upsides of cruise control to give you a better idea of what is at stake with this feature and if it’s the best choice for you. Some may love what cruise control offers, while others find the downsides too off-putting to ignore.
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Downsides to Cruise Control
Unfortunately, some downsides come with cruise control. It saves gas, but the feature should not be judged based on that one component. It’s critical to know what you’re getting into before you use a feature on the open road.
According to bottarolaw.com, some of the downsides to cruise control include:
- It can impair your reaction time, causing too much relaxation on the road and preventing braking speed
- It can waste gas if used wrong, such as on rough terrain on an incline
- It can create drowsy driving if the driver stops paying attention and leaves everything up to the vehicle
These can cause harm to you or your vehicle on the road if you’re not careful.
Now that we’ve gone over the bad, we should talk about the good. Cruise control can damage you and your car, but it can also prove to be a quality addition to the average driver’s life.
Upsides of Cruise Control
Just as there is bad, there is good. It’s vital to look at both sides of the puzzle when deciding whether features like cruise control are ideal for you to utilize on the road.
According to bottarolaw.com, some of the upsides to cruise control include:
- It makes the average driver more relaxing and comfortable
- It saves gas when used on flat terrain with minimal weather obstructions
- It prevents speeding if placed at a proper mileage range
These can improve your driving experience tremendously.
Cruise control can provide a relaxing driving experience, and it can also keep you safe. All these benefits come on top of the fact that cruise control saves gas when driving long distances. There are so many ways to win.
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In Closing
Cruise control is a unique feature that comes equipped on most modern cars. With cruise control, you can save gas on flat, dry terrain. It can provide a comfortable driving experience and even prevent speeding in some cases.
Although there are some significant drawbacks to cruise control, one thing it’s been proven to do is save gas. If you want to save money on your travels and get farther on one tank, cruise control is your best friend. Does cruise control save gas? It does if used in the right circumstances.
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