Petrol and diesel owners can make major savings on fuel in 2024 by pressing one car button when behind the wheel, according to experts.
Specialists at Xcite Car Leasing have stressed hitting the cruise control button on the steering wheel could make a major difference
Driving faster than the speed limit can see a drastic rise in fuel consumption as the vehicle’s engine will be working harder.
Instead, maintaining a steady speed will result in fewer variances and means the car will preserve more of its fuel.
It can be difficult to keep a set speed using the pedals with motorists regularly accelerating and braking to maintain pace.
Instead using cruise control buttons can help with the tool now a staple of most modern vehicles.
Xcite Car Leasing said: “Speeding can increase your fuel consumption, and of course, be dangerous to yourself and other road users.
“Keep to the speed limits and use cruise control if your car has this function to maintain a steady speed. It’s recommended you set your cruise control a few miles below the actual speed limit in case your odometer is slightly off.”
South Korean manufacturer Kia has claimed the burton can help road users boost their economy from anywhere between seven and 14 percent.
A study by Natural Resources Canada found a vehicle used up 20 percent more fuel when the speed of the car fluctuated between 47 and 53mph compared to setting the cruise control at a constant 50mph.
However, experts at the RAC warn that cruise control will only save fuel if used on flat surfaces such as motorways.
Having the tool activated on different gradients is unlikely to lead to savings and could actually backfire and use up more fuel.
They commented: “However, if you were to use your cruise control regularly, not on flat roads, you would encounter problems that would increase your fuel consumption.
“This is because your cruise control would be slower to react to gradient changes, meaning when reaching the brow of a hill – at which point you would normally take your foot off the accelerator to maintain more of a constant speed when descending – your cruise control will keep the power on for a little longer as it’s unable to see the gradient change in front of you.
“Driving in this way regularly would lead to worse fuel consumption.”
