When Should Economy Gear Be Used?
Economy gear is intended primarily for:
Highway driving
Motorways
Long-distance travel
Flat roads
It is generally not intended for:
Starting from a stop
Climbing steep hills
Heavy towing
Rapid acceleration
Using Economy gear at low speeds can place unnecessary strain on the engine.
Why Modern Cars Rarely Display an “E”
Today’s vehicles often use six-, seven-, eight-, or even ten-speed transmissions.
Many also feature:
Automatic transmissions
Dual-clutch gearboxes
Continuously variable transmissions (CVTs)
These systems automatically choose the most efficient gear.
As a result, there’s little need for a separate “Economy” position on the gear selector.
Modern drivers benefit from fuel-saving technology without having to think about overdrive manually.
Automatic Overdrive
Older automatic cars sometimes included an “Overdrive” button.
Drivers could switch overdrive on or off depending on driving conditions.
Turning it off provided:
Better hill climbing
Improved towing performance
More responsive acceleration
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👉 Read more on the next page…Turning it on improved highway fuel economy.
Many modern vehicles now control this process electronically.
Eco Driving Modes
While manual Economy gears have become less common, many new cars feature Eco Mode.
Eco Mode changes several vehicle systems simultaneously.
Depending on the manufacturer, it may adjust:
Throttle response
Transmission shift points
Air conditioning operation
Cruise control behavior
Engine management
The goal remains similar to the original Economy gear:
