Best motorway speed for economy?

On the motorway, where does the economy come into play and at what speed to achieve that mpg?

Pádraig

Pádraig Ó Broin (Arklow)

Nov 2018 Filed under: fuel economy and emissions

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Expert answer

Hi Pádraig,

It kind of depends on what car you’re driving, and how well serviced and maintained it is. The general rule of thumb is that steady, constant speed is the best for economy, but the slower the better. If you want the ultimate in economy set the cruise control for 80-90km/h but be prepared to live on the inside lane with the trucks if you’re doing that. That said, most cars run pretty efficiently at 110-120km/h, so as long as you accelerate gently, and don’t keep braking hard then speeding up, you should do fine. 

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Advisor
@neilmbriscoe