Want more tips for getting the most out of your vehicle? Here are some blogs you should check out:
How Often to Rotate the Tires on Your Vehicle
Top 5 Reasons Your Car Heater Isn’t Working in Winter
How Often Does Your Engine Air Filter Need to Be Replaced?
1. Look Further Down the Road
Drivers who look far ahead and anticipate what's coming use the brakes less, accelerate less abruptly, and keep their speed steadier overall. All of that adds up to meaningfully lower fuel consumption, especially in city driving.
When you spot a red light or slowing traffic ahead early, you can ease off the accelerator and coast toward it rather than maintaining speed and braking hard at the last moment. Every unnecessary full stop costs you fuel when you accelerate from zero again. The further ahead you look, the more of those stops you can avoid entirely.
2. Accelerate Gently and Maintain a Steady Speed
Natural Resources Canada recommends taking about five seconds to reach 20 km/h from a stop for maximum efficiency. Think of it as keeping an open cup of coffee steady on the dashboard. Smooth and gradual beats fast and abrupt every time.
Once you're up to speed, keeping it steady matters just as much. Fluctuating between 75 and 85 km/h every 18 seconds can increase fuel use by as much as 20% compared to holding a consistent pace. This is why stop-and-go traffic increases your fuel consumption. On the highway, cruise control is your best friend for this, as it removes the small throttle variations that quietly add up over a long drive.
One caveat worth knowing: on hilly roads, it's often more efficient to turn cruise control off, let your speed drop slightly on the way up, and regain momentum on the way down rather than letting the system downshift to hold your set speed up a grade.
3. Avoid Unnecessary Idling
Most modern vehicles need only about 30 to 60 seconds to warm up before driving. Beyond the warm-up period, idling is simply burning fuel while going nowhere. A vehicle with a 3-litre engine burns through more than a cup of fuel for every 10 minutes it sits still.
For instance, if you're stopped for more than a minute as you’re waiting to pick someone up, sitting in a drive-through, or parked with the engine running, turning the engine off is the smarter move both for your wallet and for the environment. For Toronto drivers navigating the city's traffic, this habit is particularly worth building into your daily routine.
4. Keep Up With Your Vehicle's Maintenance
A car that's overdue for an oil change, running on under-inflated tires, or carrying a clogged air filter is working harder than it needs to, thus burning more fuel in the process.
Tire pressure alone is worth keeping a close eye on. Tires under-inflated by just 56 kPa (8 psi) can increase fuel consumption by up to 4% and shorten tire life by more than 10,000 km. Check the pressure monthly and before any long drives. The correct PSI for your vehicle is printed on a sticker inside the driver's door jamb. Beyond tires, staying on top of oil changes, air filter replacements, and wheel alignment helps your vehicle run at its most efficient all year long.
Book a Service Appointment at Downtown Hyundai in Toronto
Staying on top of small maintenance items is one of the best ways to keep your Hyundai running efficiently and reliably year-round. If you're not sure what your vehicle needs, the team at Downtown Hyundai is always happy to take a look. Book a service appointment today, or contact us with any questions. We're here to help.
