Even though prices for a litre of gas in Canada are down, there still is a need to be fuel-efficient and not overpay at the pump. So even if you’re eying that full-size pickup or SUV, or just haven’t been in the market for some time, in no particular order, here are the top five technologies to look for in your next new vehicle purchase.
Stop/Start Technology
Many new vehicles automatically stop and restart when your vehicle comes to a rest at a light for more than five seconds. Manufacturers employ these systems to eke out the maximum efficiency in order to meet government fuel economy standards. Some of the early systems were quite crude, but refinements in the newer systems make the transitions much smoother. Things to look for are systems that can be switched off if you find the constant stop/start sequences annoying.
Fuel-efficient Hybrid/Plug-in Hybrid Technology
Combining electric power with conventional gasoline-fueled internal combustion technology is another way that automakers have found to stretch a vehicle’s fuel economy. Standard hybrid technology continues to improve. The first Toyota Prius gas-electric hybrid in 1997 produced 70 horsepower and achieved an estimated 5.5 litres per 100 kilometres (L/100 kms) city combined city/highway rating. The current 2020 Toyota Prius scores a combined 4.5 L/100 kms fuel efficiency estimate and makes a more robust 121 horsepower.
Typically, conventional hybrids are cheaper than their plug-in counterparts. But there's something else to consider with plug-in technology. It allows you to travel anywhere from 30 to 80 kilometres in EV mode before the engine kicks in. Theoretically, if your commute is short enough, you could go quite some time without putting any gasoline in the tank. Other factors that offset the higher price of these plug-in hybrid vehicles are Canadian federal and provincial tax credits. These incentives vary depending on the pure EV range of the vehicle.
Continuously Variable Transmissions
Automakers are also turning to continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) to improve fuel economy. The rationale behind this so-called step-less or gearless transmission is that they keep the engine turning at constant revolutions per minute to maximize efficiency. While this looks great on paper, there have been some drivability issues with CVTs. Drivers may experience droning or “motorboating,” where the transmission keeps the engine revs up in the most efficient portion of the torque band. The other issue is an elastic or “rubber band” acceleration feel where the car seems to have trouble catching up to the engine’s output.
Automakers have addressed some of these issues by putting in artificial steps like gears that can be controlled with paddle shifters, allowing the driver to select a more normal feeling rev range to match the vehicle’s speed. As for elastic acceleration, Toyota has added a conventional first gear to the CVT in its new Corolla hatchback. This technology gives the car a more natural feel off the line while taking advantage of the CVT’s efficiency at higher speeds.
Fuel-efficient Sailing or Gliding Mode
Back in the day, some people with manual transmissions would coast with the vehicle in neutral as a fuel-saving technique. As one of the top five fuel-efficient technologies, manufacturers are beginning to mimic this approach by decoupling the engine from the transmission when your foot is off the accelerator.
This coasting technology allows the engine to drop down to a fuel-saving idle and not become a drag on the vehicle, allowing it to coast more freely. What you gain in fuel economy, you also lose in the car’s ability to use the engine for braking, which may, in turn, result in additional brake wear in vehicles equipped with this technology.
Intelligent Cruise Control
More and more new vehicles are offering intelligent or adaptive cruise control, technologies that will follow traffic even in stop-and-go scenarios. That ability in of itself is fuel-efficient by more consistently controlling the vehicle’s speed than your right foot. But another layer is already filtering into high-end luxury production cars where a terrain-based navigation system actually anticipates curves and hills and adjusts the vehicle’s speed accordingly. This means smoother power application and braking and, as a result, greater fuel savings.
In the end, understanding how the latest fuel-saving technologies work and how they can save you some money at the pumps will go a long way to helping you make a more educated purchasing decision on your next new vehicle purchase.
