How to Turn Off ECO Mode in a Car?
3 Answers
ECO is the vehicle's fuel-saving mode. Here are the methods to turn off ECO mode: 1. You can activate or deactivate ECO mode via the ECO button on the center console. When ECO mode is activated, the vehicle's fuel efficiency is significantly improved during urban driving conditions. Generally, ECO mode is suitable for city driving, especially in stop-and-go traffic, where it can effectively reduce fuel consumption. 2. When the vehicle speed exceeds 120 kilometers per hour, ECO mode automatically turns off. ECO mode may also deactivate during idle, in N/P gear, or in manual mode. When high torque output is required, such as when climbing hills or under heavy load, the engine control unit (ECU) ensures sufficient power to drive the vehicle, and ECO mode will not function in these situations.
Sometimes I feel the ECO mode is too conservative when driving, making the car accelerate as slow as a snail, and I want to turn it off for more driving fun. The method to cancel it is actually quite simple. There might be a button labeled ECO on the center console or near the steering wheel—just press it to turn it off, and the dashboard will show the mode change. For touchscreen-equipped cars, go into the settings menu, find the driving mode option, and turn it off. I remember the last time I drove my friend's car, turning off ECO made overtaking much smoother. Although fuel consumption increased a bit, it's fine for a short burst of speed. It's generally recommended to use ECO on highways for fuel efficiency, but you can turn it off in city traffic for better responsiveness. This feature helps you balance between economy and sportiness. The salesperson also mentioned when buying the car that keeping ECO off long-term doesn’t significantly affect the car—it mainly depends on personal preference. In short, canceling it is easy; just press the button.
As a car enthusiast who enjoys tinkering with vehicles, I disabled the ECO mode myself. Usually, there's a physical button on the center console—just press it to turn off the light. If there's no button, navigate to the system settings on the center display, scroll to the driving mode section, and switch to Normal or Sport mode. The process may vary significantly between different car models. For older cars without touchscreens, you might need to check the instrument cluster menu and press physical buttons. After disabling ECO mode, the power output increases, especially noticeable when climbing hills, though fuel consumption also rises. Since I mostly drive on suburban roads, I don’t mind the extra fuel usage. The key is to avoid frequent switching, as it might cause minor glitches by resetting the car's system. Before fully disabling it, I recommend taking a short test drive to feel the difference, ensuring it doesn’t compromise safe driving.
