How to Turn Off ECO Mode in Toyota Vios?
3 Answers
Press the small protruding column at the bottom of the fuel gauge needle briefly to switch to the total mileage state (displaying the kilometer count). Hold it for about 6 seconds, and the ECO switch option will appear, showing "ECO ON" (turn on) or "ECO OFF" (turn off). Then select OFF and hold to turn it off. However, it will turn on again every time the car is restarted.
When I first drove the Vios, I also found the ECO mode quite annoying—it always felt like the car was half a beat slower when I stepped on the gas. Actually, turning it off is simple. First, start the car, then look at the row of buttons on the left side of the steering wheel. There’s one labeled "ECO"—press it, and the green ECO indicator on the dashboard will turn off. If your car is the top trim, you might need to use the menu button on the right side of the steering wheel to switch the dashboard display, find the ECO mode option, and then confirm to disable it. Just remember, after turning it off, the fuel consumption will be slightly higher, but the power response becomes noticeably more direct, making the drive much more spirited. It’s best to keep ECO on during traffic jams to save fuel, but turn it off on highways or when climbing hills to avoid insufficient power.
Over the years driving my Vios, I've noticed that turning off the ECO mode really makes the power delivery more responsive. After starting the engine, just look at the center console—there's usually a standalone physical button with a leaf symbol near the hazard light button. Press it to deactivate. For newer models without physical buttons, you'll need to use the up and down arrows on the right side of the steering wheel to navigate to the drive mode settings in the menu and switch to normal mode. I'd recommend checking the manual to confirm the button location before turning it off, as designs vary across different model years. Essentially, ECO mode works by limiting throttle response to save fuel. Turning it off allows the engine revs to climb faster, making overtaking much smoother, though keeping it on in city driving does help with fuel efficiency.
