What does coast mean in a car?

[DelCamille]

On the car, coast/set should refer to the set/coast button, which is the function switch of the cruise control system. The set/coast button means the speed setting/deceleration control switch. More related introductions are as follows: 1. During cruise control, holding down the set/coast button will gradually reduce the vehicle speed. ON/OFF button – Cruise control switch. When the ON/OFF button is pressed; the CRUISE/MAIN cruise main indicator light on the coolant temperature gauge will illuminate. The cruise control system is activated and ready to accept various speed control operations. Pressing the ON/OFF button again will turn off the CRUISE/MAIN cruise main indicator light on the coolant temperature gauge, and the cruise control system will be deactivated. 2. RES/ACCEL button – Acceleration setting/acceleration control switch (allowed when speed is above 30 km/h). During cruise control, pressing the RES/ACCEL button will increase the speed by 1.6 km/h each time. Holding down the RES/ACCEL button during cruise control will continuously increase the speed. During cruise control, pressing the CANCEL button will temporarily pause the cruise. Pressing the RES/ACCEL button again will cause the car to accelerate rapidly to the previously set cruise speed.

[VanElaina]

The term 'coast' in cars refers to the vehicle gliding, meaning that after releasing the accelerator pedal, the car moves forward by inertia without engine assistance. It feels super cool, and I often do this on highways while driving, especially on downhill or slow-moving sections. It saves a lot on fuel costs and reduces brake wear. However, safety is key—don't coast for too long in case of emergencies where you might not react in time. Many modern cars have smart systems to help manage this, such as automatic transmissions adjusting to keep the engine idling during coasting to prevent issues. It's recommended to use coasting occasionally in daily driving but not rely on it—better safe than sorry!

[SanLena]

Coasting in a car refers to the state where the vehicle glides without pressing the accelerator, with the engine idling but no power output. I've seen many cases in my repair work where people overlook its benefits—it saves fuel and protects the engine. In practice, coasting can reduce fuel consumption by about 10%, but frequent use may increase the burden on the braking system. I recommend checking if the tires and engine are in good condition to avoid unexpected stalling while coasting. Simply put, it means letting the car glide naturally, suitable for flat roads or gentle slopes, and not recommended at busy intersections. During routine maintenance, it's a good idea to inspect related components to avoid costly repairs later.

[DiArcher]

Coasting in a car essentially means letting the vehicle glide without engine power. I used to do this often when driving a manual transmission—releasing the throttle on a long downhill or before a red light to coast smoothly, saving fuel and ensuring a steady ride. Modern automatic transmissions handle coasting similarly, with the system managing the process automatically. The key is to balance it with driving habits and avoid coasting too far, which could lead to loss of speed control. Safety always comes first, so I remind myself to leave enough braking distance. Simply put, it’s inertia-based movement, a practical technique—just don’t rely on it as a substitute for braking.