What does the ECO in Prado mean?

[VonAaliyah]

The ECO in Prado refers to the vehicle's economic driving mode function. ECO is an English abbreviation derived from the words Ecology (environmental protection), Conservation (energy saving), and Optimization (power). The Eco mode is further divided into active Eco driving mode and non-active Eco driving mode. When the ECO indicator on the dashboard lights up, it indicates that the vehicle's economic mode has been activated. ECO mode is categorized into active and non-active types. The difference lies in the fact that the active type has its own dedicated button, allowing the driver to choose whether to activate it. When the driver presses the ECO mode switch, the dashboard indicator lights up, and the vehicle automatically begins adjusting settings such as throttle opening, transmission shift logic, and air conditioning output power. The non-active ECO mode does not have a dedicated button. When the dashboard ECO indicator lights up, it serves merely as a reminder function. The ECO system automatically evaluates your driving behavior, and if your current driving operation achieves the optimal fuel supply, the dashboard will simultaneously display the ECO indicator. Most vehicles use the active ECO driving mode, meaning they have a dedicated switch button. Therefore, during daily driving, we can activate the ECO mode. However, it is unnecessary to enable ECO mode when driving at speeds exceeding 120 km/h, during idling, in N/P gear, or in manual mode, especially when climbing hills. Doing so would not only fail to demonstrate the fuel-saving characteristics of ECO but also impact the vehicle's power performance. Additionally, the ECO mode typically becomes ineffective under the following conditions: When the vehicle speed exceeds 120 km/h, the system prioritizes speed, causing the ECO mode to deactivate automatically. During idling or when in N/P gear or manual mode, the ECO mode may also become ineffective. When high torque output is required, such as when climbing a hill, the engine control unit prioritizes ensuring sufficient power to drive the vehicle, and the ECO mode will not function in such scenarios.