
During the break-in period of a new car, it is appropriate to drive at 80 km/h on the highway. Below are the precautions for the break-in period of a new car: Avoid high-speed driving: Try not to let the car's speed reach 120 km/h, as this helps maintain the engine's performance and prolong its lifespan. Avoid overloading: Carrying excessively heavy loads during the break-in period puts unnecessary stress on the car. Overloading requires frequent gear changes, and the constant shifting between high and low gears can be very harmful to the engine. Avoid driving on extremely poor road conditions: Driving on very rough roads during the break-in period causes significant tire wear. Prolonged driving under such conditions with the engine constantly operating at high power can lead to damage.

You really need to pay attention when driving a brand-new car on the highway. Last time I drove my friend's new car back to my hometown, I did some research on this. Actually, the engine of a new car hasn't fully broken in yet, so it's better to keep the speed around 100 km/h, and don't exceed 120 km/h even when overtaking occasionally. The most important thing is not to rev the engine too high—try to keep it below 3,000 RPM, otherwise it could damage the engine. I deliberately avoided using cruise control the entire trip and stopped at service areas every two hours to let the car rest. Also, pay attention to the tire pressure—it's sometimes a bit high when the car first leaves the factory, so it's best to adjust it to around 2.4 bar for long-distance driving.

When driving a new car on the highway, two key indicators matter: speed and the break-in period. I recommend keeping it under 100 km/h for the first 1,000 kilometers. During this time, the engine components are still adapting to each other, and driving too fast can cause premature wear. My neighbor learned this the hard way last week with their new SUV – cruising at 120 km/h for three straight hours led to a sudden spike in fuel consumption. Also, a quick reminder: many new cars now come with electronic speed limit settings. You can check your vehicle's manual via the infotainment screen or simply ask the dealership salesperson.

Based on my years of experience with cars, it's completely fine to drive on the highway before the first maintenance of a new car, as long as you control the pace. The ideal cruising speed is between 80-100 km/h, and for manual transmission cars, special attention should be paid to keeping the tachometer out of the red zone. By the way, here's a detail: it's best to check the coolant and oil levels before driving on the highway, as they may have evaporated during transportation. Don't panic if you encounter heavy rain on the return trip; nowadays, new cars' braking systems come with a drying function.


