Which has higher fuel consumption: city driving or highway driving?

[JordanLynn]

City driving consumes more fuel. On city roads, cars often idle, while on highways, cars do not idle. During car design, there is an optimal speed for fuel efficiency, at which the car's fuel consumption is the lowest. On city roads, the car's speed is often much lower than this optimal speed. When driving in daily life, pay attention to the following: Choose high-quality fuel and regularly clean carbon deposits. Poor-quality gasoline can increase carbon deposits in the engine, roughen the intake pipe, affect air intake efficiency, and increase fuel consumption. Regularly check tire wear and tire pressure. Low tire pressure increases friction between the tires and the road, leading to greater resistance and higher fuel consumption. Also, frequently inspect tire wear. Severe wear can cause slipping, resulting in increased fuel consumption. Daily driving habits also impact fuel consumption. Therefore, reasonable vehicle use is not just about following the owner's manual; developing good driving habits is equally crucial.

[HaleyLynn]

From my daily driving experience, urban fuel consumption is definitely much higher than on highways. When commuting in the city, there are many traffic lights and severe congestion, with frequent braking and acceleration, causing the engine to burn fuel inefficiently and fuel consumption to skyrocket. For example, last week, my car averaged 12L/100km in the city, but immediately dropped to 8L when cruising at 100km/h on the highway. This is because frequent start-stop cycles in urban areas make the engine work repeatedly, requiring extra fuel for each acceleration; whereas steady high-speed driving keeps the engine in its efficient zone, and although air resistance has an impact, it's generally more fuel-efficient overall. To cope with this, I usually plan my route to avoid peak hours or switch to public transportation to reduce trips.

[Juliette]

A brief analysis shows that urban fuel consumption is typically higher than highway fuel consumption. The reason lies in city driving conditions: frequent deceleration and acceleration lead to significant engine load variations, resulting in lower fuel combustion efficiency. In contrast, steady driving on highways at speeds between 80-100km/h optimizes energy utilization. For instance, rapid acceleration consumes the most fuel, while maintaining a constant speed ensures uniform fuel consumption. It is recommended that drivers cultivate gentle driving habits, such as easing off the throttle early and braking less, while also ensuring proper tire pressure to help reduce consumption. Overall, highway driving is more economical.

[VonIsabelle]

After years of driving, I've conducted multiple fuel consumption tests, and the results clearly show significantly higher consumption in urban areas. The stop-and-go traffic in cities burns more fuel as the engine operates intermittently; whereas on highways with smooth driving, fuel consumption naturally decreases. I remember during one trip, fuel consumption spiked in the city section but stabilized once on the highway. A little tip is to maintain a reasonable speed and avoid speeding to prevent increased wind resistance and consumption. Choosing a hybrid vehicle can also help balance this difference.

[VanKimberly]

Concerned about fuel consumption and environmental protection, I've noticed that urban driving emits more carbon due to higher fuel consumption and resource wastage; highways are relatively cleaner. City traffic congestion with constant acceleration and deceleration leads to inefficient engine performance and multiplied exhaust emissions; highway cruising optimizes fuel usage. I recommend adopting economical driving techniques, such as anticipating traffic lights to reduce acceleration, or prioritizing highway travel over city driving. Data shows lower fuel consumption on highways, which benefits sustainability in the long run.