Cruise control can seriously trim your fuel bills if used right. By maintaining a steady speed, cruise control helps avoid the constant acceleration and braking that gobbles fuel. Research shows that on flat, steady drives, especially on motorways, using cruise control can improve fuel efficiency by around 7 to 14 percent. That adds up to hundreds, even thousands of dollars saved over the lifetime of a vehicle.
The biggest gains come from eliminating speed fluctuations and smoothing out the throttle. Drivers tend to accelerate harder or coast irregularly, both increasing fuel use. Cruise control keeps the car at a precise, constant speed, reducing wasted fuel. It works best on flat roads without heavy traffic where frequent braking isn’t necessary.
Adaptive cruise control, which automatically adjusts speed based on traffic, may have mixed effects on fuel use. Some studies suggest it can slightly increase fuel consumption in high-speed cruising but save fuel in heavy stop-and-go traffic by smoothing acceleration patterns.
The takeaway is simple: on long highway stretches, flick on the cruise control and leave your foot off the pedal. It keeps your speed constant, your fuel use cleaner, and your wallet happier. For regular motorway drivers, it’s an easy way to squeeze more miles from every litre or gallon.