Most Hyundai models, including the Elantra, are equipped with various driving modes to improve vehicle performance and efficiency—one of those modes is Active Eco mode. It’s designed to adjust your Elantra’s engine performance to reduce fuel consumption. While Sport mode optimizes performance by increasing driver feedback and engine responsiveness, Eco mode trades in high-powered performance for reduced energy consumption and wear on your Elantra.

Ready to learn about Active Eco mode and how it can help save you money?

Jerry

, the trusted

car insurance

app, has all the details on how you can engage Eco mode to save. And we’ll even give you the best way to save on

Hyundai Elantra insurance costs

Make auto loan refinancing easy with PriceProtect™

Check my rates!

4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars

4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

What is Hyundai Elantra Active Eco mode?

Hyundai’s Active Eco mode is a standard driving mode on most Hyundai models designed to reduce fuel economy and limit hard acceleration that burns fuel.

In general, Active Eco works by:

Adjusting the transmission's shifting patterns and altering the throttle response to prevent hard acceleration

Reducing your Elantra’s climate control system and dimming interior lights

Cutting off fuel supply during deceleration

By modifying these features on your Elantra, Active Eco mode can reduce fuel consumption and conserve energy—but it does come at a cost. You’ll likely experience more gradual acceleration, as heavy acceleration burns more fuel. You may also notice your Elantra feels less responsive when accelerating up hills or trying to pass other vehicles on the highway—if you need speed and power, turning Active Eco off is recommended.

But the one major benefit aside from reducing fuel consumption? Active Eco mode can extend the life of your Hyundai Elantra! Less braking and safer driving, partnered with regular

basic maintenance

, will help keep your Elantra in tip-top shape!

Key Takeaway Hyundai Active Eco mode adjusts your Elantra’s transmission shifting patterns to reduce hard acceleration and improve the fuel efficiency of your vehicle.

Does Hyundai Elantra Active Eco mode save fuel?

According to Hyundai, switching Active Eco mode on can reduce fuel consumption by up to 7%. However, your driving habits and how consistently you engage Active Eco mode will influence the extent of fuel savings you see—as will the time spent in Sport mode.

If you want to check when you’re saving fuel, the Elantra has a green Eco indicator light in the gauge cluster that illuminates when you’re going light on the pedal.

MORE:

How to save money on gas

Does Hyundai Elantra Active Eco mode charge the battery?

The car recycles its existing energy thanks to the Hyundai Elantra’s regenerative braking system. When hydraulic fluid presses the brake pads against the discs, the friction produces large amounts of kinetic energy that is converted into electricity to help charge the battery. Remember that regenerative braking is only available on the Elantra Hybrid.

What’s the difference between Hyundai Eco mode and Sport mode?

The Hyundai Elantra has three driving modes: Normal, Eco, and Sport.

Normal mode is the standard driving mode that offers everyday performance and does not alter driving dynamics. Your Elantra will revert to Normal Mode whenever the vehicle is restarted.

But if you’re looking to burn rubber instead of saving fuel, you’ll want to switch to Sport mode. It offers more spirited driving by increasing steering wheel feedback and engine responsiveness to maximize your Elantra’s driving performance.

MORE: Are Hyundais expensive to maintain?

How to turn Hyundai Elantra Active Eco mode on and off

Turning Active Eco mode ON/OFF in your Elantra is easy. You’ll find the Active Eco mode button near the driver's left knee, usually between the dashboard light adjustment and stability control switch. Press the button to engage.

When Active Eco is engaged, the LED on the button will illuminate and you will see an icon appear on the dashboard. If you want to turn the Active Eco mode off, just hit the button again.

Is the Hyundai Elantra Active Eco mode worth it?

Whether Hyundai’s Active Eco mode is worth it depends on your priorities as a driver.

Engaging Active Eco mode whenever possible is worth it if you’re trying to reduce car expenses and conserve fuel. On the Elantra N, the high-performance model, combined fuel economy is reduced from 35 mpg on the regular Elantra to just 25 mpg on the Elantra N, so flicking on Eco mode could bring major savings—that is, when you’re not driving your car as it’s intended.

But while Active Eco can conserve fuel, it comes at a cost: slower acceleration, which makes uphill driving and highway acceleration a bit difficult. A true driving fanatic might not appreciate the joys of Active Eco mode, but if you spend a lot of time driving in stop-and-go traffic or at slower speeds, the savings can add up.

MORE: Hyundai Elantra GT towing capacity

Make auto loan refinancing easy with PriceProtect™

Check my rates!

4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars

4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

How to save on Hyundai Elantra insurance

Turning on your Hyundai Elantra’s Active Eco mode is a great way to reduce your car expenses and save money on fuel, but did you know you can also save money on car insurance by shopping with

Jerry

As the

#1-rated insurance expert and trusted broker app

, Jerry partners with over 55 top insurers to help you find the best Hyundai insurance rates in seconds. Sign up in under a minute and browse customized quotes based on your driver’s profile—all from your smartphone.

There are no phone calls, emails, or paperwork to complete. Just browse, choose, and switch! It’s that simple.

And the best part? Jerry users save an average of more than $800 on their annual premiums. Combine that with gas savings and you’re about to get a load of money back in your pocket!

“I have been with the same insurance provider for over 10 years.
Jerry
found me a new policy with Travelers that is $107/month cheaper. The pandemic has made finances tight, but Jerry helped me out.” —Gabriel T.

RECOMMENDED