When your Toyota Rav4 is in ECO mode, your SUV’s throttle becomes less responsive with less air getting sucked into your engine, smoothing out your acceleration and saving your Rav4’s fuel supply.

All new Toyota vehicles are equipped with ECO mode, which is designed to help you drive more efficiently and lower your fuel consumption. ECO mode also lowers your vehicle’s emissions and encourages more responsible driving. Your Rav4 is also equipped with Sport mode, which boosts acceleration and optimizes performance.

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What is Toyota ECO mode?

All new Toyota vehicles are equipped with ECO mode, a driving setting designed to boost your SUV's fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and develop better driving habits.

Toyota’s ECO mode does the following:

Reduces your vehicle’s throttle response to bring about smoother acceleration using less fuel and energy, and

Ratchets down power to your heating, air conditioning, and other Rav4 systems to save both energy and fuel.

ECO mode might be simple, but it can accomplish a lot with the touch of a button—lower your fuel consumption, emit fewer emissions, and help you restrain from the worst driving impulses (i.e. sudden acceleration and braking).

Aggressive driving is not only dangerous, but it uses much more fuel than driving in a composed manner. Using ECO mode in tandem with better driving habits gives you the best chance to significantly lower your fuel consumption. The Rav4’s ECO mode moderates your driving by reducing throttle response, meaning you won’t be able to floor it even if you wanted to.

Speaking of flooring it, using ECO mode on the highway isn’t recommended. ECO mode excels in city driving, as you’ll need less power to get around town. The Rav4’s ECO mode even has a stop-and-go function that shuts the engine down when stopped to avoid idling in city traffic.

Does Toyota ECO mode save fuel?

According to Toyota, and many Rav4 drivers, ECO mode can lower your fuel consumption by anywhere between 2% and 20%.

That said, ECO mode won’t accomplish this alone—modifying your driving habits is just as vital if you want to lower your fuel consumption. Driving less aggressively is not only smarter and safer, but it's easier on your engine. If you consistently use ECO mode while driving reasonably, you can significantly increase your fuel savings.

Does Toyota ECO mode charge the battery?

Using ECO mode won’t recharge your Rav4’s battery. That said, consistent ECO mode use and safe, moderated driving help to ensure that both your engine and your battery are not overworked. Your Rav4’s battery will likely last longer if it gets used to operating at normal capacity without aggressive stops, starts, and consistent fast driving.

What’s the difference between Toyota’s Normal mode and ECO mode?

Normal mode says it all, doesn't it? That’s right—“Normal” mode means your Rav4 will drive as it was designed.

You won’t lower your fuel consumption in Normal mode, as you’ll be able to accelerate your rig with normal throttle and your Rav4’s electrical systems will be working at top capacity. It’s much better for highway driving, but without ECO mode’s reduced throttle and component capacity, you won’t be saving as much fuel—or as much money at the pumps.

How to turn Toyota ECO mode on and off

Turning your Rav4’s ECO mode on or off is simple—just press the ECO mode button! This sits to the left of the driver-side heated seat function on the center console.

Is Toyota Eco mode worth it?

ECO mode can certainly be worth it, but it won’t lower your gasoline consumption unless you practice good driving habits. Using ECO mode consistently while practicing safe driving can help the environment, too, which is a benefit to everyone.

MORE:

Toyota Rav4 V6

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