What Does the ECON Button Do in a Car?

ECON mode is designed to increase your car’s fuel economy by calibrating your vehicle’s systems specifically to maximize fuel efficiency.
Written by Jacqulyn Graber
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Available on many Honda vehicles, ECON mode is designed to increase your car’s fuel economy by calibrating your vehicle’s systems specifically to maximize fuel efficiency at the push of a button. 
These days, everyone’s trying to save money, and using less fuel is an obvious way to lower car ownership costs. Fortunately, ECON mode is available on many Honda models. But what exactly does it do?
Here to walk you through what the ECON button does in a car—and when to use it—is
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What is the Honda ECON button and what does it do?

The Honda ECON button activates—you guessed it—Honda’s ECON mode. Whether you drive a
Honda Accord
,
Honda CR-V
, or
Honda Civic
, this eco-friendly mode works to help you save gas by automatically calibrating several of your vehicle’s systems at the push of a button.
When you turn ECON on, the following system settings are impacted:
  • Throttle: Throttle response is changed at highway speeds to reduce aggressive acceleration.
  • Transmission: The gear shifts in the transmission are recalibrated so that the transmission shifts at lower RPMs.
  • Cruise control: Cruise control is engaged, making the vehicle less likely to downshift in order to maintain its speed.
  • Air conditioning system: Instead of staying on full blast, your Honda’s air conditioning compressor will switch on and off more often, improving overall fuel economy.

Benefits of driving in ECON mode

The major benefit of Honda’s eco mode is clear—you’ll save fuel and ultimately spend less money at the pump.
But that’s not all! Pressing the ECON button also provides a smoother and more gentle ride and easier acceleration when you press the gas pedal.
MORE: The best cars for your commute

Are all new Honda vehicles equipped with eco mode?

Unfortunately, not every new car at the Honda dealership is equipped with the fuel-saving eco mode, so you’ll have to be sure to inquire about the feature during your test drive.
The following 2022 and 2023 models are standard-equipped with ECON mode:

When to use Honda ECON mode?

Honda’s ECON mode can be turned on and off at the push of a button and can be used during the majority of your daily driving. 
In general, you should activate ECON mode whenever you are:
  • Cruising at a consistent pace on the highway
  • Experiencing normal city driving conditions
  • Driving in areas with relatively flat terrain
  • Not towing anything 
  • Not experiencing incredibly hot weather or using air conditioning 
Of course, there are a few instances in which activating ECON mode may be a bad idea. For example, anytime you need to accelerate quickly—such as when merging onto a highway—eco mode can actually decrease your Honda’s abilities.
Here’s when you should switch ECON mode off:
  • On very hot days, when air conditioning is most necessary
  • When merging on and off highways
  • When overtaking other vehicles 
  • When towing heavy amounts 
  • When driving on dangerous roads or steep hills
MORE: Are Hondas expensive to maintain?

How to save money on your car insurance 

Saving big on gas isn’t the only way to decrease your overall car ownership expenses, though. You can also use
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FAQs

Yes! Honda’s ECON mode is specifically designed to calibrate several of your vehicle’s systems specifically to maximize fuel efficiency, all at the push of a button.
For your daily driving needs, it’s usually better to drive with ECON mode on. You’ll be saving gas and you’ll enjoy a more gentle ride. However, if you’re driving up and down steep hills, need to accelerate quickly, are towing heavy loads, or need to blast the A/C, then it’s probably better to switch ECON mode off. 
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