If I’m on a long highway trip in a RAV4 hybrid, will I get better mileage by using cruise control or not? Is there a specific speed that gives the best MPG?
I’m not sure about the best speed since that can vary based on factors like weather and road conditions, but using cruise control (especially the adaptive features) is usually more efficient. It makes smoother, more precise speed adjustments than most drivers can.
@Bryn
The cruise control on these RAV4s feels really reactive rather than adaptive. It struggles on hills and then accelerates hard to catch up, overshooting the speed before braking hard to slow down. It’s way worse on hills compared to my Mazda, which smoothly adds throttle when it senses an incline. It keeps the speed steady except when coasting downhill.
But the adaptive cruise is really good.
@Darin
I haven’t had problems with hills since I live in a flat area. But it can be pretty aggressive with both throttle and brakes, which can’t be good for gas mileage. If I’m behind someone going 10 mph slower, it accelerates really fast, and then when I approach someone, it holds speed until it has to brake hard.
@Stormy
What drive mode are you using? The acceleration and shift points are more aggressive in Sport Mode, and the regenerative braking profile is also different. Could it be that what feels like aggressive acceleration isn’t actually that inefficient compared to a gentler approach?
@Bryn
I keep it in Normal mode. I thought cruise control would work the same regardless of the mode. Isn’t it just about how the throttle is mapped?
Darin said:
@Bryn
I keep it in Normal mode. I thought cruise control would work the same regardless of the mode. Isn’t it just about how the throttle is mapped?
I tested it on a 600-mile trip. I preferred Eco mode for cruise because even in Normal, the acceleration and deceleration were a bit too aggressive for my liking. If I wanted to speed up quickly, it was easier to manually control the throttle and then let the car take over again.
@Darin
> The cruise control on these RAV4s feels very reactive.
Toyota has been like this since my 2009 RAV4.
Alexander said:
@Darin
> The cruise control on these RAV4s feels very reactive.
Toyota has been like this since my 2009 RAV4.
I’ve found my cruise control to be steady. I live in a hilly area, and I don’t experience the issues others mention. I wonder if that’s because I always drive in Eco mode?
Alexander said:
@Darin
> The cruise control on these RAV4s feels very reactive.
Toyota has been like this since my 2009 RAV4.
I had an 04 Matrix, so I thought it would be better by 2024, lol.
@Darin
I have a 2024 RAV4 hybrid as my company car and travel between VA and ME. I haven’t faced those problems, whether in the hills of PA and VA or the northern mountains.
Slower speeds usually give better MPG, but that’s not realistic with other traffic. So, go as slow as the slowest lane and use cruise control.
Rylan said:
Slower speeds usually give better MPG, but that’s not realistic with other traffic. So, go as slow as the slowest lane and use cruise control.
That’s not accurate. There’s generally an optimal speed between 50 and 65 mph for best MPG.
It really depends on where you live. I have a lot of hills around me, and cruise control focuses on reaching the set speed over saving fuel.
On flatter roads, especially highways, using cruise control with adaptive features makes sense because it provides finer adjustments than a human driver.
@Blend
And yes, around 62 mph seems to be a sweet spot for fuel efficiency, just like 32 mph and 27 mph were for the Prius (C).
I always use adaptive cruise now; it’s my favorite feature in newer cars.
There’s a big difference in MPG between 78 and 73 mph, but driving 73 on the highway isn’t great.
For me, it depends on the road type and traffic. If there’s a lot of stopping and starting or hills, the car accelerates more smoothly than I can. On more open roads, I try to maximize EV usage by accelerating and coasting, aiming for the longest deceleration possible.
It also depends on your RAV4 and the weight you’re carrying. I’ve noticed 78 mph gives me the best MPG during my long commutes. I have a 2018 RAV4 Adventure, and I find that regular mode gives better MPG on the highway than Eco mode.
When I have Eco mode engaged at 78 mph, I get worse MPG. I choose regular cruise control over adaptive because my regular cruise doesn’t lag on hills like adaptive does.
In San Diego, there are many hills, so I avoid adaptive cruise to benefit from the speed and fuel savings while going downhill. This is especially true for long hills on the way to Vegas. My RAV4 has turbos, which help with MPG at 78 mph. I’ve tested this quite a bit over the last five years.
I drive mostly on hilly county roads and use cruise control a lot. I’ve been trying to figure out how it affects gas mileage for 11 months. You might squeeze a bit more out of the tank by being very conscious of accelerator use, but it’s not worth the hassle.
I get the best gas mileage overall between 35-40 mph, depending on the temperature.
In summer, I get 50+ MPG with cruise set at 41 mph in Eco mode.
On the highway, expect 34-40 MPG, which is similar to my winter mileage at about 40 mph.
It really depends on how much you want to prioritize MPG. Technically, you’ll get better mileage without cruise control since you can hypermile. Cruise control focuses on maintaining speed, no matter if you’re going uphill or downhill. I did a coast-to-coast trip with my RAV4 and averaged about 33 MPG with cruise set at 75-85 mph the whole time (around 2700 miles). That’s about 10 MPG less than I usually get. Speed really affects MPG.