Automatic transmission vs manual transmission fuel efficiency

Depending on the vehicle, you might be able to get up to eight or nine speeds, which was unheard of only a few years ago. Back when automatic transmissions had only three or four gears, it was necessary to operate the engine through a wider RPM band.

You might think that automatics with plenty of gears are constantly shifting, but it really depends on how you drive and how the vehicle has been designed.

That being said, many modern designs are so advanced that gear transitions are smooth and subtle, so you might not even notice. Quite a few technological improvements have helped change the automatic car vs manual car fuel efficiency issue.

One is the issue of gear seeking, or when a vehicle with an automatic keeps switching between two gears. This used to be common when climbing steep grades, like going up a canyon road. Not only is it annoying for drivers, it kills fuel economy.

With a manual transmission, drivers know that the car is climbing a steep slope and needs extra power to make it up all the way. Instead of shifting into a higher gear, they can leave the transmission is a lower gear, keeping the engine RPMs higher and squeezing out more power.

Another big change is the adoption of lock-up torque converters for automatics. The old fluid-driven coupling for automatics actually hurt fuel economy. Today, most are able to lock into gears at higher speeds, like manual transmissions.

This means improved efficiency, closing the gap between automatics and manuals. This is necessary when dealing with fuel efficient cars in Through the website fueleconomy. It makes comparing manual and automatic transmission results easy. Maha Travessa Pundit. How do you save fuel in a manual car? Fuel-saving tips. Stay aerodynamic. Wind resistance increases fuelconsumption. Slow down. Sensible driving.

Drop the revs. Look after tyres. Reduce weight. Speed bumps. Ginny Mifsut Pundit. Are manual cars safer? Studies haven't really shown whether one is safer than the other.

Automatic transmissions do allow youto keep both hands on the wheel at all times, while manual transmissions may require more attentive driving. Farhad Guerriero Pundit. How long do manual transmissions last?

A manual transmission can last up to , miles. Aggressive driving and inattentive fluid changes can negativelyimpact its longevity. Biviana Hamilton Pundit. Are manual cars cheaper to insure? While theredoesn't tend to be a huge difference in premiums between manual and automatic cars , automatics can be moreexpensive to insure. This is typically because automaticgearboxes cost more to replace than manuals and are often found inhigher specification vehicles.

Dionne Cunill Pundit. Why are manual cars cheaper? Manual Pros:. Lydie Machota Teacher. Are f1 cars manual? There's no manual clutch, so the transmission isnot technically manual. However, the gear paddles manually select the gear by cycling throughthem. Anthea Abertasov Teacher. Do manual cars accelerate faster? Manual transmission cars can acceleratefaster because the driver can control when their shifts aremade.

The answer to that depends on the driver. Regardless of where you are headed, let Cenex help you chart your course and fuel your journey. Check out the Cenex locator to find a retail location near you. Learn More. Shopping for a used vehicle should be a well thought out decision. Understand these five tips when searching for your next used car. Cold weather is hard on all kinds of equipment.