You’re probably wrong about fuel-efficient driving

Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson once proved that the 414-horsepower, V8-engined, noisy petrol pin-up BMW M3 could be much more environmentally friendly than the famously frugal Toyota Prius.

To do this, he conducted an experiment in 2008 that was in no way colored by the fact that he hated the Prius and adored the M3.

The daily driver raced the Toyota at full throttle around the race track for 10 laps, while the high-performance BMW calmly maintained the pace.

Filled with smugness, Clarkson later explained that flooring the accelerator in the Prius made the “terrible eco-box” thirstier than the cruising supercar.

“Don’t change the car, change the way you drive,” he told the stunned audience in the studio.

Clarkson has largely disparaged so-called fuel-efficient cars, but his advice may be sage for those who can’t afford to buy their way out of the current fuel crisis.

Ten-year-old used EVs cost just under $10,000, while the lowest factory-new model costs about $24,000.

Australians bought more than 500 electric vehicles every day in March; That was nearly double what was sold that month in 2025, emptying Tesla showrooms and wallets across the country.

But those who don’t own these vehicles or don’t have access to efficient public transportation can still discover the secrets of cheaper driving behind the wheel.

“Get rid of driver aggression, that will be the biggest clue,” Nic Surawski, professor of environmental engineering at the University of Technology Sydney, told AAP.

He says reducing speed by just 10 km per hour on the highway can make your car up to 15 percent more frugal.

Prof Surawski says it’s also helpful to keep your distance from the vehicle in front, minimize idling, reduce excess weight, plan ahead and take quieter routes.

“All these savings could add up to something pretty significant.”

But speed need not hurt: Formula One legend Alain Prost was a master at smoothly setting his car to incredible speed, former F1 mechanic Professor Richard Hopkins told AAP.

“The way he came up with the lap time and speed was incredible,” he says.

Prost’s precise, academic driving style earned him the nickname “professor” and four world championships.

Prof Hopkins says F1 teams often give drivers the “lift and bank” command, releasing the accelerator earlier rather than applying the brakes immediately before the corner.

“This frustrates drivers who want to go as fast as they can… and it’s amazing how much fuel you can save by doing this,” he says.

Once head of operations at motorsport juggernaut Red Bull, Prof Hopkins now leads the University of NSW’s Sunswift racing team, squeezing every millimeter of the range of its world-record-breaking solar-powered cars.

He says that tires also contribute greatly to fuel efficiency.

“How do we try to save money? Check your tire pressures.”

According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Authority, losing one-tenth of the air in your tires (easily done in a typical month) leaves your car another two percent dehydrated.

Prof Hopkins says this may not be visible or noticeable while driving, but dozens of bowser visits add up and a monthly pressure check is quite valuable.

Tire pressure is important, but professional fuel economy world record breakers Helen and John Taylor say extreme techniques such as “lift and dump” can’t beat common sense and composure behind the wheel.

“No, no, don’t do that… definitely don’t approach it,” Helen told AAP.

“Just being smart while driving is enough.”

The Taylors’ credentials are impeccable: they have at least 97 world records adorning their CVs; These include world tours where they routinely cover 1,000km on a single tank of gas.

Helen describes a mountainous journey in Madagascar where their car’s fuel warning light came on with 150km to go, but they managed to finish.

“You get a big adrenaline boost,” he says.

Helen and John built a career teaching economical driving to drivers in poor and resource-poor countries and Australia by trying to get into a job interview when they could only afford less than a dollar in fuel.

One African country even offered the couple honorary citizenship and cabinet positions to help logistics companies and the military save millions in fuel.

Modern, well-maintained vehicles are more efficient, but the Taylors say they can still get breathtaking mileage out of tired and worn-out machines.

“You can still work with what you have,” says Helen.

They also exceeded automakers’ expectations in places where bitumen was a luxury.

“There was half a meter of snow and ice on the road, there were donkeys, monkeys, camels, elephants on the roads… All the roads were actually non-existent when going from Karachi to Lahore,” says John.

With the average fuel economy for a passenger car in Australia being 11.1 liters per 100 kilometres, the Taylors made the 1300 kilometer journey to Lahore almost three times more efficiently and never stopped to refuel.

For them, efficient driving is comfortable, clear-headed and never makes you sweat, so depriving yourself of air conditioning is overrated.

“If you’re in the car you need to be comfortable so you can concentrate,” Helen told AAP.

“We’re not talking about slow driving. We’re talking about people driving just under the legal speed limit,” says John.

“Just drive smarter and safer.”