Efficient fuel economy saves drivers money on gas while minimizing air pollution. As you browse through vehicles at the dealership or online, you might wonder if you should purchase a manual or automatic car.

Many drivers choose vehicles based on their fuel economy capabilities. If you need help choosing your next vehicle, learn if manual or automatic cars get better fuel economy.

How Does a Manual Car Work?

The driver controls the gearshifts of a manual vehicle. The third pedal in the floorboard is the clutch pedal, and a shifter for the gears is in the middle console. The driver presses the clutch pedal just before shifting gears and releases it once the vehicle locks into gear.

It takes skill to drive a manual vehicle. The driver most likely understands the inner workings of a manual transmission. This knowledge is essential since they directly work with these parts when driving.

While drivers of automatic cars must also watch their speed on the road, the driver of a manual transmission conducts more jobs. They must know which gear correlates to the desired speed and ensure they don’t ride the clutch pedal and damage the gears. It’s a technical process that requires ample attention in comparison to driving an automatic vehicle.

How Does an Automatic Car Work?

Automatic vehicles are much simpler to drive than manual models. Instead of switching gears on your own, the transmission uses hydraulic power to shift gears. The sensors within the transmission send signals to shift gears based on the driver’s speed. The system utilizes the pressure from oil to shift the gears into place naturally.

Which Type of Car Gets Better Fuel Economy?

Manual cars had more efficient fuel economy than automatic models in the past. Since the car would switch into a gear and lock in place, the vehicle would receive better gas mileage than automatic cars that slipped into gear on their own.

Modern automatic vehicles get better fuel economy than manual cars. The technology introduced to automatic transmissions has made shifting gears more precise, improving the vehicles’ miles per gallon.

The technology of manual cars has also grown. It remains a great alternative and is especially desirable for car enthusiasts. Automatic vehicles contain the most efficient performance transmission parts that make them the best options for daily driving or road trips.