With fuel prices rarely out of the news, many drivers are going the extra mile to get the cheapest deals at the pump. However, the answer to paying less for fuel is not down to the price of a litre, but the way we drive according to research by What Car? Magazine. The research shows that a car driven at 160km/h uses roughly five times as much fuel as one travelling at 80km/h, with significant savings at other lower speeds. The advise to drivers looking to cut motoring costs from Steve Fowler, What Car?'s group editor is, “Lowering your speed, and using a high gear, puts less strain on your engine, makes the journey more relaxing and reduces your carbon dioxide emissions."

The research also points out a car cruising at 60km/h on rural roads uses 20% more fuel in fourth gear as it does in a higher gear. It also says you can cut urban fuel bills by pulling away slowly and smoothly, changing up early, and anticipating road conditions to maintain a steady speed.