After your car has been sitting in the sun for a few hours, the interior skyrockets to boiling hot temperatures. So what’s the best way to cool it off?
Some people swear that air conditioners use up gas and make your car less efficient. Others claim that driving with your windows down adds friction and slows you down. So, which is more efficient - windows down or AC on?
Windows down or AC - which is more efficient?
Answer: it depends. Your AC does use gas, but this is more of an issue in older cars. The AC units in new cars are way more efficient than old models, so they have less impact on your fuel usage.
Of course, having your windows down uses no fuel at all. But the friction caused by open windows is no myth. As you reach higher speeds, the added drag can cancel out the fuel-saving benefits of switching the AC off.