For the past three years, the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada has held an annual event it calls the Eco-Run. In a nutshell, cars of various types are assembled, put through their paces by journalists, and evaluated.

But the idea is less about coming up with a “winner” and more about highlighting the latest gas-saving and engineering features of the cars. “We’re not here to endorse any particular model,” explains AJAC president Clare Dear, “but to have a look at what manufacturers have been up to and talk about how drivers can maximize their fuel economy by adopting specific driving habits.”

This time around, the Eco-Run took place in the Squamish-Whistler-Pemberton area. Cars included everything from full-size pickups to 100-percent-battery-powered electric cars to mainstream sedans. With one or two exceptions, they were all 2014 models. In addition to doing a couple of days of highway driving, drivers took part in a small slalom and a best-mileage competition. All the cars were equipped with data-acquiring apparatus, the fuel economy and driving habits of the drivers were closely monitored, and everything was stored and amalgamated.

Here are the vehicles that participated, all of which feature competitive fuel economy in their
respective classes:

Cadillac ELR (2015)
Chevrolet Cruze EcoDiesel
Ford CMAX Energi
Honda Accord Hybrid
Hyundai Elantra
Kia Optima Hybrid
Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
Mazda3 SKYACTIV 2.0L
Mazda6 i-ELOOP (2015)
Mercedes-Benz GL 350 BlueTEC
4MATIC
Mercedes-Benz E 250 BlueTEC
4MATIC
Mini Cooper
Mitsubishi i-MiEV
Nissan Altima 2.5 SV + Tech
Nissan LEAF SL
Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid
Ram 1500 EcoDiesel
Volvo XC60 Drive-E (2015)

From a driver’s perspective, the plan was basically to wring maximum fuel economy out of the cars while driving in a normal manner and keeping up with traffic—not dogging it or hypermiling, in other words. As well as driving with a light foot, avoiding jackrabbit starts, minding the speed limit, and being on one’s best behaviour, there was a range of fuel-saving/emission-reducing features worth noting that carmakers have engineered into their cars.

Start/stop
Sometimes called e-Stop or Auto Stop/Start, this is standard equipment with all hybrids and most upscale cars. It automatically shuts the vehicle’s engine off at a stoplight/sign and restarts it when the driver takes their foot off the brake. It’s estimated that, over the course of a vehicle’s life, it can save up to 10 percent in fuel costs and some five percent in emissions.

Ambient lighting
Many cars these days have some sort of interior lighting scheme that lets drivers know when they’re getting maximum mileage. For example, the new Mini Cooper has a large circular light called Shift Point Display front and centre on the dash. When it’s fully green, the car is running at peak efficiency. Other manufacturers—Ford, Honda, et cetera—have similar arrangements.

Mileage readouts
Virtually all the cars at this event featured some sort of fuel-consumption display. An onboard computer constantly monitors fuel economy and displays it on the dash somewhere. Some also have an optimum fuel-economy rate that you can use as a kind of guide. Again, keep the numbers down and you can’t go wrong.

Driving modes
This allows the driver to choose a performance level, which directly affects fuel economy. Each manufacturer has its own nomenclature, but essentially there’s a “green” mode and a performance mode, with various levels in between. The Cadillac ELR, for example, has four separate settings, ranging from fully electric to internal-combustion engine only.

Regenerative braking
Basically, this takes energy produced during deceleration and braking and redirects it to the electrical system, where it’s used to power various accessories. Mazda’s new 6 has this feature, and so do virtually all hybrids.

Hybrids
Originally conceived as “bridge” technology—bridging the gap between internal-combustion and battery power—hybrids are firmly a part of the automotive landscape and growing in popularity. They are—for the most part—more reliable and efficient than ever. Ford’s CMAX Energi, for example, has a driving range of some 800 kilometres.

Diesel engines
North Americans may finally be warming up to small-displacement diesels. Of all the vehicles assembled at the Eco-Run, the diesels—the Chev Cruze, the Mercedes E 250/GL 350, and the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel—may have been the most drivable.

Although this was definitely not a race, there was a little competition among drivers to see who could return the best fuel-economy numbers and take home the so-called Green Jersey award. How did I place? A very, very close second.