I had always balked at the idea of undertaking a driver training course, but the offer from Mercedes-Benz was one I couldn’t refuse: to take part in a course that would not only cut fuel usage but also would not add time to a journey. 

I found myself behind the wheel of a short-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz Sprinter sporting a 95bhp Euro V engine and a full load of concrete in the back. My task was to drive round a 30km course at the Munsingen test facility with trainer Viktor Hoesch in my normal driving style and then again after some tips.

The course consisted of a few fast straights, some tight mountain switchbacks and hills and a good smattering of other obstacles such as traffic lights, flocks of passing sheep and speed restrictions.

I figured that if I drove in my most relaxed style, I could confound the aim of my trainer and fail to register an improvement in economy second time around. Some hope.

My first trip took 32 mins 57 secs and was completed at an average speed of 53.6kph. I changed gear 172 times and achieved 9.96 litres per 100km (28.36mpg). Not bad, admitted Hoesch, but he reckoned we could do better.

On came the Sprinter’s ECO stop-start system and out came a few bits of good advice.

Hoesch told me I was falling into the common trap of changing up the gears at too high revs. The Sprinter offers so much torque that changes should be made at between 2,000 and 2,400rpm. He also advised me to floor the throttle on the hills and take it off altogether on downward slopes. His advice was to imagine I was riding a bicycle.

Hoesch ordered: “Faster!” on several occasions – we were supposed to save fuel but not at the expense of time. After a few kilometres, I began to feel the style of driving Hoesch was aiming for.

The results spoke for themselves. On the second trip I took one minute longer but saved 15.2% in fuel.

Part of this saving came from the stop-start system, which cuts out when the vehicle has been sitting idle for two seconds and restarts when the clutch is depressed.

But even without it, I’d have saved fuel and money.

I’m now looking forward to trying out my new eco style of driving in real-life – I’ll be reporting on what happens in long-term road tests.

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