Thought this could be a nice topic, a lot of people like to complain about auto engine start/stop (ESS), but it's been around for quite a while now, and contrary to a lot of doomsaying I haven't heard about a pandemic of failed starter motors because of it. That said, some companies seem to do it better than others. I've only driven a few different ones to compare, but here's my thoughts, and I'd like to see others.
Bad: 2018 Ford Escape Ecoboost rental- The auto start/stop on this car was awful. It turns the engine off, it also turns off the power steering and does not restart the engine if you try to turn the steering wheel. It doesn't restart the engine or keep it on when the AC is running. It's slow to restart and not what I'd call "smooth". I actually disabled it on this after a day or two it was so annoying. I drove a 2020 Fusion Ecoboost and while it was better than the Escape, it still wasn't pleasant. In both cases I had to fully remove my foot from the brake before it would restart the engine. In both cases I was actively annoyed by it.
Good: VW. My experience with VW ESS is dramatically different than Ford's. I have experience with two different VW engines/vehicles to compare.
1. 2021 VW T-Cross 1.0TSI 3cylinder (EU market) with the DSG. This one was by far the most seamless experience. The 1.0 is so smooth and quiet even while running, that the stop/start is almost imperceptible. In addition, this one was more aggressively programmed than the US market 1.5T. Very quickly I was able to predict when the engine would shut off, it would frequently shut off while slowing to a stop, at maybe 3-4mph while braking. It also was very easy to get the engine to restart- both in this case and with the 1.5T in my Taos just slightly lifting your foot on the brake pedal (while keeping the brakes applied) is enough to get it to restart, keep firm pressure to keep engine shut down. It also restarted extremely quickly and with no drama, and no delay. The power steering was not disabled like with the Ford, and turning the wheel any amount would also cause the engine to restart (smart, so it would restart if you were say in an intersection waiting to make a left turn). Honestly super impressed with the ESS in this car, I saw no reason to ever turn it off, it just worked perfectly and was seamless. And if you are slowing to a stop and it turns off at 2-3mph, but you release the brake it restarted insantly and the power was back before your foot hits the throttle. Honestly if I could grade it, I'd give it an A+.
The 1.5T in my Taos is almost but not quite as good, I'm not sure if it's a difference in programming between the EU and NA market, or a difference between the 1.0 and 1.5. Unlike the T-Cross it won't turn off while still rolling under braking, it will wait until you've come to a complete stop for a few seconds before turning off, and the feeling is a bit more noticeable, but still far less than the Fords. Just like the T-Cross however, the engine is quick to come to life if you ever so slightly raise the brake pedal or turning the wheel, making engine restart on-demand easy. The restart is again not quite as seamless and smooth as the 1.0, but that could just be due to the greater rotating mass. I once spent several hours in traffic picking up a friend from LaGuardia when I was down in the city, and I didn't even disable it then, it worked perfectly the entire time I was stuck in traffic. The only time I disable it so far is when its cold and I want heat while the engine is still warming up.
I'd like to try to experience some others, but that's my impressions of what I've driven recently. I'd like to hear other experiences with them.
Bad: 2018 Ford Escape Ecoboost rental- The auto start/stop on this car was awful. It turns the engine off, it also turns off the power steering and does not restart the engine if you try to turn the steering wheel. It doesn't restart the engine or keep it on when the AC is running. It's slow to restart and not what I'd call "smooth". I actually disabled it on this after a day or two it was so annoying. I drove a 2020 Fusion Ecoboost and while it was better than the Escape, it still wasn't pleasant. In both cases I had to fully remove my foot from the brake before it would restart the engine. In both cases I was actively annoyed by it.
Good: VW. My experience with VW ESS is dramatically different than Ford's. I have experience with two different VW engines/vehicles to compare.
1. 2021 VW T-Cross 1.0TSI 3cylinder (EU market) with the DSG. This one was by far the most seamless experience. The 1.0 is so smooth and quiet even while running, that the stop/start is almost imperceptible. In addition, this one was more aggressively programmed than the US market 1.5T. Very quickly I was able to predict when the engine would shut off, it would frequently shut off while slowing to a stop, at maybe 3-4mph while braking. It also was very easy to get the engine to restart- both in this case and with the 1.5T in my Taos just slightly lifting your foot on the brake pedal (while keeping the brakes applied) is enough to get it to restart, keep firm pressure to keep engine shut down. It also restarted extremely quickly and with no drama, and no delay. The power steering was not disabled like with the Ford, and turning the wheel any amount would also cause the engine to restart (smart, so it would restart if you were say in an intersection waiting to make a left turn). Honestly super impressed with the ESS in this car, I saw no reason to ever turn it off, it just worked perfectly and was seamless. And if you are slowing to a stop and it turns off at 2-3mph, but you release the brake it restarted insantly and the power was back before your foot hits the throttle. Honestly if I could grade it, I'd give it an A+.
The 1.5T in my Taos is almost but not quite as good, I'm not sure if it's a difference in programming between the EU and NA market, or a difference between the 1.0 and 1.5. Unlike the T-Cross it won't turn off while still rolling under braking, it will wait until you've come to a complete stop for a few seconds before turning off, and the feeling is a bit more noticeable, but still far less than the Fords. Just like the T-Cross however, the engine is quick to come to life if you ever so slightly raise the brake pedal or turning the wheel, making engine restart on-demand easy. The restart is again not quite as seamless and smooth as the 1.0, but that could just be due to the greater rotating mass. I once spent several hours in traffic picking up a friend from LaGuardia when I was down in the city, and I didn't even disable it then, it worked perfectly the entire time I was stuck in traffic. The only time I disable it so far is when its cold and I want heat while the engine is still warming up.
I'd like to try to experience some others, but that's my impressions of what I've driven recently. I'd like to hear other experiences with them.