There’s no question that Google Maps revolutionized the way we navigate. Having a full GPS navigator in your pocket was unthinkable just two decades ago. But lately, many Android users have noticed something frustrating: Google Maps keeps picking slower routes, adding minutes or even longer to their trips. The culprit? A well-intentioned feature called fuel-efficient routing.
Why Google Maps Is Making Your Trips Longer
When you enter a destination in Google Maps, the app calculates every possible route to get you there. It then ranks them by what it considers “best” — but Google’s definition of “best” may not match yours. The default setting prioritizes fuel efficiency over speed, meaning the app will choose a route that saves gasoline even if it takes longer to arrive.
Google rolled out fuel-efficient routes several years ago as part of its sustainability push. Initially, these routes were marked with a small leaf icon, and they were only selected by default if they also happened to be the fastest option. That changed when Google updated Maps to default to fuel-efficient routes “when arrival times are similar.” The problem? In many real-world scenarios, the fuel-efficient route is noticeably slower — sometimes by ten, fifteen, or even twenty minutes.
How Fuel-Efficient Routes Actually Work
The logic behind fuel-efficient routing is sound: flat roads with consistent speeds and fewer stops burn less fuel than routes with hills, frequent braking, and stop-and-go traffic. Google’s algorithm considers factors like road gradient, traffic patterns, speed limits, and the number of intersections to calculate which route will consume the least fuel.
However, the fastest route often involves driving over hills rather than around them, taking direct highways that may have slightly higher speeds, or cutting through neighborhoods with more stop signs. The trade-off is real: you might save a few cents worth of fuel at the cost of several minutes of your time.
For drivers in flat regions, the fuel-efficient route often coincides with the fastest route, which is why some people never notice the difference. But for those living in hilly or mountainous areas, the divergence can be dramatic. Google’s algorithm may route you around a hill to save fuel while adding ten or more minutes to your trip.
How to Turn Off Fuel-Efficient Routes in Google Maps
The fix is simple and takes less than a minute. Here’s how to disable the feature on both Android and iPhone:
- Open the Google Maps app on your phone
- Tap your profile picture or initial in the top-right corner
- Select Settings from the menu
- Scroll down and tap Navigation settings
- Scroll down to Route options
- Toggle off Prefer fuel-efficient routes
That’s it. Once disabled, Google Maps will revert to choosing the fastest available route as its default. You’ll still see the leaf icon on fuel-efficient alternatives if you want to compare, but the app will no longer automatically steer you toward them.
The Per-Trip Approach: Choose Your Route Manually
If you don’t want to change the global setting but still want control, you can pick your route on each trip:
- Enter your destination and tap Directions
- Before tapping Start, look at the routes displayed on the map
- The fuel-efficient route is marked with a small green leaf icon
- Tap the route you prefer — the fastest option is usually marked as such
- Tap Start to begin navigation
This approach lets you keep the fuel-saving feature enabled for days when you’re not in a hurry while choosing speed when it matters.
How Much Time Are You Actually Losing?
In our testing, the fuel-efficient route was consistently slower by anywhere from 2 to 18 minutes depending on the destination and terrain. City driving saw smaller deltas, while suburban and rural routes — where Google’s algorithm has more path variations to consider — showed larger differences.
Over a month of daily commuting, those minutes add up. If Google Maps adds just five minutes to your commute each way, that’s over three hours of extra driving time per month. For many people, that time is far more valuable than the small amount of fuel saved.
The Environmental Angle
To be fair, Google’s fuel-efficient routing feature has genuine environmental benefits. If millions of drivers collectively save even a small percentage of fuel, the reduction in carbon emissions is significant. Google estimates the feature has helped prevent millions of metric tons of CO₂ emissions since its introduction.
But here’s the thing: you can make that choice yourself. If you’re not in a rush, you can voluntarily select the fuel-efficient route on any given trip. The controversy isn’t about the feature existing — it’s about it being the default without most users realizing it.
Google Maps vs. Waze: Which One Is Faster?
Many users frustrated with Google Maps’ fuel-efficient default have switched to Waze, which Google also owns. Waze’s entire philosophy is getting you there as fast as possible, using real-time crowd-sourced traffic data to reroute you around jams, slowdowns, and police traps.
However, Waze has its own downsides: it’s more distracting with constant notifications, uses more battery, and its aggressive rerouting can lead you through confusing side streets. Google Maps with fuel-efficient routing disabled offers a good middle ground — the speed of Waze with the stability of Google’s platform.
Other Google Maps Settings That Affect Route Speed
While you’re in the Navigation settings, there are a few other options worth checking:
- Avoid highways — On by default in some situations, this can add significant time to longer trips
- Avoid tolls — Useful for saving money but often reroutes you through slower local roads
- Avoid ferries — Can add detours in coastal areas
Reviewing these settings periodically is a good habit, as Google sometimes updates defaults with new versions of the app.
Final Thoughts
Google Maps remains the best navigation app for most people, but its default settings don’t work for everyone. The fuel-efficient route feature is a classic example of a well-intentioned addition that can frustrate users who aren’t aware it exists. Now that you know about it, you can take back control and ensure Google Maps takes you on the fastest route every time.
Just remember to check your settings after major Google Maps updates — the company occasionally resets preferences or introduces new defaults that could slow you down again. A quick thirty-second check of your navigation settings can save you hours of driving time over the long run.
