Installing low-rolling resistance tires that are otherwise costlier and noisier than standard rubber is another easy fix, with re-sculpting front fascia designs to improve higher-speed aerodynamics also a short-run possibility.
Bridgestone says that Ecopia tires (as seen on the Nissan Leaf) improve rollingresistance 36 percent, which means a 4 percent fuel economy improvement (5 percent for Dueler truck tires).
Few arguments over reclining seats go that far, but as cabins grow more crowded and cramped, it's easy to find eye rolling, seething frustration or downright resistance coming from behind travelers who choose to push the armrest button.
Resistance adjustments are instant, making it easy to replicate everything from a flat or rolling hill course, to the coast down a hill after a hard climb.