Well I for one like it. An earlier post suggested that fuel economy is worse when coasting, presumably as the engine is ticking over, whereas if left in drive the engine shuts off.
The trouble with the engine shutting off is that you get engine braking, so if left, the car will come to a halt much sooner. So to hit the same stopping point as when coasting, you have to feed more fuel in. I find this particularly when leaving a motorway. So I don’t think it’s a valid argument.
Looking back years, my Dad had a manual two-stroke SAAB 92, which had freewheel/coast in top gear, (OK, it was a two stroke, so it was probably a good idea, even a safety feature!) as did my 1987 Vauxhall Carlton 2ltr Auto. So it’s by no means a new feature.
Q. Is it OK to freewheel on a pushbike, or should you have fixed wheel, and keep pedalling, using pedal pressure to aid braking?