A method for reducing the energy consumption of a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and at least one electrical consumer, wherein - in a first operating mode, the internal combustion engine is operated with a first injected fuel quantity and with a first ignition timing, - in a second operating mode, the internal combustion engine is operated with a second injected fuel quantity which is higher than the first injected fuel quantity and with a second ignition timing, the second ignition timing being less favourable than the first ignition timing in respect of the performance capability of the internal combustion engine with the second injected fuel quantity, - in a third operating mode, the internal combustion engine is operated with the second injected fuel quantity and substantially with the first ignition timing so that the performance capability of the internal combustion engine in the third operating mode is higher than in the second operating mode, - a driving situation detection device (103, 104 and 105) which is provided in the vehicle detects in advance a particular, substantially imminent driving situation based on the previous behaviour of the driver while steering the vehicle and/or of the vehicle, characterised in that - the electrical consumer is an electrically actuated steering and the particular substantially imminent driving situation is a parking procedure and/or a manoeuvring procedure, - the driving situation detection device (103, 200) detects whether the speed of the vehicle falls below a predetermined threshold value, whether the reverse gear has been engaged and whether the difference between the absolute value of the current steering angle and the absolute value of the steering angle at an earlier time is greater than a predetermined threshold value and - the internal combustion engine is optionally brought into the second operating mode from the first operating mode. - in a first operating mode, the internal combustion engine is operated with a first injected fuel quantity and with a first ignition timing, - in a second operating mode, the internal combustion engine is operated with a second injected fuel quantity which is higher than the first injected fuel quantity and with a second ignition timing, the second ignition timing being less favourable than the first ignition timing in respect of the performance capability of the internal combustion engine with the second injected fuel quantity, - in a third operating mode, the internal combustion engine is operated with the second injected fuel quantity and substantially with the first ignition timing so that the performance capability of the internal combustion engine in the third operating mode is higher than in the second operating mode, - a driving situation detection device (103, 104 and 105) which is provided in the vehicle detects in advance a particular, substantially imminent driving situation based on the previous behaviour of the driver while steering the vehicle and/or of the vehicle, characterised in that - the electrical consumer is an electrically actuated steering and the particular substantially imminent driving situation is a parking procedure and/or a manoeuvring procedure, - the driving situation detection device (103, 200) detects whether the speed of the vehicle falls below a predetermined threshold value, whether the reverse gear has been engaged and whether the difference between the absolute value of the current steering angle and the absolute value of the steering angle at an earlier time is greater than a predetermined threshold value and - the internal combustion engine is optionally brought into the second operating mode from the first operating mode.