A system for optimizing power consumption of a vehicle includes a cooling fan, an active grille shutter (AGS) system, and a plurality of heat exchangers. At least one controller is provided including a processor including computer-executable instructions for selecting a pairing of a cooling fan speed and AGS system position to provide a required airflow to a dominant one of the plurality of heat exchangers, or to an entire vehicle component system, at a minimum total combined cooling fan and AGS system power consumption. Methods for optimizing vehicle power consumption are described utilizing the system.