Which Transmission Do You Want?
When you are choosing a car to buy an important thing to consider is what type of transmission you want. Traditionally the choice was between an automatic transmission and a manual transmission. However, recently a third option has come onto the market – CVT, which stands for continuously variable transmission.
What Is Transmission?
Before we dive in…what exactly is a car transmission?
Transmission is the system of gears in your car that transmits power from the engine to your wheels. This is the system that allows your car to move. There are two types of transmission systems in cars, automatic transmissions, and manual transmissions.
What is an Automatic Transmission?
An automatic transmission is a transmission that shifts itself – the driver does not have to perform an action to shift the gears of the car as they do on a manual transmission car. Automatic transmissions are more popular today as they tend to be easier to learn how to drive, and have less wear and tear than their manual counterparts.
There are two types of automatic transmissions, the traditional automatic transmission (ATs), and the continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Related: Evolution of the Transmission
Traditional Automatic Transmission
An automatic transmission automatically changes between these gears as the driver presses the gas pedal and the car moves – freeing the driving from having to shift through different gears.
Automatic gearboxes use gears to match engine speed to road speed. There is a combination of different gear ratios, usually, a total of six (but sometimes as many as nine), that are chosen so that the engine can remain in a range to produce the best amount of torque (turning force).
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
You operate a CVT car the same way you would a normal automatic transmission, although the actual inner workings are much different. CVT relies on a belt and pulley system.
Instead of having gears, there are two pulleys connected by a belt. The engine turns one pulley and the other pulley is connected to the rest of the transmission and powers the wheels of the car.
Related: 2WD, 4WD or AWD?
More about CVT Transmissions
CVT allows the car’s engine to run at the most efficient revolutions per minute for a range of different vehicle speeds. Because of this, CVT transmissions are perfect for when you are trying to ensure maximum fuel efficiency. For instance, Subaru’s are all-wheel-drive cars, and AWD is less fuel efficiency, so they use a CVT to gain back some fuel efficiency. CVTs are largely found in Japanese cars such as Subaru’s, Honda CR-Vs, Nissan Rogues, and Mitsubishis.
AAMCO Colorado – For All Things Transmission
Here at AAMCO Colorado, we love all things transmission, whether you’ve got an automatic transmission or a CVT – we look forward to helping you with anything from your next transmission service to major repair.
Is it time for your next transmission service? Find your local AAMCO Colorado and schedule online today.
View Comments (24)
Loved the article. Wish I could get a thorough crash course in cvt's.
what does it mean when the cvt light is on but lights up as off
Treva,
If your CVT light is on this is a warning that something could be wrong with your transmission or it requires a service. If you are local to Colorado stop by one of 14 Colorado AAMCO Service centers and we can perform a free diagnostic check on your vehicle where we can access any repair needs your vehicle may have. You can also contact one of our mechanics directly by using our Ask A Mechanic feature.
Thanks,
AAMCO Colorado
Thanks for this lovely article, please my Nissan Primera 2003/2004 model, when the temperature is hot on the middle the gear refuse to shift and overdrive will not function and I noticed my Catalyst Converter isn't in place could that be that cause of the car heated too much to affect my CVT? Thanks
Johnbosco,
Unfortunately, we can not diagnose your vehicle without seeing it in one of our service centers. If you are local to Colorado stop by one of 14 Colorado AAMCO Service centers and we can perform a free diagnostic check on your vehicle where we can access any repair needs your vehicle may have. You can also contact one of our mechanics directly by using our Ask A Mechanic feature.
Thanks,
AAMCO Colorado
Do the cars with CVT have the facility to operate in mannual mode also
Baldev,
Each car is different. Unfortunately, we can not diagnose your vehicle without seeing it in one of our service centers. If you are local to Colorado stop by one of 14 Colorado AAMCO Service centers and we can perform a free diagnostic check on your vehicle where we can access any repair needs your vehicle may have. You can also contact one of our mechanics directly by using our Ask A Mechanic feature.
Thanks,
AAMCO Colorado
I am from Africa and my ordered car it has CVT transmission. Could you please advise which Oil is best for it?
Omar,
Thanks for your question! Each car and transmission model could have different oil requirements, we typically suggest going with whatever is recommended in your owners manual as it will have information relevant to your car make and model.
Thanks,
AAMCO Colorado
Sir- I am impressed by your simple explanations of complex engineering subjects. Could you please advise whether CVT transmission (pulley system) has more chances of a breakdown compared to an automatic (gear) transmission system?
Many thanks,
Sundaram
Hello,
Automatics and CVTs have a different design structure, and both are generally dependable. There is a change for either transmission system to breakdown if not properly maintained. If you are worried about your transmission, stop by one of 14 Colorado AAMCO Service centers and we can perform a free diagnostic check on your vehicle where we can access any repair needs your vehicle may have. You can also contact one of our mechanics directly by using our Ask A Mechanic feature.
Thanks,
AAMCO Colorado
Which transmission is more durable on pavement or on off-road driving? Thanks a lot in advance.
Neima,
Typically a manual transmission is going to be your best bet for off-road situations. A manual transmission is better able to handle high torque. Both a CVT and an Automatic transmission can certainly go off-road, but it will not handle as well as a manual transmission in this situation. In terms of overall durability, this will be different depending on the make and model of the car. If you are local to Colorado, our 14 front range locations all offer free seasonal safety checks and our staff would be happy to advise you on if your current vehicle can handle off-road situations after a physical inspection.
Thanks,
AAMCO Colorado
My new Kadjar is a CVT and revs very high and noisily between 0 and 27 mph where it seems to change and quite down . Is this normal? Same happens at higher speeds.
Daniel,
While it is certainly possible your transmission makes more or less noises at different speeds, we really can not say for sure if this is within a normal realm without physically diagnosing your car. If you are local to Colorado stop by one of 14 Colorado AAMCO Service centers and we can perform a free diagnostic check on your vehicle where we can access any repair needs your vehicle may have. You can also contact one of our mechanics directly by using our Ask A Mechanic feature.
Thanks,
AAMCO Colorado
Great content.... I love the way you differentiated on manual, automatic and cvt... I am planning to buy Nissan 2010 Altima with cvt transmission on it. Do you recommend on buying it? Car looks great drives good but my mechanic asked me to stay away from cvt. I am a student in buffalo and would need it to drive in harsh weather conditions. Any suggestion is much appreciated and thanks in advance.
Sandy,
Cold weather can be tough for ANY transmission, and a CVT should perform just as well. We strongly suggest visiting your mechanic with the car for a pre-purchase inspection to identify any issues ahead of time.
Thanks,
AAMCO Colorado
Is it normal for Corolla 2020 LE with CVT engine to vibrate when idling and a/c is on? I was told by the Toyota's mechanic ,that all Corollas 2020 experience some vibrations in front seats, when car is stopped in a Drive gear and on a/c.
Ursula,
All cars will have a different baseline for what is considered normal functioning. However, we can not diagnose your vehicle without seeing it in one of our service centers. If you are local to Colorado stop by one of 14 Colorado AAMCO Service centers and we can perform a free diagnostic check on your vehicle where we can access any repair needs your vehicle may have. You can also contact one of our mechanics directly by using our Ask A Mechanic feature.
Thanks,
AAMCO Colorado