The Advantages and Disadvantages of Continuously Variable Transmissions

Advantages of CVTs

1. CVTs (Continuously Variable Transmissions) are built with fewer parts compared to conventional transmissions, it can decrease the manufacturing cost. This savings is passed along to consumers in a car’s selling price.

2. Acceleration stays in a “sweet spot” to minimize wasted power, thus improving a vehicle’s fuel efficiency.

Disadvantages of CVTs

1. Some of the criticism of CVTs can be attributed to earlier generations of the technology. In contrast with that imperfect technology, the newer CVTs mentioned are more reliable.

2. Some car owners find the steady acceleration, and lack of revv or gear changes to be “boring.”

3. There are also questions about reliability as a vehicle’s adds a lot of miles to the odometer, since it’s costly to have to replace a transmission.

4. Many of the initial savings of buying a car with CVTs is lost with the requirements of transmission fluid changes at regular intervals.