What is a CVT and Does Your New Car Need One?
When searching for a new car, you want to know everything there is to know. From fuel economy to exterior features and interior amenities, you need to see everything that you’ll get for your money. In this search, you might’ve come across the term “CVT.” But what do those three letters mean? What does that do for the car? Let us delve a little deeper into the world of vehicle mechanics and explain.
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What is a CVT?
CVT stands for Continuously Variable Transmission. Okay, cool. You know what a transmission is, right? Well, if you don’t, it’s somewhat simple to explain. In layman’s terms, the transmission of a vehicle is what helps shift gears so the right amount of power is sent to the tires. That power then determines how efficient the vehicle is and if it can run at all. Similar to a bicycle chain, the gear shifter (which controls the transmission) keeps everything running smoothly. If the chain falls off the bicycle gears, it makes pedaling harder and could prevent you from moving at all. The same principle applies to a vehicle and its transmission.
Different types of transmissions
Alright. Now that you know what a transmission does, let’s go over the different types. The most common is an automatic; these were introduced to vehicles in the early 20th century and became the norm for decades because you don’t have to worry about shifting gears when you’re increasing or decreasing speed. On the contrary, a manual transmission requires you to change gears, well, manually and control the clutch (which is that weird pedal that’s on the far left of some cars). There’s also a DCT, which stands for Dual Clutch Transmission, but we’re not going into that right now. Let’s stay focused!
What are the benefits of a CVT?
Okay… back to the CVT. When it comes to a Continuously Variable Transmission, the main difference is that there are no gears. Instead, a CVT is run by a tube pulley system with steel plates or belts that shift power. Without the physical gears, the vehicle has a smoother flow of power when increasing or decreasing speed.
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What’s in it for you? Well, with a CVT, along with a smoother ride, you’ll notice improved fuel economy because the transmission is able to consistently find that optimal “gear” or shift point. However, some have noted that a CVT is a little bit louder than a traditional automatic because of the belts that are constantly moving. And if you want to manually control shifting in the mountains or snow, you’ll have to get used to paddle shifters that are typically found on the steering wheel or on the shift knob.
This is just a basic explanation of what a Continuously Variable Transmission does. But when you’re searching for a new car, do you really need to know all the physics and mechanical engineering lingo? Yeah, we didn’t think so. Hopefully this will help you make a decision about what type of transmission your next new car needs. If not, well…
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.