Advantages and Disadvantages of CVT Transmission That Every Driver Should Know
CVT or continuously variable transmission is an automatic transmission with a single speed that automatically adjusts the speed ratio according to torque needs while driving. Thus, when you use CVT transmission and want to change gears, the car engine does not jerk at all.
However, every transmission certainly has its own advantages and disadvantages. So, for those of you who are considering using this CVT transmission, let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of CVT transmission to get to know it better.
Disadvantages of CVT Transmission
1. Expensive Maintenance
The first thing to be highlighted about CVT transmission is the cost that drains the driver's wallet. Unlike other conventional transmissions that can be replaced part by part, CVT transmission must be replaced entirely if there is damage to one part.
Replacement from belt to pulley certainly incurs fantastic costs that can reach tens of millions. The replacement cost is certainly much higher compared to repair costs for other transmissions, such as AT transmission.
2. Only Suitable for Light Use Cars
CVT transmission is indeed better used for cars that are only used for daily driving with patient drivers. This means that if you often travel to places with steep terrain and many inclines, CVT transmission is certainly not suitable.
This is because CVT transmission is not designed for cars that frequently carry heavy loads and navigate steep and winding areas with high performance.
3. Limited Torque
Many CVT transmission users have complained that the engine's pull is sluggish because it is difficult to achieve instant speed. This makes it challenging to operate the car optimally in traffic jams because issues can arise with the stop and go pull.
When you are stuck in traffic and try to drive the car at the slowest continuous speed, the car may experience problems and cause unusual vibrations.
4. Limited Service
In addition to the repair costs that must be done as a set, which requires high expenses, service places for vehicles with CVT transmission are also limited. This is because not many workshops are willing and able to repair problematic CVT transmissions.
Advantages of CVT Transmission
1. Smooth Gear Shifting
What deserves a thumbs up from CVT transmission is that the speed ratio shifting is very smooth, so you will not feel surprised when changing gears. The absence of jerks is because CVT transmission does not have a gearbox, making it more comfortable to use.
2. Environmentally Friendly
The power loss of CVT transmission is relatively small, so it does not waste power and fuel excessively. This automatically makes cars with CVT transmission more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly.
3. No Need for High RPM
If in other transmissions the RPM must always be adjusted when changing gears, CVT transmission does not require that. When you want to get a strong pull from the engine, you do not need high RPM as it does not affect the engine.
This also affects fuel consumption as explained earlier.
Those are the advantages and disadvantages of CVT transmission that you can learn more about. For your beloved car, you certainly cannot just experiment with the type of transmission to be used.
Surely, if you drive the car only for daily needs, this transmission is very suitable to use because it can save fuel costs. This is because cars with light usage do not require high performance in terms of power or torque.
Author: Nisa Maulan Shofa
