Did you know that there are many different types of transmissions available for passenger cars? Anyone who’s driven a car is familiar with the P-R-N-D-L transmission. Although they may appear to be the same on the surface, what that gear lever is connected to, could be quite different. Let us discuss the four different transmission types, their advantages and drawbacks, to help you decided what is the best for your driving style.
The Automatic Transmission: For the most part, this transmission is the smoothest and most familiar. Equipped with a set number of forward gears, acceleration is predictable and linear. The engine will rev up to a certain RPM and then change gears when the vehicle requires more power. Many automatic cars are now equipped with manual modes, allowing the driver to select a gear. We are starting to see a decline in these types of transmissions. The majority of economy cars are being offered with Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) for cost savings. The manufacturers have decided to move away from traditional automatics, and have done so on the basis of added fuel efficiency.
Advantage: We recommend an automatic transmission) for any driver looking for smooth linear power from their vehicle. Today most luxury cars do come with this type of transmission as standard equipment. Automatic transmissions are very reliable and refined.
Disadvantage: There are very few drawbacks to having an automatic car in 2021. Cars with an automatic transmission may be more expensive to purchase than some of their competition. Another drawback is that if they break, they can be costly to repair.
Autos Consultants favorite Automatics:
ZF - 8 Speed found in most modern BMWs, Jaguars, Land Rovers, Alfa Romeo and Audi
Mercedes-Benz 9G Tronic found in most Mercedes-Benz non AMG products
Continuously Variable Transmission: This transmission type is better known by the acronym CVT came to prominence in the last decade or so. Rather than using multiple forward gears like a traditional automatic transmission the CVT uses one big gear that uses pulleys to get the vehicle to accelerate or hold its speed. These transmissions are now being used in most economy cars as well as hybrid models.
Advantages: These transmissions return better fuel economy than an average automatic geared transmission. The acceleration is very smooth, as the vehicle has no power interruptions while accelerating as there is no need for a gear change.
Disadvantage: Under hard acceleration, these transmissions may struggle to extract power from the vehicle's engine. The result is that the transmission will have to hold the car’s RPMs very high in the rev range which will be very noisy for passengers. Quality continues to be an issue for many manufacturers. Nissan is a prime example, having some ongoing reliability issues regarding their CVT.
Autos Consultants favorite CVTs:
Toyota K CVT transmission found in North America in the 2018 Corolla and CH-R and the 2019 Camry and Rav4
Dual Clutch Transmission: These transmissions are geared towards enthusiast drivers and produce exceptionally smooth gear changes even under hard acceleration. These transmissions are equipped with two clutches, giving the vehicle the ability to be in gear, while having the next gear be pre-selected. When it's time for a gear change, it will happen in milliseconds. The technology behind the dual clutch transmission is inspired by the highest levels of motor racing
Advantages: DCT’s are recommended for oriented performance drivers). The gear changes are lightning quick, and give the drivers amazing responsiveness under hard acceleration
Disadvantage: At low speeds, these transmissions may struggle to find the right gear and the low speed crawl or idle in “D” won’t be as smooth as a traditional automatic.
Autos Consultants favorite Dual Clutches:
Porsche PDK found in all modern Porsche vehicles
Audi/VW DSG found in the Golf GTI/R, Audi A3/S3 and many more vehicles from these brands.
The Manual Transmission: These transmissions are the first choice for an automotive
purest and journalists alike. With an increase in automotive autonomous technology, we are seeing less R&D dollars being spent on updating the manual transmission. As a result, every year in North America automakers are offering less and less manual vehicles. While in the past, manual transmissions were the status quo for brands like Honda and BMW, they have become far less prevalent. Driving stick (although cheaper) is no longer the mainstream, it requires skill and there is a learning curve which might intimidate some drivers.
Advantage: Manual transmissions, give the driver an added connection to their vehicle. Someone with a passion for driving will appreciate the extra level of control over the vehicle in a way no automated transmission ever could. It is also a great skill to have if you are interested in driving outside of North America.
Disadvantage: Most people in North America do not know how to operate a manual transmission. This can make it hard to lend out your car to a friend or relative. Another drawback is that the clutch will wear with time). Like your car's brakes on average the clutch will need to be replaced around the 60k mile/ 100k mark.
Autos Consultants favorite Manuals:
Audi: A4/S4/A5/S5 R8 V8
BMW: M3/M4
Honda: Civic Si/ Type R
VW: Golf GTI/R
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