A Prius will always be a slug that even a kid on a fixed-gear bike or a bus can outrun(short of strapping a jet engine or rocket on it to make it go faster). But the Camry/Highlander/RAV4 hybrids can haul, seeing the amount of Uber and Lyft drivers having near-misses in SF with street lights and streetcars in those.
Are CVT’s something to stay away from?
- Thread starter dlundblad
- Start date
They're probably not the best choice for every application but most of the cars I've seen them in are basic, often compact or sub-compact cars and CUV's which seems like a good fit in a category where fuel economy is highly valued and high-performance is not expected. In terms of reliability it seems to vary but that's not really a new phenomenon. Manufacturers have made a multitude of garbage transmissions over the years whether they be a regular automatic, dual-clutch, manual, etc.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
And the new 2022 seems to be riddled with more problems at this point than the 2013-2021 CVT equipped models. Mostly with the "new" transmission and driveline according to the innerwebs.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
For sure on the ZF9. Nissan seems to have not been able to figure out the lurching, revving, shifting and reduced power mode issues some owners are suffering. May not be caused by the transmission at all. Lot of odd issues reported on the new model
I hear you. Weird thing with Nissan is we all bash them, but talk to the average shop tech and they'll admit they don't necessarily work on them more than any other make/model.
Or get a CVT that has a separate take-off gear like on the Corolla
If you can afford one, the Lexus LC500h has a 4-speed transmission attached to the CVT, which further expands the ratios
Last edited:
Our Sentra is like that. Has a 2 speed planetary somewhere in there.
It fakes shifts but goes through extremes to hide the actual shift.
in the Bay Area, the Sentra/Altima and Rogue are popular with the gig economy, if they were inherently bad, I would see a line of them waiting for repairs at the dealer or the many “mechanics” around there. Word also spreads quickly amongst Uber/Lyft/Doordash drivers too. But, one well-known Japanese car specialist here ceased supporting them - citing that the local dealer switched from Nissan to being a CJDR dealer and the gig economy.
I rented a Subaru Crosstrek with CVT. While it drove OK, it failed on a long highway hill. Engine rpm climbed up higher and higher, and then the transmission let go. Come to find out, the rental company had a number of these fail.
Had 3 days behind the wheel of an entry-level Hyundai (rental, can't remember model). It took the first 2 days to get used to it, and in reality, I never did. Just kind of a bizarre ride.
Granted, I wouldn't lump this CVT in with other brands
Granted, I wouldn't lump this CVT in with other brands
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
I did go overboard for both our 2016 Nissan quest and the Pathfinder. Both were ex rentals, so 2 CVT fluid spill/fills with an additional not too long after were right after I got them.
Nissan CVTs are terrible, but most other ones aren't too bad at all 
Honda makes an awesome CVT, by far the best IMO. Smooth seamless operation and VERY easy to service, too!
Honda makes an awesome CVT, by far the best IMO. Smooth seamless operation and VERY easy to service, too!
We have 3 Honda CVT's in the family now. I got an Airwave a few months ago...am getting used to it...slowly. The start clutch can judder in early Fit/Jazz CVT...on my Aiwave it is slow and abrupt to engage when cold, no problem when hot.
The Airwave is to replace my gas guzzling Volvo 850 T5....an authoritative luxury powerful car, fun to drive. I recently read a road test on a Jazz/Fit with the L15 VTEC engine same as in the Airwave. The 0 to 100kph time was nearly the same as the Volvo T5 ! The Volvo pushes you into the seat and really hauls...the Honda just makes a noise and seems to do nothing. I drove the Volvo to work yesterday, the Honda today - hmmm, I think they are right, it really does get up and go, you just don't notice it.
The Airwave is to replace my gas guzzling Volvo 850 T5....an authoritative luxury powerful car, fun to drive. I recently read a road test on a Jazz/Fit with the L15 VTEC engine same as in the Airwave. The 0 to 100kph time was nearly the same as the Volvo T5 ! The Volvo pushes you into the seat and really hauls...the Honda just makes a noise and seems to do nothing. I drove the Volvo to work yesterday, the Honda today - hmmm, I think they are right, it really does get up and go, you just don't notice it.
Funny.
I have one with 364,500 miles on mine.
Bought the car with 39,990 miles on it.
Still push the car to 5,000-6,000 rpm daily.
My car runs really really strong even now.
I believe that the motor that it is mated to matters. And how you drive it.
I have always noticed my car runs better being pushed harder.
Just my experience and observation.
I have one with 364,500 miles on mine.
Bought the car with 39,990 miles on it.
Still push the car to 5,000-6,000 rpm daily.
My car runs really really strong even now.
I believe that the motor that it is mated to matters. And how you drive it.
I have always noticed my car runs better being pushed harder.
Just my experience and observation.
Weird, the US/Canadian market Fit never got the CVT - but it’s platform mates the CR-Z and the 2nd generation 2009-2012 Insight got the CVT.
From what I remember driving a 2014 Accord with the “new” CVT(KA24, “Sport” model) and a 2018 CR-V 1.5T, the CVT didn’t make its presence known like in the past. It was pretty unobtrusive and fluid.
Similar threads
