How are the Mazda SKYACTIV transmissions?
- Thread starter SOHCman
- Start date
C&D, Consumer Reports and others seem to like it concerning driving dynamics. Reliability wise I haven’t read anything bad, and I hang out on Mazda forums regularly. I’d take it over a cvt any day!
"A dramatically widened lock-up range improves torque transfer efficiency and realizes a direct driving feel that is equivalent to a manual transmission"
I certainly agree. Mazda's automatics have always had a little of that, but unfortunately some people who have never driven a manual mistake that direct feel to a quirky transmission. In certain situations when decelerating and then accelerating, it has that feel of a manual and can feel weird to someone used to a normal torque converter.
I certainly agree. Mazda's automatics have always had a little of that, but unfortunately some people who have never driven a manual mistake that direct feel to a quirky transmission. In certain situations when decelerating and then accelerating, it has that feel of a manual and can feel weird to someone used to a normal torque converter.
I have an 18 CX-5 with 50k on it and the transmission is excellent all around. The logic does a great job of being in the right gear at the right time. Sport mode keeps upshifts minimal and revs higher- feels like a manual in the way it holds gears. The car is fantastic overall.
We really won't know for sure for at least a few more years
Isn't this just a regular automatic transmission where the lockup torque converter locks up on all the gears instead of just the highest? I can see more torque converter related failures if that is the case.
Isn't this just a regular automatic transmission where the lockup torque converter locks up on all the gears instead of just the highest? I can see more torque converter related failures if that is the case.
It kind of sounds like the same theory that Honda used with their DCT box, with a different execution. Torque converter for takeoff, and then it locks most of the time after that.
Props to Mazda, they really are doing a good job with their cars, wish more people would give them a shot, would like to see them get a little more market.
Props to Mazda, they really are doing a good job with their cars, wish more people would give them a shot, would like to see them get a little more market.
When ford wanted Mazda's 2.5 L motor, they wanted to trade to Mazda their CVT tranny. Mazda told them to keep that CVT and they were sticky with their own automatic. It is a really firm responsive automatic. Mine has 121K on it so far and no issues. Really fine little cars.
I'd give them a shot if they made their cars in the USA, or at least passed along the made in Mexico cost savings to the consumer.
I believe only the CX-30 and Mazda3 are made in Mexico, my fathers CX-5 came from Japan. But they’re building a plant in Alabama with Toyota.
Yeah, for what a Mazda3 costs, you would think that it was made in USA/Canada/Japan.
I'm not impressed. My F-4EAT automatic transmission in my 1995 Escort went 262K, and part of that was commuting into Washington DC.
I can't comment on long term reliability as my 2019 CX 5 with the 2.5L turbo engine only has 8000 miles so far. But I can comment on the driving dynamics. This is my first car with an AT since 1982 and that car was the only one with an AT that I ever owned since 1976. So it has been quite a change since driving manual transmissions for more than 40 years. But Mazda did a very good job with the gear ratios and what is very likely computer controlled variable shift points.Under normal driving conditions it is very smooth with just an occasional "hunting" at very low speeds like it doesn't know whether it should be in 1st or 2nd gear for a moment.
I live in the mountains and occasionally put it in manual mode to use engine braking or a lower gear for pulling up steep inclines. It responds well and I don't miss a manual transmission. I have to agree that Mazda's engineers have been doing an excellent job with their Skyactiv engines and transmissions and I expect long service life out of this vehicle.
I live in the mountains and occasionally put it in manual mode to use engine braking or a lower gear for pulling up steep inclines. It responds well and I don't miss a manual transmission. I have to agree that Mazda's engineers have been doing an excellent job with their Skyactiv engines and transmissions and I expect long service life out of this vehicle.
I was not trying to impress anyone. Just responding to the original post. The AT in my 89 Honda Accord went over 300,000 miles before wearing out, but no one asked about Honda or hybrid Ford/Mazda units from decades ago.
I had one for about 6 years, the reliability was flawless in that time. The feel was really good; I'd dare call it perfect (for an auto) in 2nd to 6th gear. My only (very nit-picky) complaint was that the lockup was so good 2nd and above, that it made 1st gear feel a little slushy from a stop. Very nearly impossible to induce tire spin from a stop on dry ground (probably tuned for longevity), so don't expect it to be a tire roaster. That said, the tranny always did what was expected of it; Manual mode is really good, practically feels like an actual manual transmission above ~15-20mph. Shifts were pretty fast, maybe not the fastest ever, but the tuning and gearing are very good.
It really is the Mazda of automatic transmissions. It won't win any drag races, that isn't it's purpose. Throw it over into manual mode, pick your own gear, and go carve some corners. That's where it feels at home.
It really is the Mazda of automatic transmissions. It won't win any drag races, that isn't it's purpose. Throw it over into manual mode, pick your own gear, and go carve some corners. That's where it feels at home.
I really like how my ‘17 CX5 shifts. It knows which gear it should be in without any input from me. The torque converter locks up very early on and it feels direct. Putting it in Sport Mode is beneficial when going up some of the long and windy hills I have near me. It also downshifts going downhill and approaching stops. I also have the option of manual shifting if I prefer.
If Dodge can cycle their torque converters like they do whenever MDS kicks on or off without grenading themselves, I have faith in Mazda’s torque converters. ZF’s 8HP also locks up almost instantly and they haven’t had any issues.