What is a CVT Transmission?

While you shop for your next car, truck, or SUV, you may notice some models sporting the designation CVT. What is CVT, and how does it impact your daily commute around Southborough? Keep reading to find out what a CVT is, how it works, and how it could improve your drives to Marlborough and beyond.

What Is CVT?

  What is a CVT transmission? The acronym CVT stands for continuously variable  transmission, a type of transmission that eschews the traditional set of gears  for a simpler design that provides essentially infinite gear ratios. CVTs are  also known as shiftless transmissions, step-less transmissions, and pulley  transmissions.

  All CVT designs offer smoother Worcester drives and better fuel efficiency than  traditional transmissions. CVTs can be good options for Framingham drivers  looking for maximum fuel efficiency, but they're not able to transfer as much  raw power to the wheels. If you're looking for a more powerful ride, a  traditional transmission is typically the better choice.

Continuously Variable Transmission: Benefits and Drawbacks

  The main benefit of a vehicle equipped with a continuously variable  transmission is increased efficiency. Traditional transmission systems have  fixed breakpoints between gears, which can cause the engine to work harder than  necessary and burn more fuel.

  A CVT's smooth transition from lower to higher gear ratios allows the engine to  maintain the ideal balance of power and efficiency. CVTs are also simpler in  design and contain fewer moving parts, which can reduce overall maintenance  needs.