What Is a CVT Transmission?

Transmission Cross Section Close-Up

Shopping for a new vehicle gives you a lot of options for prices, trims, engines, and transmissions. You’ll probably see the term CVT as you look over the best car, truck, or SUV for your Dundalk drives. Our experienced service team at Al Packer's White Marsh Ford will explain CVTs to you to help you determine if this type of transmission works best for you in Parkville. Keep reading with our guide as we answer, “What is a CVT transmission?”

 

What Is a CVT Transmission on Vehicles?

“CVT” stands for continuously variable transmission. They’re also known as shiftless transmission, step-less transmission, or pulley transmission. So what is CVT? It’s a type of automatic transmission that replaces fixed-gear ratios for infinitely variable ratios, two pulleys, and an interceding chain or belt. Rather than traditional transmissions, you’ll get more efficient gear shifting.

What is CVT on cars? Commonly, automakers put CVTs in compact, fuel-efficient vehicles rather than high-performance cars or larger vehicles. We encourage you to look at a CVT vehicle if you want to save on gas.

What Is a CVT and How Does It Work?

Regular transmissions power vehicles using a series of different gears. Continuously variable transmissions, on the other hand, don’t have high and low gears to shift between. Instead of gear systems, CVTs use cone-shaped pulleys connected by a belt or chain. The goal is to make the transmission more efficient.

The fixed side of a CVT remains still, while the other side moves according to your speed using a hydraulic cylinder. The cylinder alters the distance between the pulley’s two sides. The belt moves higher or lower depending on your speed. Since this is an automatic transmission due to its intricacies, there are no manual transmissions on a CVT.

What Is a CVT Transmission and Why Is It Popular?

The name of the game is fuel efficiency. Your new vehicle’s engine can operate within the best possible power range without using more fuel than it needs because of the efficiency of changing gears based on your speed.

Do you favor lower repair costs? The second major benefit of a CVT is a simpler design with fewer parts. CVTs don’t have a lot of gears. When your transmission needs service, you might see a more affordable repair bill compared to a conventional transmission.

Find a Ford with a CVT at Al Packer's White Marsh Ford!

Save on fuel costs with a new or used vehicle that has a CVT connected to the powerplant. Contact us or call 443-868-2745 to schedule a test drive with our team. We think you’ll love one of our selections.

 

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9801 Pulaski Highway, Middle River, MD, 21220
Al Packer's White Marsh Ford 39.357537, -076.449087.