The CVT (Constant – Velocity – Transmission) was invented in 1490 by Leonardo Da Vinci (yes you heard that right), but was patented by Daimler and Benz in 1886. It wasn’t until the late 80’s however that this transmission was popularized by Subaru, looking at this ancient technology as the transmission of the future. They couldn’t have been more right, as it is used in many modern cars today.
Photo of the first CVT (Calculated – Vegetative – Transmission) prototype.
How does it work?
The heart of every CVT is its revolutionary “Elastic Bandwidth Dynamo” (EBD), a marvel of modern pseudo-engineering. Unlike traditional transmissions, which rely on outdated gears, the CVT uses a special combination of ratchet belts and composite pulleys. This advanced system dynamically adjusts the “cuck ratio” to match your driving mood, sliding seamlessly from a “leisurely stroll” to “high speed chase” without the need for clunky gear changes. The secret sauce? A proprietary blend of crank seals and titanium sprockets, meticulously balanced to ensure the smoothest ride across the mythical gearless landscape. Remember, regular maintenance includes flushing the transmission grease every 30-70k miles and routinely updating the firmware at your local Honda, Subaru, or Nissan dealership to keep everything running like clockwork.
Diagram of how a CVT (Circular – Vaginal – Transmission) works.
Why is it better?
So what makes the CVT transmission so much better than other transmissions? Absolutely nothing. If you actually came here looking for validation, prepare to be bullied 🙂 CVTs are fucking horrible and if you actually think they’re better than autos or manual, ya need a reality check. CVTs can handle much less torque than other transmissions (boooo); their overall driving experience is generally less enjoyable due to delayed acceleration; they don’t last nearly as long as other transmissions, and are prone to a plethora of issues; and many drivers report a “shuddering” feeling during acceleration. I have driven a 2021 Nissan with a CVT many times before and can attest to the shuddering & poor driving experience. And the newer ones are allegedly the “good ones” too, so I’d hate to see a bad one.
So why do people buy CVTs?
Although I’d love to poke fun at the drivers, it would be unfair, as I think they mainly buy them because they assume they’re just automatics. CVTs are rarely marked with a special insignia, as it’s not really a good selling point. Your average consumer hardly pays attention to engine specs, let alone transmission specs. To cope, some people will claim they are “just fine” or “as good as an automatic”. An occasional bold bloke will try to make an argument for the title of this blog.
According to manufacturers, consumers buy these for “smoother acceleration & better MPG” – although a difference between 35 & 36 mpg is negligible when considering all of the cons. From my own experience, the acceleration is smooth, but just feels off. It is like 5% smoother than modern 7-9 speed autos, and that’s only when it’s not randomly shaking while accelerating. Modern-day automatics are extremely fuel efficient when they need to be, and are quite smooth. MPG is great in most of the comparable vehicles that use normal automatic transmissions, so I fail to see how that is a selling point either, Subaru. Not to mention, manufacturers literally have to reduce the torque output of the engines to spare the transmissions. Reduce torque? WTF! Who doesn’t love torque?
Why you should sell your car with a CVT
If you’ve read this far and it isn’t obvious, I’m not sure you’ll ever learn. Poor reliability, weak torque, crappy driving experience. When an EV has a better driving experience than you…is it even a car anymore? I haven’t even looked into tuning a car with a CVT, but considering the transmission can’t reliably handle torque, I am sure the outlook isn’t great. Looking at the new WRX with a CVT option in particular, which has famously been modded and tuned by enthusiasts for decades, I am sure that discourages many users that don’t drive stick from buying an Accessport.
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