Toyota has recently just created a CVT with a launch gear (or I just heard about it). Essentially the 1st gear is automatic then the rest is a CVT. It has apparently increased both performance and fuel efficiency when compared to a traditional CVT. Personally I would love to see this in the Crosstrek, even more so than the 2.5 liter they area adding in 2021. I would strongly consider trading my current Crosstrek in; especially for one with the "launch gear" CVT and a 2.5 liter engine. I don't ever see Subaru putting in a traditional Automatic in but this seems like a great option that I for Subaru. What do you guys think the chances of this actually happening are?
The basic function of any transmission system is to achieve transmission efficiency, high-efficiency engine ranges, and highly responsive gear changes. To improve these functions, Toyota has striven to reduce mechanical loss, adopt a wider gear range, and improve shift tracking. These...
I'm sure we'll be seeing more collaboration and sharing of components now that Toyota has increased its stake in Subaru. I've read about that transmission elsewhere and it does seem like the best of both worlds. It still won't please the MT folks, though... 😸
Edit: I meant it DOES seem like the best of both worlds, although we're both very happy with how our Crosstrek launches. The Pedal Commander helps.
I'm sure we'll be seeing more collaboration and sharing of components now that Toyota has increased its stake in Subaru. I've read about transmission elsewhere and it doesn't seem like the best of both worlds. It still won't please the MT folks, though... 😸
I was hoping for a best of both worlds situation. After having manuals for over a decade I miss them but I wanted the Eyesight. As long as they still make manuals the "manualist" should still be happy.
The 2020 Toyota Corolla SE has a traditional fixed first gear coupled with a CVT.
Interesting mixed technology.
I think that my 2020 CT launches from a stop plenty quickly enough.
I'm more worried about the use when "off roading" CVT's are notorious for overheating when going up steep hills and thus cutting the power to the Wheels. A fixed first gear would help with that weakness. I agree that the crosstrek accelerates quickly for the first few seconds when you step on the gas. Almost to quickly as it will jerk you forward when you're trying to do a casual start. I think that is because it reaches it's peak power in the power-band early.
I did enough research & test drives before hand to understand what should and should not be expected from a CVT. Very happy with it so far. The new trans is interesting but I think I'll run my 17 Trek until the wheels fall off. Hopefully by then Toyota/Subaru will have worked the bugs out of the direct shift CVT.
Yep, we have no complaints about the performance. Also, Subaru's CVT has a chain rather than a belt, giving it more of a conventional gearbox feel. Pity about the fake gears, though.
Its necessary. If you were in the max acceleration demand the engine would be forced at running at just under redline for quite a length of time. I don't think engines would hold up in this case. If you decided to be significantly under redline you loose HP. I don't see any choice-do you?
Wouldn't that also be true with no fake gears, though, if you stomped on the pedal and kept it there. I don't see why it can't move smoothly between gear ratios without stepping. That being said, I don't notice it much. During normal driving it seems pretty smooth and I like using the manual mode with the paddles, up in the mountains.
Wouldn't that also be true with no fake gears, though, if you stomped on the pedal and kept it there. I don't see why it can't move smoothly between gear ratios without stepping.
That's a 2-year old article. These CVTs are already on the road if you want to watch online reviews for performance and reliability just search youtube for Toyota Corolla CVT.
Spoiler is that they offer improved performance with less rubber-bandy feel and very snappy artificial downshifts used in manumatic/simulated mode (most arguing its the best feeling CVT yet) but on the flip side have had very poor reliability with many customers already having problems after only one or two years. Their manual by contrast has been perfectly reliable and is generally preferred by reviewers, and is unique in that it is more or less an "assisted manual" which helps to keep you from stalling and rev matches between shifts for you making it an easy-mode manual for novices.
(skip to 20 mins if it doesn't to it automatically)
Yea, the manual is definitely the best performing. I'm hopeful/optimistic that these "new" CVT's they will be able to resolve their reliability issues down the road. That way we can get the best of both worlds.
7. Shift Shock Heavy Acceleration
To impart a sportier feel on certain vehicles equipped with a CVT, under heavier acceleration the transmission control module will simulate specific gear ratios and a feeling of shift shock, similar to using the manual shift controls available on a CVT equipped Subaru.
It was annoying enough to have noise piped into my '16 GTI - fortunately I could disable it and make a custom profile to remember it. It was a 6MT, though, so definitely no artificial shift points there....
Well there is a solution. I personally would prefer a totally shiftless option. If you want a shift use the paddles. A good compromise would just allow a max rpm like maybe 5700 rpm and let it continuously raise the gear ratio (no shifting) from that point and thar rpm... That would probably make the vehicle a bit quicker as you lose time and HP when it shifts down to like 4900 rpm.
No big deal for the XV but for my XT it would be great.
Yep, and since everything is electronic these days it wouldn't be hard to have a shift mode versus continuous mode switch somewhere, like some cars have a sport mode switch.
Just showing what oil and coolant temps looklike on a 75 degree day with ac on a leisurely drive. Coolant left oil right. My XT oil temp runs much higher.
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