Are CVTs Bad? Why Mazda Avoids CVT Transmissions
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- Опубліковано 20 вер 2024
- Why Mazda Only Sells Manual and Automatic Transmissions
Are CVTs bad transmissions? Why don't people like CVTs?
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Mazda continually develops clever engineering solutions to their cars.
What many companies might call old technology, Mazda finds a way to reinvent and improve in as many ways as possible. The Nissan Rogue, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, and Toyota Rav4 Hybrid all use CVT transmissions. If everyone in the segment is doing it, surely there's a reason, right? Mazda has their own plan, with uniquely developed automatic and manual transmissions for their lineup. This video will focus on Mazda's automatic transmission style, a 6 speed planetary box with a torque converter, but also some very clever implementations to improve efficiency and driver feel. Zoom zoom or whatever.
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My S2000 is for sale for anyone interested! No reserve, 20% to charity. Happy bidding!
bringatrailer.com/listing/2002-honda-s2000-48/
What do you want for? The yellow one
Jason this is the deal of a life time I am willing to give you 20 count them 20 dolla dolla bills yall for the car hit me up.
I let a Datsun 2000 roadster and a Honda S2000 get away from me years ago due to indecision on my part, something that I much regretted later. Make sure that you really want/have to do this.
Wow and only FIVE owners !
Oh no s2000 owners have such a bad rep in my opinion. No wonder you got the gas use at idle wrong.
"If you wanna have fun you should get a car not crossover."
You've just roasted millions of people and their vehicles mate.
I like it, well done.
"But how will I fit my plywood sheets in the back?!" Who are these people that need so much plywood?! Rent a uhaul for the day, it's literally $20 plus fuel haha.
@@EngineeringExplained Or just ask a friend for a crossover, everyone has a friend with one nowadays 😂
@@EngineeringExplained Especially since usual cars most of the time have better gas mileage. Just... *facepalm*
That said, I can understand if someone does use that much storage frequently (like instruments for doing electric wiring, camping, biking or just wheelchairs for babies, dunno how they are called in english).
Crossovers are a waste of effort, they're for people that have the same lack of identity and ability that crossovers do. Buy a car, a real SUV, or a Forestor make up your mind instead of buying something that's bad at everything.
@@EngineeringExplained not offended because I totally get what you're saying, but my Crosstrek 6MT is super fun. And it is slooooow with a manual that leaves something to be desired. Fun comes in many different packages, and capability in poor driving conditions is one! Love the channel, thanks for the great content!
Transmission goals: low maintenance, durability, efficiency.
Sounds like 3 pedals to me. :)
Engineering Explained approved.
I love my Honda Accord 5 speed automatic with torque converter.
The car is 7 years old but I bought it with 3 year unlimited warranty, Honda has a lot trust in their products, no other company would do this.
Before this Honda I drove a Toyota hybrid with CVT and I hated it.
That’s manual for me
Just avoid the Nissan CVT and you'll be all right
This is why I like mazda. They always do things a little differently. It's rare to see a company of that size still willing to try different things. Super cool!
@japcrap Have you actually compared gas mileage ratings between Mazda and competing equivalents ? In reality, Mazda significantly lags behind in this regard (along with Kia/Hyundai). Otherwise, I'd seriously consider buying one.
@@jazz_addict7079 I've been driving 2.0 petrol Mazda 3 over the last 2 years. Average mpg over 30k miles is 50.4. Admit I'm an edge case with a lot of roads that are at the sweet spot of 50mph. However I can easily maintain 45mpg at 70mph cruising or around urban roads. To me that appears class leading - most competing brands do not seem to be able to achieve either their on-paper mpg or performance figures.
@@RadX666 My mistake-- I shouldn't have repeated any blanket statements I'd read about Mazdas and I don't doubt the accuracy of what you report. However, in terms of the class of vehicle I need, the Mazda CX-5 does, along with Kia/Hyundai, lag behind many of its competitors.
Are u sure?im using mazda, amd im getting better gas mileage than cvt equivalent from other brands say toyota n honda.
Yup. They even made the Rotary Engine Research Department after embracing the german invention. They wanna be different.
"Cars made for car journalists" XD
That's a brilliant way of putting it :P
I didn't realize this until he said it. Its completely true. I know someone that has a dual-clutch transmission. He liked it, at first. But then maintenance and the annoyances of the shifting got to him. I also know a few people that bought cars with CVTs, one doesn't care, the other loves the fuel economy (won't shut up about it in fact). Yet the only people that I know that buy Mazdas know zip about transmissions, engines or anything else. So yeah, it seems like they build cars for journalists and people that buy cars based on that.
Works for them I suppose.
Not just car journalists, but also UA-cam car review channel subscribers.
James May said this 1000 years ago, also about related Nurburgring.
I disagree. I think theyre made for driving enthusiasts.
@@RobbieFitzgerald People always say this but I've never understood why. The majority of their cars, especially newer ones, are boring and plain. They have a sporty image which is held up entirely by the miata as far as I can tell
Most of "those" people don't even know they have CVT
True, i had friends bought cvt and dsg and they think its automatic. Anything thats not manual its automatic.
That's partly because manufacturers and sales people don't like to use the word CVT. They tell the customer that it's an automatic.
@@jumhig Isn't an automatically controlled CVT still an "automatic" ?
@@1Slamalama1 It's still an automatic. You're not shifting gear ratios manually.
@@zo1dberg there's no gear ratios to shift
I know Jason's not driving hard, but still have so much respect for him to be able to explain complex engineering stuff while driving at the same time!
I marvel at his ability to talk coherently and drive at the same time.
Seemed like he did that all in one continuous take. While driving. Phenomenal!
dudes just built different and his content is a cut above whats on YT for good reason too.
To be fair, most buyers of this segment probably don't even know what a CVT is
Cars are getting quieter and quieter these days and DCTs and ATs are getting smoother. The differences in their working are not easily distinguishable anymore.
😂😂😂
BUYERS?
fried rice true!!!!
@@RealNameNeverUsed But the less moving parts the less likely catastrophic failure results and the less overall cost for a rebuild... DCT's are way over engineered junk IMHO and At's are getting smoother due to better engineering. BUT a CVT will always beat a AT in efficiency in shifting. Not to mention CVT are almost 20+ years old just fairly new to the American market :P
That engine has cup holders!!!
Haha, "drink warmers."
Hahaha i lol'd
Wyvernzombie - This joke is at least 5-years-old by now...
@@tcroft2165 Mazda = Cars and Coffee
You need somewhere to put your beer when working on the car.
Mazda is so much better without ford involved.
Anyone is better without Ford involved.
And Ford got worst when they let go of Mazda.
I know a Ford fanboy who is convinced that Mazda stole Ford tech....I guess pride makes people lie to themselves.
@@jerryp2433 ikr the ford st would of not existed if it wasn't for the mazda speed 3 they literally have the same block and slightly different internals
@@jerryp2433 ford makes mazdas engines, mitsubishi used to make them for mazda in the early 2000s
It's got cup holders in the engine cover to keep your coffee warm. Pretty clever Mazda.
Zoom zoom thinking from Mazda and you guys.
There are cook books for using your engine compartment as an oven while driving.
I was hoping somebody was actually thinking the same thing as me!
Oh dear. I thought those were for soup.
I actually do warm my coffee from my engine.
You forget 1 more transmission goal...RELIABILITY
Yes. 1. How long before a failure. 2. How much to repair.
You're right. Apparently this is not an engineer's goal anymore. A few years ago transmissions used to last up to 150 to 200 thousand miles without any issues and now you'll be happy if it last over 100 thousand miles with the CVT transmissions in it. Nissan has one of the worst CVT transmissions out there and the company that makes there transmissions is also selling it to Honda, Subaru, BMW and and few other companies that I can't think of right now.
@@mannu79 Jatco sell their crappy CVT;s to Nissan & Mitsubishi.
Honda make their own, and I don't recall any BMW'S using CVT's.
How often do you see a Nissian Cube still on the road? They've only been out of production for 5 years.
@@arisavvides1970 I'm sorry you're right Honda makes your own but they do make it for other companies also BMW is one of them and I believe Subaru is another one.
Big time respect for Mazda, refuse to dip into CVT’s and never made a hybrid. Instead went with the skyactiv route with totally re-engineer’d the whole car, made it lighter and stronger. And went with the super high compression gas engine.....good going IMHO
Mazda has CVTs and a hybrid Mazda 3. Just not sold in the usa.
The Mazda Axela has a cvt engine.
And the Mazda 3 hybrid has a cvt transmission also
Slim Thug >>Ah, good to know, thanks for the info
Slim Thug It’s smart they don’t sell them here in the U.S. Considering how the roads and drivers here are compared to other countries.
@@slimthug660 Mazda 3 is sold in the USA, it's just rebadged as the Scion iA/ Toyota Yaris
@@LordOfSilense The Mazda 3 was always sold in the USA, just not the hybrid version. The Scion iA is a weird version of the Mazda 2.
My 2017 Mazda6 is the best overall car I've ever owned, and I've owned a LOT of cars! Mazda just gets it, and the day they finalized their divorce from Ford is the best thing to ever happen to that wonderful little company.
J. Clark yes. Ford was destroying mazda reputation
Also got a "6"! 100.000 miles without any issue! Volkswagen..., never again!!!
I'm new to the Mazda consumer club, but so far I'm liking it. I've historically been a Nissan and Ford man, so going with Mazda was a "big step". Time will tell!
Have you ever had a Toyota doe? Lol
Mazda is like Morgan. Small but does things right.
I'm a Honda guy and in 2014 I was going to buy an Accord. Hated the CVT and bought a Mazda 6. 100,000 miles later I've been very happy with my decision. I will not buy a CVT.
The 2016 and up Civic is nearly 2000s and earlier Accord sized and comes with a stick in nearly every trim. That’s what I bought.
Hondas are disappointing me with only the civic being the only car that has potential tuning, and even thats a cvt. Hopefully they bring their old golden cars back with manuals
Why do you think a cvt is wrong
@@pilerks1 I question their durability and reliability. Some manufacturers are having problems with them
How is the newer model 6 holding up? Any issues? The cylinder shut-off feature scares me. Other than that, I love the way they look! I have a Mazdaspeed6, tons of problems, but that's an entirely different car..
Mazda is what you get when you want a bit of Germaness in your ultra reliable Japanese car.
Mazda = VW's that work properly
@@MaestroTJS facts
Mazda = Poor man's BMW
You can even abbreviate certain Mazda models to piss off bimmer fanboys:
M3 (Mazda3)
'X5 (CX-5)
@@vangrindz8650 Or you could call it a 3 series.
@@vangrindz8650 Reminds me when BMW couldn't call their M-power-ed X5 the MX5, because copyright 😉
"Why Mazda Avoids CVT Transmissions"? because Mazda is a cool car company and CVT Transmissions aren't cool.
Dee T ....Lexus LC 500h uses a CVT transmission and it’s a much cooler car than any Mazda can develop. It’s not about the CVT it’s about the quality of the CVT transmission that car manufacturers use.
The majority of drivers just want to get from point A to point B, they don’t care about the driving experience.
Smoke Stack Idk man...mazda produced rotary cars. and still use rotaries in some race cars.. Lexus is just toyota with leather seats
@@smokestack9795 LC 500>h< eCVT
@@chrismccarthy284 except for the LFA
@@smokestack9795 Given the money I'm pretty sure Mazda could make a Lexus LC type car, however with their current financial standing they can't. you are right tho, the Lc500h is a very cool car, but, the V8 equipped version is cooler and it uses a traditional Automatic. 😎
Its 12.a.m. here, I'm sick, have exams tomorrow first thing in the morning and I'm watching Engineering Explained. I have no regrets.
F
Hope 1 day u will become a car engineer 👍😂
I purchased a 2020 Mazda CX-5 a couple months ago. I test drove a lot of CUV's and the Mazda was definitely the most fun to drive. One of the main things I was trying to avoid was a CVT transmission. They might be efficient, but I find when you want power for whatever reason they are slow to react. The engine revs high and not much happens for a few seconds until it finally realizes you want to accelerate.
Toyota/lexus hybrids have an eCVT and they dont have any issues that have been widely reported. They run just fine.
Love my new 2018 Mazda 6 Signature. It's exactly what you said. When I hit 75% throttle, it doesn't need to downshift, the turbo spools and it just sets you back. Love that approach!
Zoom Zoom. Don't ever stop Mazda and become boring like the rest.
Then it would be zoOOOOOOOOOOOOOom
That came and past a long time ago
Indeed. For now, they are a lot of things, but definitely not boring. Inspiring!
@@duncansebastian No, that's what I was saying. Mazda lost it's charm and soul a long time ago. They still manage to ride on a sporty image which I don't understand
I have yet to see one mazda that zooms , 0 to 100 km,s in 4 seconds is not what any mazda does.. zoom zoom .. not ..
An auto journalist once coined it "Continuously Annoying Transmission".
I bought a beautiful red Mazda CX5 for my wife minus the turbo and when you put it in the sport mode it scoots along just fine and makes it fun to drive. My wife is 62 years old but she puts a lot of miles on her cars every year so no need for the turbo. The interior is very nice vs the other crossovers and the drivers seat gives me plenty of room for my 6 ft -195lb frame when ever I drive it. The Honda seat was very cramped. Always been a Honda car and Toyota truck owner but the Mazda CX5 won me and my wife over this time around.
I love CVT in theory. But after having 2 die on me, I'll stick with my 5 speed.
I've had a Nissan CVT that failed in a short amount of time, so I bought another one thinking it's just that one transmission was bad. Boy was I wrong. New one broke even faster than the last. Will never buy another Nissan/ CVT after that experience
@@captainobvious5378 just don't buy Nissan. Their CVT problems are common.
Clutch pedal for the win
@@captainobvious5378 I would honestly love to get a Nissan Maxima/Altima with a 3.5. I really like the looks inside and out. But won't ever buy one with a CVT. I've been looking into Inifiniti though. A lot of those come with Auto's and not CVT's.
@@Summit900 just don't get Nissan at all anymore. Not until they break partnership with Renault. It's French. It's bad.
Thank you for avoiding the CVT MAZDA !!
They embraced the plastic engine.. not sure that will last..
Same with Hyundai and Kia as well. Nissan and Subaru's CVTs are horrible, avoid them like the plague.
@@aitorbleda8267 No they didnt
@@aitorbleda8267 Their engines are not plastic. There are pieces of plastic heatshielding shroud on top of the engine. It is a simple five second job to remove to service the engine, and then again to replace.
Aitor Bleda they the air box and the top cover is plastic, but once those are out, it’s almost all metal. Changed my Mazda3 engine and transmission fluids last week and looked pretty good underneath the cover
Sounds like you're saying "twerk converter"...
I mean.....
The CX5 is a top seller in it's class in Australia.
Ceei Axe Faiyve
@@geethsan1567 read that in Hugh Jackman's voice
Streuth!
Australians love Mazda based on my observation.
A favourite among the middle aged crowd.
5:54 cup holders under the hood. I need that!
@Luis Velez they like it warm
Well, you should be able to use otherwise waisted engine heat.
lol thats the oil dipstick and fill port
The way that you are able to talk on and on without actually rambling or repeating yourself is so impressive man ❤️ I love your videos
I like to party.
CVT's aren't good for partying.
LOL
I've had no issues partying with my CVT. It's inherent speed and precision makes them better than traditional automatics. However, manuals will always be the party animal.
While I would not buy that car for myself, we used Toyota Yaris Hybrids with CVT:s at work (security stuff).
They were definitely not for partying, but for a work car they were absolutely brilliant. They were super effortless, easy and comfortable to use and never ever broke down. Sure, we went trough one car in 6 months but still.
@@Xmvw2X sure, you can party with a cvt ... You could also party in a retirement community.
@@gmiami2059 They're fine for stock cars and are reliable enough.
Problems come when people start to push more power into them
When the belt goes in that cvt, who ever owns it will know the meaning of the word "expensive" intimately.
I did with my Nissan Maxima 😂😤
@@davidblommer8304 yeah Nissan doesn't have a very good reliability record with their CVT transmission, and they put it everywhere
5:46 it's very cool that Mazda thinks about the car enthusiasts and mechanics and provides some cup holders on the engine cover! Thumbs up for that!
That's for pouring oil into the engine. Hope someone doesn't pour coffee into the engine.
@@darshan.sk37 or forgets to screw the oil cap on.... I've had it happen and then a ton of smoke came pouring from the hood due to the engine burning the oil
By getting rid of CVTs, Mazda is making a shot at reliability. As someone who works in the transmission industry, CVTs don't last long at all and they cannot be rebuilt.
Also, can you look at the Fiat 500 transmission? If I read the info right, the automatic and manual are almost 95% similar, with lots of interchangeable parts
Euphoria.10 toyota has been using cvts since the early 2000’s. Plus there’s a difference between the cvt in their hybrids and nissans cvt
Can you elaborate on "CVTs don't last long at all and they cannot be rebuilt"?
@@listtamaru How long they last depends on the driver, but generally you can expect 100k. And there's no parts sold for them, because they habe no OEM support, whereas an automatic has multiple manufacturers per part such as Raybestos, Alto, etc.
@@user-oq3lv6lv7x
True. Toyotas build their own CVTs, as where Nissans have theirs built by a Japanese company called Jatco(Which have been really bad in terms of reliability).
Alex jatco is Nissan lol. Nissan builds their own transmissions. It’s like Aisin and Toyota
Another advantage of a torque converter that spends more time locked up, locks up more frequently ect. is that the transmission fluid will stay cooler, and the life of the transmission fluid will increase. One of the biggest wearing aspects onto transmission fluid is the shearing and heat load caused by the torque converter, especially in the vortex flow portion of its operation.
Love the videos man! thanks for the good work and i think it's time i subscribed :)
Makes sense, but I heard these transmissions are kind of hard on the fluid, reliable, but just kind of beat up on the fluid
Mazda makes amazing planetary automatic transmissions. It is easily the best part of my own Mazda. 10/10 would recommend a Mazda automatic transmission for anyone that enjoys driving, but doesn't want the faff of a manual.
I find my 2018 mazda 3 in normal mode is not as quick to downshift as I would like. I come from bigger v6/v8 American engines with like 4 gears and they didn't require me to stomp the throttle coming out of a corner to get meaningful power.
I do get very good mileage though, average of 31.7 over the last year and 10k miles, so at least there's that.
If you want to get on it and pop it in sport mode it's a pretty spritely power train.
"faff of a manual"
...
faff of a manual...?
...
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNAAANIIII
@@EmmaCross94 Bruh. Communting in heavy traffic with a stick sucks. I've done it a lot. Nothing is worse than getting off of work tired and beat to sit in traffic and have an aching left foot.
@@nooranik21 fair
nooranik21 369,000 miles in my manual Integra GSR. Never going automatic if I can help it. But our cx5 auto isn't bad.
As a gen 1 CX5 owner. The Mazda Cx5's are the best for people who love to drive. I bought mine basically from the driving experience as I was older and needed something with space as all I had before was an integra and an RSX. Plus living in Canada means having AWD is very useful. So it drives amazing, feels great, I've had my fair share of driving it at its limits on multiple different occasions and handles pretty amazing. Honestly don't regret the decision looking back at what I was interested in. Gen 1's are like a Miata in SUV form.
Edme an suv gives you higher ground clearance, AWD, a bit more space and it’s short so it doesn’t take too much space so it is clearly more practical. The center or gravity is higher but they are a bit wider so with hard suspension they can take the corners fairly well.
Something you Americans never heard of. Mazda made their Generation 2 Mazda3 (2007-2014, known as Axela for JDM) 1.5S model with a CVT with a simulated manual 7 speed shift on sport mode. It was available in Japan, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong.
Thank you for always correctly saying "RPM" and not "RPM's"!
Drives me crazy when UA-camrs do this...
I prefer the technical term “rippems”. Also horsepowers and torques.
RPMs, the word 'Revolutions' is in plural. Have you ever said 'CD' meaning more than one?
Mafioso Italiano, RPMs would be saying “Revolutions Per Minutes”. The correct term is RPM for “Revolutions Per Minute” , singular.
I will agree with the correct use of the terminology.
My biggest concern with CVTs is reliability. I'm one of what is apparently the super rare people that buys a car to drive it till it dies, and transmission repairs are expensive. If they can prove to be reliable for 300K + miles then I'd be more on board with them
Good friend of mine has a Murano with 200k on the original transmission. Of course, one data point doesn't tell the full story (just like one CVT failing at 40k miles doesn't tell the full story).
My 2009 murano has over 150 000 miles on the original transmission. Zero issues.
@@EngineeringExplained Is it the convertible? lol
Toyota and Honda have good reliability in theirs
Nathan Anderson Most people dont change their fluids like they should. People think they only need to pay attention to tires, brakes, engine oil/brake fluid and thats about it. Of course its not going to last long doing that...
I just bought a CX-5 a month ago. I was on the fence between that and a Subaru Forester. One of the factors in my decision making was my reluctance to get a car with a CVT.
Good call - I got a letter from Subaru giving me an extended warranty for the CVT on my 2018 Forester to 100K. Sounds good to get an extended warranty, but in reality it means they are having trouble and dealing with complaints.
@@va4vi579 Thanks, I appreciate that data point. I heard mixed feedback on CVTs. Some said they had no problems, and that Subaru CVTs were fine, unlike some other makes. But the overall negative input made me sufficiently wary. Plus, Mazda was offering great financing on the CX-5.
@@vikramgupta2326 CVT'S are made by JATCO, subsidiary of Nisson (they also make for subaru, honda, etc EXCEPT Toyota)
TOYOTA MAKES THEIR OWN. and we all know the problems Nisson has w/CVT's
@@schinianelli5547 Actually Honda designs and builds their own CVTs in house.
@Ricky rocky why did you think they aren't??
"If you want to have fun, you should get a car. Not a crossover." - Engineering Explained
Rip eclipse.
Preach!
Or a MX-5
Yep...from my razer 2
Want to have MORE fun, you should get a SPORTS car, not a car.
Owned Honda's for the past two decades. Just traded in my 2017 Accord for a Mazda 6 GTS and I'm not looking back. CVT was a big reason.
CVT: (continuous various troubles)
Severely underrated comment
CBT
There's a lot of Toyota hybrids with CVTs that just seem to work.
Smooth drive and very responsive, I'd have another or manual gearbox, never an automatic.
@@RobBCactive That's because Toyota hybrid are using form of planetary gear CVT which is rock solid and well proven. The Subaru , Honda and Nissan , Audi are all belt and pulley so sooner or later something will go wrong and break. I traded in my 2013 Accord due to horrible symptoms of Cvt for Mazda 6 because i wasn't going to pay 10k for new cvt in future because warranty was already over. 110k miles on my 6 and no issues at all. No more Cvts for me.
Love my CX-5 & MX-5 and everything Mazda does. Was just in a rental car for a week while on vacation, it was a Nissan with a CVT... Felt absolutely horrible to drive and sounded even worse.
Love my 19 mx-5 as well. My mom has a cx-5. Sadly regular folks don't appreciate Mazda
@@terryhsiao1745 yup, I am fairly new to the brand (was a VW guy before). I had no idea how unique they were, how well balanced they drove, and all the innovations they're still doing in the ICE space. Loved my CX-5 so much I ended up buying an NC Miata a few months later.
@@lukerinderknecht2982 do a track day. It will change your life .. love the ND on the track
@@terryhsiao1745 yeah I need to. I joined a local Miata club, we get a good track deal but haven't had time yet this summer to take it out!
@@lukerinderknecht2982 enjoy have a great life
You need to know one fact - NOBODY can fix a CVT transmission so when you have a problem it must be replaced AT YOUR COST. I will never buy a vehicle with a CVT.
neil rich I learned the hard way with my 2008 Altima. Never again!!!!
Courtney Barnes you can’t compare the CVTs from the last few years to the nightmare Nissan created 10 years ago. I’m convinced most Nissan owners hate CVTs because they are scarred by past experiences. Things are very different now.
@@angelomanzi9272 Yeah right....
Last fall I test drove a 2019 Kia Forte with a CVT (they call it an IVT; it's still a CVT no matter how you slice it), and it didn't feel any different. But I decided to save myself a lot of potential headaches (possible breakdowns and costly repairs) and passed on it. IMO, the jury is still out as far as the reliability of CVT's is concerned. It's still too soon to tell if they will be reliable in the long term.
@@angelomanzi9272 I have a Forester XT with a CVT and it is EXCELLENT. Probably still difficult to repair and expensive to replace, but I have no qualms with it as far as the driving experience goes.
Lot of people not even know what is a cvt, they just go and buy the car that they like having in consideration reputation of the brand (that can change real quick, for example: integration of CVT....) , fuel economy, budget, etc. The fact that still there is a high number in sales of vehicles equipped with CVT, in my opinion, it is not due to the people understand the implications of having a cvt in their car from the stand point of reliability and proper maintenance. Once people start experiencing trouble with cvt's those numbers can start to change, unless the manufacturers start to improve them. Thank you Jason like always for your great job and professionalism.
I’m almost at 237,000 miles on my 2011 Mazda CX-7 2.5Liter I-Sport model. I’ve been quite happy with overall reliability. I purchased it as a certified Mazda back in 2013 with 30,000 miles. Hoping to reach 300K before I decide to sell it.
Only non scheduled repairs have been issues with the AC system($1200). Also had to replace broken power window gears($10).
Finally got Mazda to replace recalled Takata air bag. Mazda Dealer only found a worn out motor mount and no other issues.
My 5 speed Auto trans is starting to get a little noisy on cold days.
Great video!! That was very interesting on learning specifically how a Mazda transmission operates. Knowing the efficiency and reliability of a transmission is a huge selling point for those of us whom hate the disconnected feel of the simulated shifts of CVT. It would be awesome to see you do the same type of video explaining specifically how the design of the Honda automatic 10 speed transmission operates. Thank you for sharing all your engineering fun facts!!
ValJune I am a rideshare driver and my 2016 CVT Toyota Corolla LE has 161000 miles, no issues at all 🤷♂️👀 Proper maintenance is the key. For Corolla, you need to change the transmission fluid every 60000 miles. You also need to change the filter and clean the three magnets. “DNY automotive “channel shows the proper way to change the trans fluid.
The satisfaction of feeling and hearing the shifting action is the key reason why Mazda prefers torque converter.
The line about Mazda making cars for journalists was spot on. Although im unsure if that’s truly a bad thing in the end, or not. I do love this company to death. Their cars have never failed me. Even with daily abuse.
Clearly you haven't driven RX-8...)
@@spakeschannel Mazda's auto trans are typically their weakest features. Rotary engines will run long as hell but people dont know how to take care of them because they arent regular engines. It could be as simple as not putting premium fuel in
@@professorweedington4962 Wait, really? That sounds weird (but interesting). Still, can't understand a logic behind non-car person's ming buying rotary (which itself should cause caution) with auto transmission (I mean, why?)...
Spakes i have! If taken care of properly and not treated like a piston engine, they will last.
Hi Jason. Big fan, thanks for all the hard work. I believe that a lot of people have no clue about a CVT
I know South Africa is nothing compared to the rest of the world in car sales. But here is something that's supports your statement, Honda sales are down but Mazda is doing well with their SkyActiv tech vehicles. People only buy Toyota because of socalled reliability but Mazda is giving them something to think about nowadays. Awesome explanation. Thanks from South Africa 🇿🇦
A lot of companies started investing in CVTs thinking they were the future and now most of these companies use CVTs because they are so invested in it they can't stop. A regular torque converter automatic can be both more reliable and more efficient if done right.
Great comment!
While the CVT in my car isn't my favorite I will admit that it is buttery smooth and fantastic on long drives. For a daily driver a CVT is fine (especially if you do your maintenance) but for spirited driving there are better options.
Agreed, my gf's car (Toyota) has one mated to a thunderous 1.2L engine, and while unexciting, it's smooth and damn economical
Maintenance is paramount for CVT reliability. I do annual fluid changes regardless of the miles travelled. 160,000 trouble free miles from my Nissan Rogue.
If you are the first owner, make sure you get rid of that POS when the powertrain warranty expires. Otherwise you're sitting on a ticking timebomb.
You've been warned.
I have the civic with a CVT and while it's fine most of the time, the jumping and lurching at low speeds has me looking at new cars.
Especially Honda's new CVT.
Apple's founder's advertising slogan was "Think Different". i have owned Mazda then for 25 years and I am glad that they didn't go CVT. When Ford made their transmissions they were crap. Now they are made in Japan. Although they now share a factory in the USA with Toyota they have announced just recently, Early CVT's from Nissan , Honda and others were disasters and cost thousands to replace. Things probably improved but I wanted something that would last. The Turbo is not necessary and just would require maintenance sooner rather than latter. I like your detailed explanations.
Happy owner of a CX-5 here. I don't have the turbocharged variant (just the 2.0L PRO model), but I can say, yes, this is an immensely enjoyable car to drive. Thanks for explaining the quirks of the transmission, as I do notice how shifting is almost imperceptible, but I have always wondered why the car seems to want to force itself on 2nd gear when going up a steep incline. If I enter the incline without enough momentum, it tends to try and remain on the higher gear instead of shifting down. This is perhaps the only instance I've ever had to jump in and help the car out by shifting down, but is this perhaps a result of what you were explaining regarding Mazda wanting high torque? Thanks again, I'm new to your channel, but I'm loving all the content you share.
I'm going to propose a relationship between the prevalance of automatic transmissions in general and accidents resulting from poor driving. I believe that shifting a manual transmission increases engagement with the process of driving, making the driver more attentive, reducing wrecks.Of course they also last longer and are less expensive to repair or replace when problems occur, important considerations that are set aside in the pursuit of driving laziness.
I bought my Third Generation Mazda 3 precisely because it didnt have a CVT.
Me too and my cx5 had a transmission failure at 30,000kms!
thats the same thing im gonna do im saving to get a cx 5 and a cx3 ... simply because they dont use cvt
cvt probably the most garbage transmission ever on the road
id go mazda all day
Mazda yet again is proving it is the Japanese underdog. I
Mazda is a cool underrated company.
I actually prefer the smooth feel of a CVT and it gives better acceleration and fuel economy. The only concern is poor reliability.
My cx7 turbo was terrible. My 6 is great. The 3 is excellent. The 2.5 n a three is a great quick car. Fast as an is250.
I have a Civic CVT, Jeep TJ Manual and F150 auto. Like 'em all. Did not see any complaints on the Honda CVTs and would have bought the Corolla if it had some power. I love the Civic CVT with the turbo 1.5. Pulls real nicely for an econobox and on 40 minute country road drives I get just over 50 MPG (4.7l / 100Km)
I got a very different experience with a Mitsubishi RVR that I drove for a month last Spring. The thing was sluggish as hell, the RPM you always go way up every time I put my feet on the gas but the thing would barely accelerate. It convinced me to never buy a CVT.
What model are you referring to?
Transmission type and reliability aren't really correlated. It has more to do with build quality, engineering and proper maintenance. Any type of transmission can be junk and any type can go over 200k.
I had a Subaru Impreza premium 5 door with CVT for five years. It was a fine car. The handling and brakes were good. And I live in the mountains and daily drive extremely steep windy roads. The car handled everything very competently and well. And delivered an average of 34 miles per gallon for 140 thousand miles. I'm saying this to lay the groundwork. I have had a CVT car as a daily driver.
The biggest weakness of the car was lack of power, and although the transmission always worked, it often seemed to work against me when having to pass or in very power demanding situations like steep hills. The RPMs and power would wander and was relatively unresponsive. It never failed to hold, but it was a source of anxiety. When I sold the car there was a good dog box-type whine coming from it so it was time in my view to get rid of it.
To replace it I bought a 2021 Mazda 3 Turbo with a 6-speed automatic transmission. And it is completely night and day with the feeling of the car. Obviously it makes a lot more horsepower, but the biggest factor is I can actually put it into gear and have a better understanding of what the car is going to do.
I loved my little Subaru. If they had made a turbo 5 door version with a real automatic or manual transmission, I probably would still have the car or I would have bought another one. But Subaru's refusal to bring a turbo 5-door back to the United States made my decision.
And the Mazda is a complete Revelation. I've never had a Mazda before, and now I wonder why I haven't.
I suppose if you live in someplace relatively flat, then the CVT would not be terrible. But when you live in a place that has very significant hills I would not recommend it. What little you give up in efficiency is more than made up for in my view in reliability and predictability.
I forgot to mention something that was a real cause of concern for the CBT with the Subaru, besides the slowly increasing transmission noise. When going down long steep grades, sometimes the car would shudder when under engine braking.
I mentioned this to the dealership several times, and they told me that my front brake rotors were warped. I knew this wasn't the case because I didn't suffer any shuddering when braking under other conditions. But to prove it I got on a long steep grade and put the car in neutral and then use the brakes to manage my speed. Zero shudder. Then back to the top and used the transmission... shudder.
I was gathering evidence in case there was any kind of problem with the transmission in the long-term, but then the opportunity to get the Mazda 3 at a very reasonable price came up, and I jumped on it.
I think CVTs are a perfect fit for ATV/UTVs and snowmobiles but can't hold up to the wear and tear of a full sized car
Don't forget Scooters, my Honda pcx 150 works well except when climbing steep hills. Little engine can only do so much. Cvts in cars suck.
I recently rented a 2019 Hyundai Elantra with a CVT and a small; 1.4, 1.6 or 2.0 liter engine. It was the first time I had ever driven a car with a CVT and I was very impressed with the performance and fuel mileage on a car with such a small engine and considerable weight. Putting the car in sport mode really made a positive difference in responsiveness for a minimal decline in fuel economy. For a gasoline engine passenger vehicle, I believe the future is with CVTs as the technology evolves.
OTOH: My lightweight 370Z 6M with its large displacement NA engine and very flat torque curve has absolutely no problems(engine lugging) with gear selection at any RPM or nearly any road condition, just step on the gas for instant acceleration. If I need more than an ordinary amount of acceleration I can downshift as needed. The 6-speed close-ratio transmission allows me to tailor the RPM to exactly where I want it to be on the engine's torque curve. This is why I don't think that well-made manual transmissions will die out for certain kinds of cars. Lighter weight, greater simplicity and a more direct and solid drive are some of the reasons I prefer a manual.
Your tune will change when it breaks down at 49K miles and needs a new fake transmission (aka CVT).
Hyundai Elantra do not have CVT transmission !
@@mariodeprima6184 As of 2020 Elantra's were supposed to have a CVT. It might be called an IVT as I know that's what Kia calls theirs and they are basically the same company.
I love that Mazda engine, its sound, its performance and those two cupholders.
I'm glad Mazda exists. I really should buy one next time I'm in the market.
Imo mazdas have the best interiors for the price on top of their good engines and transmissions.
Thanks for very clear, yet detailed, explanation of Mazda’s strategy. I’ve always liked during their cars.
Mazda are amazing for actually not going alongside the trend of downsizing engines and instead going for big sized engines with low power output.
And now their build quality has increased massively as well.
I personally don’t dislike CVTs. Sure they’re not as engaging as a manual or even a regular automatic transmission, but they’re generally a lot more efficient.
Yeah, honestly compared to most autos I think CVT offer a better feel for "manual" shifting. Smoother and quicker. But not as quick as DCT, not as fun as manual, and not as direct as some autos.
@@EngineeringExplained and much cheaper to produce than 6 speed AT.
@@EngineeringExplained the CVT on the Nissan I had reminded me of driving something with a lot of turbo lag.
From a reliability standpoint I think automatic has an edge over CVT
How is any automatic shifter engaging?
The bottleneck of CVT reliability is the CVT belt, which can only last about 160k miles even for the topmost CVT belts available on the market. The Aisin AT of Toyota can easily beat this metric for double or even triple times.
Which wouldn't be a big issue if they designed them for easy replacement. You would think knowing they aren't as reliable they would make them easier to repair.
@@court2379 Unlike rubber cam belts - which can be made easily accessible (though some manufacturers to their eternal shame totally fail to) - I doubt a CVT belt could ever be made easily replaceable.
Got a 2016 Mazda3 hatchback last year and love it. After driving Chevys (family choice) for years, I finally enjoy driving again and that transmissions has such a better feel to it.
Hmm, I might be switching from Subaru to Mazda now. Thanks again EE.
Same here
Go for mazda you cant go wrong baby... Mark this words...
Boxers are an old unreliable design subaru needs to ditch or improve
I can tell you Nissans CVT is a piece of crap .. 70k miles on my wife's Altima it's on its 3rd one Nissan only gives them 12 months 12k miles for a warranty because they know there Crap . Never buy Nissan ..
What year is her Altima?
Did she ever flush that CVT at 50k?
MainMite06 They have been going to the dealership for the CVT replacement, I'm sure that they have followed the change intervals as well.
Nissan Altima is notorious for having transmission problems.
Joshua Jacob They used to be good until they forged with Renault in 2000, after that it’s just been a downhill spiral...
CVT in my Honda Accord crapped out at 65k miles. Luckily it was under warranty. The worst thing about them is that they can't repair them, they just have to replace the whole thing. And it's like $6k.
Our old forester had a CVT, it loved to overheat, sometimes overreved the engine during hard acceleration and it refused to deliver torque.
We have now switched to a CX-50 and couldn't be happier
Of the things one is looking for in a transmission you didn't include two important factors - reliability and long-lasting. Why is it that so many auto-journalists overlook these issues? Nissan owners of CVT, for example might be happy enough for a year or two until their transmission stops working well or breaks altogether.
Clever (and broad) analysis of Mazda's clever engineering philosophy.
11th year of driving and owning a Euro Spec 2008 Mazda 6.
It is one of the funnest to drive front wheel family cars I have ever driven! It still puts a smile on my face in the corners and I still enjoy shifting the gears as the gearbox is one of the best I tried.
It has also been reliable as a wood burning stowe and I have no plans on changing it for a newer car any time soon.
I also drive both this new generation CX5 and the previous generation CX5 at work and they are very responsive and fun to drive for an SUV, but i still prefer A REGULAR CAR
I think I've just listened to the man who talk the longest without taking a breath.
He just perfectly explained the difference between a Ford Focus (Dual Clutch) and any CVT (subaru and mitsubshi). Quick response & rougher ride vs efficiency and CVT sponginess.
I had my 16 Focus for 6 years and 4 months before it was totaled. If you drove it spirited in 1st gear, it was a very fun car to drive. They're not for people who like to grandma drive, that's for sure!
@@jasonashley9853 yes! So true. It’s peppy!
Hi 👋 there I had a 2012 Mazda 3 skyacive 6 speed automatic transmission I just sold it and I had 357 thousand Kim’s I had NO issues at all trust me guys it’s a very good quality and reliable and comfort product by Mazda I love the Mazda product and I just got myself a 2020 Mazda 3 GT in soul red colour trust me Mazda is as good as Toyota i even better than Toyota quality so reliable and low maintenance ask anyone drive Mazda customer will tell you they love it. And please Mazda. NO CVT transmission its anointing and not fun to drive No cvt in Mazda cars and suvs Thanks 🙏 Mazda for delving the best for us your loyalty customers Mazda 100% japanes quality
Mazda have always been great cars. This kind of out of the box thinking is what makes their engineering philosophy great.
We have Suzuki vitara turbo CVT and a 2020 Honda CRV CVT and love them both.
I have a 2010 Altima at 143,000. I do regular fuild change on both engine and cvt and it still running nice and smooth. But I am tired of running on a cvt and Mazda has been on my mind for my next car because of the traditional transmission and their style.
Mazda is killing it! Love my M6.
You don't have an M6, you have an Mazda 6.
Transmission Goals:
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- Reliability
Oh, wait...we're talking about modern cars, so that's not taken in consideration. My bad.
this is just so right on man. Reliability is my number one concern.
Chevy behind the scenes: "Lets make it break after 4 years so they buy a new one"
Apple: Hmmm *Slows down their phones after 3 years to make you buy a new one*
Mazda’s are built for car enthusiasts that ultimately have to sacrifice on something more extreme for practicality.
Most fun I’ve ever had driving a crossover was my 2016 Mazda Cx3, that I lifted and put on BFG K02’s. Was an absolute blast running that thing through the snow and mud. Almost hit 100,000 Kms but sadly needed a truck for work.
You left out Quality #1 for transmissions - Reliability.
CVT's have yet to prove themselves long term.
@@wudntulike2no32 Yeah right..
Over 90, 000 miles no problems
One thing about CVTs is that your throttle translates directly and linearly into RPM, and when you reach your desired speed you just drop that RPM to the spot where it just maintains your speed (usually around 1500-2000 RPM), which makes for a more intuitive management of your acceleration and speed. It’s boringly predictable.
I love my cx5. Coming from a sporty sedan, it was the only crossover that didn’t feel like a squishy boat of a vehicle.
Great video, as usual. Mazda is killing it with current generation, such great cars during the last 5 years.
Normal people don't care about CVTs. Car guys care about CVTs and don't like them. Normal people don't even know what a CVT even is.
"Normal people don't even know what a CVT even is"
Until they break. Then they wish they would have known
Except "normal" people are not really "normal"....they are DUPED.
I’ve noticed that people only complain about CVT’s if they’re from Nissan or Subaru. Never heard complaints from Honda or Toyota.
I think the rental I had while my airbags were replaced was a Nisson, it was one of the best I've seen so far. I know Subaru did some huge upgrades from 2012 when I was shopping for my Outback to around 2015/2016 I test drove an Outback and it was far more responsive passing and felt better accelerating, though still was anemic from a stop. I still prefer my 3.6L with the 5-speed automatic though, I find it far more responsive when I have to pull out thru heavy traffic onto the rural highways from a stop. I think it may be more due to the engine size though.
Did you read the comments here? Plenty of people disliked them.
Or you could get a manual, it can be smooth or jerky as you like and you can shift fast or slow. Amazing.
No, you have to shift according the timing or you will stall the engine. You can't shift slow...
Aoru. You’d be amazed at how short you can shift a manual transmission with matching revs or feathering the clutch.
In fact, the old Indian trick for not spinning your tires on snow and ice before there was such a thing as traction control was starting in 2nd gear.
Most people under 30 don't even know what a manual transmission is. "Uh....Why does it have 3 pedals?"
@@guitarsarelikestupid7200 only in merica land, in normal countries most people drive manual
I love my Mazdas, my last two. Have not found a reason or an alternative that would make me change.
Same had an 02 protege5 now i just got the 07 mazda3 GT hatch
Wife and I are looking for a new car for her. Thanks for the video, Ive been trying to get her to pay the few thousand extra for the Mazda over competitors with cvts. She understands why cvts are bad, she's extremely handy etc.. but I've been noticing Mazda just doing things differently and just plain better, and your video explains all the little things adding up to what is making me more and more attracted to mazdas. Coming out with a new straight six in 2023 is what really got me looking at them, and then I started noticing other cool things like the egr cooling and not having cvt options. They're obviously engineering better.
Love my Mazda 3. The auto is pretty good, no real complaints. Miss my third pedal tho. Silly wife ruining my fun.
Haha, did you use your wife as an excuse to avoid manual? I bet she'd be down to learn. My wife's first car was a manual Mazda 3. :)
I had a BMW 318D at a point, and i tried my mothers Mazda 3. and it was uncanny how much they were alike, and no one would on paper say those cars are equally a drivers car, but they are :-)
listepikster at least the Mazda has turning signals, lol
@@HIIMUsc lol so funny, like the rage comics fuuuuuu.jpg
@@HIIMUsc hehe yeah. I only had the BMW for a month at my work, so I did not suffer from lacking blinkers 🤣
I love Mazda! Are you a Mazda guy as well? I often see you driving them on your videos.
Why CVTs are bad:
Me: **drives my CVT SX4**
Also me: **lets my foot off the gas and press it again to adjust my speed**
The engine: **suddently revs aggressively for no freaking reason**
I'm on my 3rd mazda, and everyone has been high quality, reliable and fun to drive. So long as I dont need a truck, there's likely going to be a Mazda in my driveway.
Second here!! Had the RX8 now on the 19 mx-5
actually, in certains markets there is a Mazda truck, the bt-50
I want CX-5 with a bigger trunk. CX-8 comes only with 7 seat version and no spare tire. Other than that these are my favorite SUVs ;)
@@valdius85 do you really need that trunk size. Most of the time like 99 pefdrnt of the time a hatchback is enough
@@valdius85 mazda is always towards the lower end for size. Keeps weight down and makes the driving experience better. Some of these cars are getting too big, happy to see someone stay smaller.
Yes they are terrible. I've replaced the CVT in my 13' Altima TWICE and it only has 70k miles on it.
Yikes, I assume they did that under warranty?
@@EngineeringExplained Happily the dealership did and they didn't give me too much trouble either. Honestly when on the highway the transmission is actually great but it's in the city where it really starts to show its true colors. It bucks back on forth when the car crawls at the 0-10mph range and just makes for an overall unpleasant experience.
Time has shown that early Nissan CVT's are well known turds sorry you went through this.
The CVTs in Nissans are terrible. That doesn't mean all CVTs are terrible.
Nissan uses CVT's made by Jatco. They are horrible. Honda and Toyota make their own CVT's. They are 100 times more reliable.
It's my observation that most people have no idea they're driving a cvt. If you ask, they will say their car has an "automatic". They have no idea what a cvt is.