[mrblint]

I test drove an AWD EcoSport a few days ago and put it into paddle-shift mode to see what that was like. I am new to CVT.

In first gear, I took the car up to 3000RPM and flipped the paddle to second gear. But it was as if the car had remained in first gear, even though the gear light now showed "2". The RPMs did not drop slightly, for a brief moment, as they normally would when changing gears in a non CVT transmission, but continued to climb. The engine was very loud in second gear at 3000RPM

Is this behavior normal? Should the shift from first to second occur much sooner?

 

[Orion]

CVT's can take some serious adjusting to, as they do not operate like a conventional transmission. When driving a car with a CVT, you won't hear or feel the transmission shift, and when you step hard on the accelerator, the engine races as it would with a slipping clutch or a failing automatic transmission..this is normal.

 

[workingclasshero]

Did you by any chance get to feel how the EcoSport powers out of a turn? That to me is a bit important given my driving style which is more aggressive than norm

 

[WeeSUV]

The transmission is supposed to respond to shifts quickly, not get stuck in first gear while indicating the second. Wondering if something was wrong with the tester vehicle if you red lined it in 2nd.

 

[Orion]

In a CVT there aren't really established gears, so the numbers he was seeing on the dash are just an approximation based upon speed. You can't really punch these cars off the line, like you can in a traditional automatic. Luckily it looks like that may be changing thanks to Toyota.

 

[workingclasshero]

In a CVT there aren't really established gears, so the numbers he was seeing on the dash are just an approximation based upon speed. You can't really punch these cars off the line, like you can in a traditional automatic. Luckily it looks like that may be changing thanks to Toyota.

Tell me about it. If the Lexus LC coupe isn't a good example of how CVT's can perform then I don't know. Its even more of an accomplishment given the fact its a GT coupe and not entirely meant to be sporty. In a lighter platform it will really shine.

 

[FocusedDriver57]

Haven't heard of that issue before to be honest , hope I don't get something similar lol

 

[Orion]

If you've driven another vehicle with a CVT, then it wont be anything unfamiliar. Some automakers such as Nissan have started to use simulated gear shifts, to try and make acceleration feel more natural.

 

[workingclasshero]

We'll have to get used to CVT's, Ford has some new models coming out that should feature them. The new Cruze and Escape we're supposed to see very soon. Hard to get away from how these improve gas mileage.

 

[FocusedDriver57]

Oh ok that makes more sense now, haven't heard of CVT before but I looked into it and I got it