The Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT Transmission) has become a rather polarizing topic in auto discussions within the last decade. Car enthusiasts typically harbor a certain disdain for them and often complain of their loud drone and lack of performance while supporters of the CVT often praise the fuel economy and smooth seamless acceleration.
This article will provide a brief overview of the CVT transmission as well as a comprehensive list of cars with the CVT transmission.
What Is A CVT Transmission?
A CVT is a type of automatic transmission which uses variable-width pulleys that are connected by a flexible steel belt rather than the planetary gears and torque converters used in many traditional automatic transmissions.
How Do CVT Transmissions Work?
In a car equipped with a CVT, there are typically two pulleys, 1 pulley connected to the engine (Drive Pulley) and the second pulley connected to the wheels (Driven Pulley).
The Drive Pulley is used to transmit energy from the engine through the belt which drives the Driven Pulley and delivers power to car’s wheels. During operation of the vehicle, the CVT simultaneously adjusts the diameter of both pulleys and as one pulley increases in size, the other pulley decreases in size.
To simulate low gear, the drive pulley decreases in diameter while the driven pulley increases in diameter, and conversely when simulating a high gear, the drive pulley increases in diameter while the driven pulley decreases in diameter.
Through this relationship of pulley diameters, the transmission is often referred to as having the ability to offer an unlimited number of “gears” to match any engine speed and allows the engine to operate in a defined range.
The pulley system making these adjustments as the speed of the engine increases or decreases is also what eliminates the feeling of gears being shifted that most of us have gotten accustomed to in driving traditional automatic cars.
Pros And Cons Of CVTs
Below are the most common pros and cons of CVT transmissions that are mentioned by owners of these vehicles:
Pros mentioned by many owners:
- Better gas mileage
- Smoothness of operation
- No searching for gears when traveling up a steep incline
Cons listed by many owners:
- Droning noise especially during attempts at spirited driving
- Costly to repair
- Momentary lack of responsiveness when accelerating from a standstill
List Of Cars With CVT Transmission
Whether you are a fan of the CVT or find CVTs to be so unappealing that you rather not have a rental car with a CVT, you will find the following list of cars offered with the CVT to be helpful in your search for a vehicle.
| Manufacturer | Model | Year | CVT Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audi | A4 (1.8) | 2008 - 2016 | multitronic |
| Audi | A4 (2.0) | 2008 - 2016 | multitronic |
| Audi | A4 (3.2) | 2008 - 2016 | multitronic |
| Audi | A4 (2.0 TDI) | 2008 - 2016 | multitronic |
| Audi | A4 (2.7 TDI) | 2008 - 2016 | multitronic |
| Audi | A5 (3.2 FSI) | 2007 - approximately 2016 | multitronic |
| Audi | A5 (2.0 TDI) | 2009 - approximately 2016 | multitronic |
| Audi | A5 (2.7 TDI) | 2007 - approximately 2016 | multitronic |
| Audi | A6 (2.5 FSI) | 2011 - approximately 2016 | multitronic |
| Audi | A6 L (2.8 FSI) | 2012 - approximately 2016 | multitronic |
| Buick | Encore GX | 2020 | CVT |
| Chevrolet | Spark | 2012 - 2020 | CVT |
| Chevrolet | Malibu (RS) | 2019 – Present | CVT |
| Chevrolet | Malibu (L) | 2019 – Present | CVT |
| Chevrolet | Malibu (LS) | 2019 – Present | CVT |
| Chevrolet | Malibu (LT) | 2019 – Present | CVT |
| Chevrolet | Trailblazer (L FWD) | 2021 – Present | CVT |
| Chevrolet | Trailblazer (LT FWD) | 2021 – Present | CVT |
| Chevrolet | Trailblazer (LS FWD) | 2021 – Present | CVT |
| Chevrolet | Trailblazer (Active FWD) | 2021 – Present | CVT |
| Chevrolet | Trailblazer (RS FWD) | 2021 - Present | CVT |
| Dodge | Caliber (Express) | 2011 | CVT |
| Dodge | Caliber (2.0 SE) | 2007 - 2009 | CVT |
| Dodge | Caliber (R/T) | 2007 - 2011 | CVT |
| Ford | Fiesta | 1983 - 2002 | CVT |
| Ford | Fusion (Hybrid) | 2012 - Present | CVT |
| Ford | Five Hundred (AWD) | 2004 - 2007 | CVT |
| Ford | Freestyle | 2005 - 2007 | CVT |
| Honda | Civic (Non-Type R & Non-Si) | 2015 - Present | CVT |
| Honda | Insight | 2000 - 2014 | CVT |
| Honda | Fit | 2001 - Present | CVT |
| Honda | Fit (Hybrid) | 2010 - Present | CVT |
| Honda | Accord (1.5T) | 2018 - Present | CVT |
| Honda | CRV | 2017 - Present | CVT |
| Hyudai | Elantra (SE) | 2020 - Present | CVT |
| Hyundai | Elantra (SEL) | 2020 - Present | CVT |
| Hyundai | Elantra (Value Edition) | 2020 - Present | CVT |
| Hyundai | Accent (1.5 MPi) | 2017 - Present | CVT |
| Infiniti | QX60 | 2013 - Present | CVT |
| Infiniti | QX50 | 2017 – Present | CVT |
| Jeep | Compass (Freedom Drive II) | 2011 - 2017 | CVT |
| Jeep | Patriot (Freedom Drive II) | 2007 - 2017 | CVT |
| Kia | Rio (LX) | 2019 – Present | IVT |
| Kia | Rio (S) | 2019 – Present | IVT |
| Kia | Soul (S) | 2019 – Present | CVT |
| Kia | Soul (GT-Line) | 2019 – Present | CVT |
| Kia | Soul (X-Line) | 2019 – Present | CVT |
| Kia | Soul (EX) | 2019 – Present | CVT |
| Lexus | CT 200h | 2011 – Present | ECVT |
| Lexus | IS 300h | 2013 – Present | ECVT |
| Lexus | ES 300h | 2012 - 2018 | ECVT |
| Lexus | ES 350h | 2019 - Present | ECVT |
| Lexus | NX 300h | 2014 - Present | ECVT |
| Lexus | RX 350h | 2003 - 2015 | ECVT |
| Lexus | RX 450h | 2016 - Present | ECVT |
| Lexus | GS 450h | 2005 - 2018 | CVT |
| Lexus | LS 600 | 2006 - 2017 | CVT |
| Lexus | NX 300h | 2014 - Present | CVT |
| Lexus | UX 200 | 2018 – Present | CVT |
| Lexus | UX 250h | 2018 - Present | ECVT |
| Mitsubishi | Eclipse Cross (1.5L) | 2018 – Present | CVT |
| Mitsubishi | Lancer (DE, ES, GTS) | 2001 - 2017 | CVT |
| Mitsubishi | Lancer (SE, GT) | 2012 - 2017 | CVT |
| Mitsubishi | Mirage (LE, SE) | 2013 – Present | CVT |
| Mitsubishi | Mirage G4 (LE, SE) | 2016 – Present | CVT |
| Mitsubishi | Outlander (2.4L) | 2006 - Present | CVT |
| Mitsubishi | Outlander Sport (2.0) | 2018 – Present | CVT |
| Mercedes Benz | A Class (W169) | 2004 - 2012 | CVT |
| Mercedes Benz | B Class (W245 B200 CDI) | 2005 - 2011 | CVT |
| Nissan | Altima | 2007 – Present | CVT |
| Nissan | Maxima | 2004 – Present | CVT |
| Nissan | Cube (Optional) | 1998 - 2014 | CVT |
| Nissan | Juke (S, SL, SV) | 2010 - 2019 | CVT |
| Nissan | Kicks | 2018 – Present | CVT |
| Nissan | Murano | 2003 - 2007 | CVT |
| Nissan | Murano (Non-Hybrid) | 2009 - 2014 | CVT |
| Nissan | Pathfinder | 2013 – Present | CVT |
| Nissan | Quest | 2011 – 2017 | CVT |
| Nissan | Rogue | 2007 – Present | CVT |
| Nissan | Rogue Sport | 2017 – Present | CVT |
| Nissan | Sentra (Optional) | 2007 - 2012 | CVT |
| Nissan | Sentra | 2013 – Present | CVT |
| Nissan | Versa | 2007 – Present | CVT |
| Saturn | Vue (4 Cylinder) | 2002 - 2005 | CVT |
| Saturn | ION (Coupe) | 2003 - 2004 | CVT |
| Scion | iM (Optional) | 2015 - 2018 | CVT |
| Subaru | Ascent | 2018 - Present | CVT |
| Subaru | Crosstrek (Optional) | 2017 – Present | CVT |
| Subaru | Crosstrek (Hybrid) | 2014 - Present | CVT |
| Subaru | XV Crosstrek | 2013 - 2016 | CVT |
| Subaru | Forester (Optional) | 2012 - 2018 | CVT |
| Subaru | Forester | 2018 - Present | CVT |
| Subaru | Impreza (Optional) | 2011 - Present | CVT |
| Subaru | Legacy (Optional) | 2009 - 2014 | CVT |
| Subaru | Legacy | 2015 - Present | CVT |
| Subaru | Outback | 2015 - Present | CVT |
| Subaru | WRX | 2015 - Present | CVT |
| Suzuki | Kizashi (Optional) | 2010 - 2013 | CVT |
| Suzuki | SX4 | 2010 | CVT |
| Suzuki | Swift (Optional) | 2010 – Present | CVT |
| Toyota | Avalon (Hybrid) | 2013 - Present | ECVT |
| Toyota | Camry Hybrid (LE, XLE) | 2011 - 2019 | ECVT |
| Toyota | Camry (Hybrid) | 2017 - Present | ECVT |
| Toyota | Corolla | 2014 - Present | ECVT |
| Toyota | Corolla (Hybrid) | 2017 - Present | ECVT |
| Toyota | Corolla Hatchback (SE, SE Nightshade) | 2019 - present | CVT |
| Toyota | Corolla Apex | 2021 | CVT |
| Toyota | C-HR | 2018 - Present | CVT |
| Toyota | Highlander (Hybrid) (LE, XLE) | 2020 – Present | CVT |
| Toyota | Prius | 2007 - Present | ECVT |
| Toyota | Prius Prime | 2016 - Present | CVT |
| Toyota | Rav-4 (Optional) | 2012 - Present | CVT |
| Toyota | Rav-4 (Hybrid) | 2012 – Present | CVT |
| Toyota | Sienna | 2021 | CVT |
| Toyota | Venza | 2021 | CVT |
| Toyota | Yaris | 2019 – Present | CVT |
| Toyota | Yaris RS | 2019 - Present | CVT |
| Toyota | GR Yaris | 2019 - Present | CVT |
| Toyota | Yaris (Hybrid) | 2019 – Present | ECVT |
Final Thoughts
Despite CVTs being a polarizing topic within car communities, many benefits can be derived from their use in passenger vehicles.
If you are currently shopping for a vehicle and this will be your first experience with a CVT, my advice is to keep an open mind and test drive various makes and models listed above in the class of car that you are shopping for.
By test-driving various makes and models which use the CVT, you will gain a greater amount of exposure that can be useful in determining whether a CVT is generally appealing to you, if only the CVT offered by a specific manufacturer is the right match for you, or if a conventional automatic transmission remains your preference.
If you are like many people who are reading this article armed with the knowledge that a CVT is not the right fit for you, hopefully, this list will save you hours of researching cars equipped with the CVT so they can be avoided.