Despite your driving style the Mirage is easy on gas and that CVT has a lot to do with it.If you've read about the structure and function of automatic transmissions in How Automatic Transmissions Work, then you know that the job of the transmission is to change the speed ratio between the engine and the wheels of an automobile. Even driven at full throttle, we were very surprised at resulting fuel efficiency. With a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine making 74 hp, drivers will likely have their gas pedal permanently affixed to the floor-mat. Additionally, the transmission goes into neutral at stops which reduces the load on the engine and saves fuel. The Mirage achieves this impressive rating thanks to an auxiliary gearbox which expands the available gear ratio range. That’s a 7.5 percent mile per gallon improvement over the manual transmission. However, spend the extra $1,000 to get the CVT and you’re looking at a 40 mpg combined figure, making it the most fuel efficient gas-powered car on sale today. Starting at just $13,805 the base Mirage (with the five-speed manual) is cheap and can get a combined rating of 37 mpg according to the EPA. The cheap Mitsubishi Mirage is hard to recommend because of its ancient styling, poor interior appointments and rough driving dynamics, but if you’re looking for a fuel efficient car, the little Mitsubishi delivers. Owners have complained about quality issues with earlier models, but newer versions use an oil warmer that improves efficiency and durability. Like Subaru’s Lineartronic transmission, Nissan’s Xtronic CVT in the Pathfinder uses a chain, which enhances durability and allows for that high towing rating.Īs awesome as all of that sounds – Nissan has a rough history with CVTs. max towing capacity, the most of any CVT equipped vehicle. Nissan also uses a CVT in its Pathfinder crossover, which advertises a 5,000 lbs. In fact, the 3.5-liter V6 used in the Maxima sets the benchmark for the most powerful engine mated to a CVT transmission. Nissan and Infiniti models equipped with the 3.5-liter V6 make quite a bit of power, but utilize CVT in order to keep them fuel-friendly.Ĭheck out the Nissan Maxima, a big four-door sedan that makes 290 hp and uses a CVT to reach 60 MPH in under six seconds. With the CVT, you can expect at least two more miles per gallon over the manual version of the same car.įew CVT-equipped cars are get near the 300 horsepower mark, but Nissan comes the closest without resorting to a gas-electric hybrid powertrain. Felstein also points out that the chain design allows the CVT to feel firmer and crisper, allowing for a better feel for performance. “It adds strength and longevity, so that there’s less play and stretching over time that you’d find with other CVTs,” says Joe Felstein, Public Relations Manager at Subaru. A chain type transmission doesn’t compress as like belt type CVTs and can move a bit more freely, allowing for a greater ratio spread. The excellent fuel economy and solid throttle feel helped the 170-hp Subaru Forester eke out a win in our compact crossover comparison last year, where it beat out more powerful rivals like the 2.5-liter Mazda CX-5 and the turbocharged Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.įinally, Subaru has a reputation of building rugged vehicles and their Lineartronic transmission is made with that in mind by using a chain instead of a belt. The best part is that the cars achieve better fuel economy than their old automatic equipped models, all while featuring an all-wheel drive train. While the 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines used in the majority of Subaru vehicles are not particularly powerful (making just 148 hp and 170 hp respectively) the CVT makes them feel far more responsive. Making an all-wheel drive vehicle get good fuel economy isn’t easy, but over the past few years, Subaru has been able to achieve that and a good chunk of the credit lies with the brands new CVT.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |