5spd MT vs 6spd CVT

**chanyto** · October 1st, 2010 10:43 AM

assuming it's on the same car but only different in transmission..what do you think of these two? can you list the pros and cons? what would you pick?

**ghosthunter** · October 1st, 2010 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by chanyto

assuming it's on the same car but only different in transmission..what do you think of these two? can you list the pros and cons? what would you pick?

Assuming you are comparing the Lancer EX models...

Basically it is still the difference between M/T vs A/T except the A/T is now a CVT.

The CVT (when in D) "shifts" smoothly, so people and driver will not feel the tranny changing gear to gear. The engine will also operate at a lower RPM when cruising for better economy or at a higher RPM when max performance is asked from it.

A CVT can virtualize any number of "gears" so six is just arbitrary. It could be 4 or 8 or even ten but that is too much. Six is enough for humans to feel the performance when using the CVT in manumatic mode.

In manumatic mode, driving it to the max is easy. Upshifts and downshifts come quick and predicatable, no lags like the one found in the Honda Jazz/City CVT. Keeping it in manumatic mode helps keep the engine RPMs high for more aggressive driving and instant power, just like when driving a M/T.

The only downside is the "launch" which you can not do with a CVT.