Glendale Nissan Official Blog
What is Nissan Xtronic CVT
By Product Expert | Posted in Features & Technology on Thursday, January 28th, 2016 at 7:08 pm
As 2016 continues to roll out, there is something you may have noticed about the Nissan model lineup: not only do all of the new vehicles feature Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission, but has become standard across a vast majority of the trim levels, basic to top-of-the-line. CVTs aren’t brand new; in fact, Nissan first adopted the system in 1992, but with increasing popularity and success, Glendale Nissan would like to take a moment and further explain what Nissan Xtronic CVT is.
Dating back a few years, the 2013 Nissan Altima was the first Nissan vehicle to house the next generation Xtronic CVT system. This higher-efficiency system helped vehicles to perform better at higher speeds while cutting out any transmission noise.
How does Nissan Xtronic CVT Work?
In a nutshell, how it works is that instead of traditional fixed gear ratios, there are two hydraulically-operated steel pulleys which are connected together by a metal chain link. The two pulleys are in the shape of a “V” and as you press the accelerator, they will either come closer together or be pulled apart, helping to re-position the chain.
Through this process, the belt is then able to fluidly move along each of the gears. Technically speaking, there is no actual shifting with an automatic CVT which eliminates any chances of a gear being skipped or any sudden lurching when jumping up to a higher gear.
Read More >>> Curious how FWD compares to AWD? Learn the difference here.
Benefits of Xtronic CVT
One of the greatest benefits to the Xrontic CVT is not only the smoother ride, but improved fuel efficiency. The elimination of the need to go from gear to gear constantly allows for the transmission to help the engine operate at its optimum level without fail. One problem with shifting around gears is that a lot of friction is generated which translates to more fuel burned. Built up heat isn’t healthy for an engine and can actually damage some of the moving parts, leading down a long road of costly repairs.
Overall, Nissan’s Xtronic CVT is not only more durable and efficient, but it can help to prolong the life of your vehicle by eliminating a number of typical problems regular engines encounter. Learn more about which Nissan models have CVT, and if you have any questions about manual or automatic transmissions, our service team would be happy to help.
