Transmissions have evolved since the early days of motoring, but one type of transmission that may not be immediately familiar to you is the continuously variable transmission (or CVT). First marketed in 1989, CVT systems power many of today’s vehicles, including the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, Ford C-MAX Hybrid, Subaru Forester, and a range of Nissan and Infiniti models. But how does a CVT work, and how does it compare to traditional automatic transmissions? Let’s have a look.

Gears vs CVT: How They Work

The job of any transmission is twofold—to transfer power from the engine to the wheels of your vehicle, […]