CVT- Kizashi's Achilles Heel

murcod · Sat Aug 09, 2014 3:35 am

It was possibly more a case of them wanting to offer the AWD as the sales feature- and the CVT just happens to come as part of the package.

Sat Aug 09, 2014 4:06 am

murcod wrote:It was possibly more a case of them wanting to offer the AWD as the sales feature- and the CVT just happens to come as part of the package.

Perhaps, but does it snow that much in the UK for AWD to be something that's sought over a manual transmission?
When I was set on getting a Kizashi, I made a conscious decision to get the manual and forgo AWD. I'm a fan of AWD as I've owned AWD and 4x4 vehicles before and I live in a region that gets some snow in the winter. Despite this, when forced to make a choice between a manual or AWD, I valued the manual more and sought out a 6 speed MT Kizashi like the one I got.

murcod · Sat Aug 09, 2014 8:11 am

Does it snow much in the UK?

Hell yes!?!

http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/46 ... nal-freeze
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/443462 ... ast-for-UK

Knightstruth · Sat Aug 09, 2014 3:29 pm

Driven the following CVT equipped cars: 10 altima, 11 rogue, 12 legacy and 12 kiz. I would say none of them felt particularly bad. The legacy feels so light on its feet that you barely feel like you are accelerating. Which could be the reason it feels slow when you mash down the gas pedal.

redmed · Sun Aug 10, 2014 12:14 am

I had read that CVT transmissions use a rubber belt to transfer power. That may be fine for Harley's but I did not want to rely on a rubber belt in my car. This is the reason I only considered a manual Kizashi. In fact finding a manual transmission car is getting difficult in the States. In my search for a MT car the FWD MT Kizashi stood out and was the main reason I took one for a test drive. I was impressed, I still am three years later.

Sun Aug 10, 2014 12:44 am

murcod wrote:Does it snow much in the UK?

Hell yes!?!

http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/46 ... nal-freeze
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/443462 ... ast-for-UK

That's actually not much, especially compared to Canada and the Midwest, USA.
That being said, it does seem like the UK could use AWD, but I don't understand why it was CVT only for that market.

Sun Aug 10, 2014 12:55 am

redmed wrote:I had read that CVT transmissions use a rubber belt to transfer power. That may be fine for Harley's but I did not want to rely on a rubber belt in my car. This is the reason I only considered a manual Kizashi. In fact finding a manual transmission car is getting difficult in the States. In my search for a MT car the FWD MT Kizashi stood out and was the main reason I took one for a test drive. I was impressed, I still am three years later.

It's not a rubber belt. It's metal (steel) for certain. In fact, you can see it here in this thread where the Kizashi's CVT is discussed:
http://www.kizashiclub.com/forum/viewto ... 2508&hilit

That being said, I'm totally with you on the 6 speed manual. I was impressed Suzuki offered one in the Kizashi and when I test drove it, I had to have it. It's not the best shifter out there (or one I've even owned), but I believe it wrings out more performance out of the Kizashi.

coref1 · Sun Aug 10, 2014 1:18 am

I think part of the problem with cvt transmissions are they are so different in the way they feel it takes a while to get used to them. You have to learn how to get the best out of them and for me I'm getting to that point after 2 years ownership. On balance i would still prefer a good 6 speed traditional auto tranny but I emphasise "good". I've recently driven a 2006 Honda Euro (Accura) and the 5 speed auto in that was terrible to the extent that I'd rate the Kizashi cvt much better. I tend to compare the transition to a cvt as similar to rwd vs fwd. When fwd cars first came out they were terrible and took a long time to get used too. These days even though purists would still prefer rwd most don't even give it a thought.
As far as manuals go well If your purist driver I think your always going to prefer a manual over any type of auto.
For me now the main issue is cvt reliability rather then the way it drives.

murcod · Sun Aug 10, 2014 2:01 am

To be fair, most early Asian made front wheel drives were shocking vehicles (handling wise.)

redmed · Sun Aug 10, 2014 2:50 am

KuroNekko wrote:
redmed wrote:I had read that CVT transmissions use a rubber belt to transfer power. That may be fine for Harley's but I did not want to rely on a rubber belt in my car. This is the reason I only considered a manual Kizashi. In fact finding a manual transmission car is getting difficult in the States. In my search for a MT car the FWD MT Kizashi stood out and was the main reason I took one for a test drive. I was impressed, I still am three years later.
It's not a rubber belt. It's metal (steel) for certain. In fact, you can see it here in this thread where the Kizashi's CVT is discussed:
http://www.kizashiclub.com/forum/viewto ... 2508&hilit

That being said, I'm totally with you on the 6 speed manual. I was impressed Suzuki offered one in the Kizashi and when I test drove it, I had to have it. It's not the best shifter out there (or one I've even owned), but I believe it wrings out more performance out of the Kizashi.

I had read a couple of years ago that Subaru had changed their CVT's to use steel chains instead of rubber belts, and claimed to be the first in the industry to do so. So I assumed others just used rubber belts. Your right, the first video from Suzuki does describe a steel belt. So I stand corrected. I have never seen a steel belt and wonder how it is constructed. That being said, I never dissembled a CVT and hopefully never need to. I like shifting and having direct control of gearing and the more direct road feel a manual transmission gives, especially on a icy surface. Except in a traffic jam.