Mentor Nissan believes in educating the clients that we see on a day-to-day basis at our pre-owned and new Nissan car dealership. Automotive terms can get confusing, but it is important to know the basics to not only understand the car-buying process, but to also understand what is going on with your vehicle when you do have one. One component that you will come across when shopping for a car is the different kinds of transmissions that are commonly available on various vehicles. When looking at the different types of transmissions, it is first important to delve into what the transmission does for your vehicle in the first place. The transmission’s main function is to keep your engine idle while the vehicle’s wheels are not in motion. Your transmission also holds gear ratios that allow your vehicle to quickly accelerate.

Automatic Transmission

There are a few different kinds of transmissions, but the most common is the automatic transmission. This is when a torque converter is used to move power from the engine to the transmission. Automatic transmission results in a very smooth ride, but you will also have a less efficient fuel economy compared to other transmissions.

Continuously Variable Transmission

Continuously Variable Transmission (or CVT) is when there is a belt that is placed between two variable pulleys, which gives a large amount of gear ratios and therefore produces a smooth transition. This type of transmission isn’t typically seen in powerful cars. This is just a small scope of the available transmissions, but our Lake County Nissan dealers at Mentor Nissan are always there to tell you more about our inventory and all of the details surrounding each vehicle.