I own a 2007 Nissan Altima SE 3.5L. As I am given to understand, its drivetrain is equipped with a toroidal-type Continuously Variable Transmission (animated GIF on its operation can be found here). The shifter can be placed in P, R, N, D, or can be pushed left out of D into manual mode, where simple taps of the stick up or down will shift “gears” manually.
But a CVT has no gears. I guess the manual mode will keep the tranny within certain levels of RPMs until you shift, but what would be the point of this? Just for people who want that shifty, manual sports-car feel? Is there a mechanical/efficiency advantage to driving a CVT in manual mode?
Going up or down a hill, you can shift to increase power or control speed.
I’ve often wondered about this myself. In 5 years of driving a CVT I’ve never seen any reason to use the manual shift.
I though that I might need it in the mountains but the automatic mode of the CVT transmission worked quite well going over the Rockies. Maybe somebody who tows with one might have an explanation.
The Altima is pretty much a general family type car. I’d be surprised if the manual shift was there for only a sporty feel.
My wife has a 2012 Altima with CVT. The only practical reasons to put it in manual mode would ‘possibly’ be climbing a steep hill; pulling a heavy load; if the automatic shifting started to go bad; for engine braking when descending a long hill; or maybe downshifting if the brakes fail or get weak.
Other than that, for boy racers like me to play with.
I bought an Outback partly because of the CVT and manual shifting. This was my first automatic ever and I thought the manual option would make the transition to automatic easier. Used it once and didn’t like it. The CVT seems to know well enough what gear it needs to be in without me dicking around with it.
Handy in winter driving so you don’t have to brake as much on slick roads.
But it tends to get marketed as the “sportiest” of the mid-size sedan models along with cars like the Mazda 6, so I wouldn’t discount the idea that it is there in part precisely so folks can play with it.
Excellent user name/post content correlation there.
I have the 2012 3.5 also with the CVT and this kind of sums it up for those times when I use it. Just cuz I feel like I want to pretend to be shifting.
Although I have used it on icy roads, where it’s helpful to control wheel spin or sliding as SmellMyWort pointed out
Thanks for all the responses.
I live in coastal Georgia; the only time we get ice on the roads is when somebody dumps their drink out the window - so that’s out. No hills to speak of, so no need for engine braking; I certainly don’t tow anything with it.
Love the CVT, though - it sure is nice not to have to wait for downshift lag when I put the hammer to the floor to pass someone on the highway.
