Transmission Guide: Automatic vs. Manual | Albertville AL
Sand Mountain Toyota’s Transmission Guide in Albertville, AL
Since your transmission plays a large role in your vehicle’s performance and efficiency, choosing the best transmission type for your lifestyle is an important decision. There are three transmission types to choose from: manual, automatic and Continuously Variable Transmission, or CVT. The first two will be the most familiar to our drivers across Albertville, AL, but CVT is an increasingly popular choice among manufacturers. All three transmission types are represented in vehicles throughout the new Toyota lineup, so if you’re curious to learn the differences between them and to discover which transmission type is the best match for you, take a look at the graph below.
Transmission Types at a Glance
Manual Transmission
More affectionately known as stick shift, the manual transmission has a nearly cult-like following. It’s tricky to learn but when you get the hang of when (and how hard) to press the clutch, the payoff is great. Drivers get to be more involved in driving — they decide when to switch gears based on road conditions, surrounding traffic and vehicle speed. But that additional involvement can make long road trips or stop-and-go traffic tiresome, and the noise can get loud as you switch gears. However, here’s a fact that most may not know: Cars equipped with manual transmissions are traditionally more fuel efficient than vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. That’s great news for Toyota GR86, GR Corolla, Tacoma and Supra owners — all of which can be equipped with a manual transmission.
Automatic Transmission
While only 13 percent of cars purchased in the U.S. are manual, according to HouseGrail,* there are plenty of cars out there that have an automatic transmission. It’s the most common type by far, due to its convenience. You won’t have to worry about when to switch gears — as the name implies, the automatic transmission selects the right gear for you when needed. It makes those road trips less stressful and work commutes easier to navigate. You also won’t have a hard time selling your car with an automatic transmission, since most everyone knows how to drive it. There are a few cons that we’d like to point out, though. State Farm found that vehicles with automatics are priced higher, are more expensive to maintain and service, and have higher insurance rates.
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
Toyota has used CVT in its vehicles since 2000, but CVT is still relatively new to the automotive scene. Instead of using traditional gears, CVT uses a belt-and-pulley system to transfer power from the engine to the vehicle’s wheels. Get used to a smooth ride — CVTs eliminate the feeling of shifting from gear to gear completely. You’ll also enjoy incredible fuel efficiency, but the low, continuous engine drone may take some time to get used to. Depending on the model, it may be louder or softer than you’d expect, but the only true way to find out if a CVT is right for you is by taking a test drive at our dealership!
We can’t wait to help here at Sand Mountain Toyota! Whether you’re interested in test-driving a vehicle or need transmission service for your current model, contact us today or stop by our dealership at 9167 US Highway 431, Albertville, AL 35950. We look forward to serving our customers near Boaz, Guntersville, Scottsboro, Rainbow City and Gadsden.
*As of January 2023.
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