2018-01-16
With Hyundai’s parent company’s first “intelligent” variable gearbox in production, Kia’s 2019 Forte compact sedan gains the sassy exterior styling cues of the Kia Stinger fastback sports sedan as well as enhanced fuel economy.
Before the 2019 Kia Forte made its global debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show, Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning for Kia Motors America, said in an interview with Automotive Engineering, “We’re a newcomer to the CVT (continuously variable transmission), but we’ve also had the benefit of learning from everyone who’s been before us.
“We tried as much as we could to make the IVT seem like a conventional step-transmission,” Hedrick said of the internally developed IVT, which is regarded as a next-generation CVT. To do that, Kia engineers created the IVT, an industry first in the small class, with adaptive style shift logic and a chain-link-type belt rather of a push belt.
Hedrick asserted that drivers used to a traditional automatic transmission will be drawn to a next-generation CVT with smooth, linear acceleration.
“The IVT makes the car feel like an automatic while you’re driving it because of how it feels like a step shift. It is more responsive and natural. Additionally, the IVT prevents “droning,” which can happen when you accelerate. And more crucially, according to Hedrick, it gives all the advantages of a CVT’s broad gear range. The IVT from Kia has a gearbox cover that absorbs noise.
The 2018 Forte’s rated horsepower (147 hp/110 kW) and torque (132 lbft/179 Nm) are anticipated to carry over to the third-generation Forte. Hedrick stated, “We’re expecting a rise of 3 mpg in the combined city/highway,” adding that the official U.S. EPA fuel economy figures will be released later in 2018 closer to the vehicle’s launch date.
The second-generation 2.0-L 4-cylinder engine from Kia, which is a member of the Hyundai ‘Nu’ family, will be paired with either a 6-speed manual transmission or the IVT. To increase efficiency even further, “We’ve added a lot of information to the Nu engine that we’ve acquired from working with our hybrid systems cooled EGR system, Atkinson cycle, and a lot of other features,” said Hedrick.
The structure of the 2019 Forte features additional hot-stamped parts and sophisticated high strength steel. Engineers also focused on boosting rigidity, resulting in a body-in-white that is allegedly 16 percent stiffer overall for a quieter cabin and better handling. Improved motor-driven power steering and new subframe designs have improved the steering feel and helped increase lateral response.
The wheelbase of the new Forte remains at 106.3 inches (2700 mm), while its overall length rises to 182.7 inches (4640-mm). The overall width increases by 1801 mm, from 70.1 in to 70.9 in. Also enhanced (from 14.9 cft3 to 15.1 ft3/427 L) was the payload capacity.
Other updates for the 2019 model include an 8-inch color touchscreen as standard equipment, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, and exterior styling influences from the Stinger fastback sports sedan.
In This Article...
Does Kia produce quality CVTs?
Three Kia cars received appalling predicted reliability scores due to poor ratings in key categories based on consumer feedback.
The manufacturer made significant mistakes when it installed a new continuously variable gearbox (CVT) to the most recent Forte and Soul. According to CR, the CVT performs a commendable impersonation of a conventional automatic transmission in both vehicles. Running errands around town is manageable, but it becomes noisy under stress.
Although the new transmission may boost performance and fuel efficiency, it did not enhance the ride comfort of either vehicle. The 2021 Kia Soul handles well and navigates turns enthusiastically, according to CR’s experts. They clarify that the ride seems less precise and controlled because there isn’t enough input.
With the CVT, the most recent Kia Forte is in a comparable situation. The CR team claims that the Forte’s ride quality is terrible, much like the Kia Soul’s. Due to their excessively stiff suspensions, both Kia models make it possible to feel every flaw on the road. When it comes to comfort, the Forte and Soul are near the bottom of their respective classes.
The 2021 Kia Niro EV is not without faults. In addition, it’s really noisy, you can’t have all-wheel drive, and not all states offer it. Despite having a respectable 239-mile range, it can take up to 10 hours to fully recharge using a 240-volt charger. The engine in the most recent model hasn’t been rated by CR yet, so the verdict is still out on it.
How durable are Kia CVT transmissions?
The lifespan of a CVT transmission is the same as that of a conventional automatic transmission, and they are built to last the entire life of the car. The lifespan of a normal CVT is at least 100,000 kilometers. Some vehicles, like the Toyota Prius, frequently have a lifespan of far over 300,000 kilometers. Some brands, like other automotive parts, last longer than others when maintained properly.
Exactly who makes CVT transmissions?
Toyota, Subaru, Honda, Hyundai, and Audi all produce their own CVTs. Nissan holds a majority stake in JATCO, the company that provides Chrysler, GM, Mitsubishi, and Suzuki with 49% of the gear-free transmissions produced worldwide. Additionally, a JATCO-supplied CVT is available in roughly half of Nissan’s current U.S. models.
Kia produces their own transmissions, right?
Kia’s European head of powertrain development, Joachim Hahn, said the business has no intentions to provide a CVT in the future in an interview with CarAdvice at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.
We are currently satisfied with the solution we have in terms of drivability, thus Hahn stated, “We are not planning to have a CVT.”
Hyundai’s sibling business, Kia, also manufactures some of its own transmissions. The six-speed automatic that the Koreans have so far only continued to mass-produce is used in vehicles like the Kia Rio and Kia Sorento.
The Korean automakers are more likely to follow the Germans and adopt even more dual-clutch transmissions (DCT) in the future, as opposed to the Japanese, who have replaced conventional automatics almost entirely with CVTs in an effort to decrease emissions and improve fuel efficiency. The Kia Cee’d is the first brand’s vehicle to include a DCT.
With research and development efforts underway to build a stronger gearbox for applications utilizing more potent engines, Kia wants to accelerate the expansion of DCTs.
Our desire is for a DCT to be used in conjunction with turbocharged gasoline and diesel engines, and the requirement for that is to have a DCT that can ultimately transform 350Nm [of torque], which the current application cannot achieve, according to Hahn.
The R-series diesel engine in the Kia Sportage (392Nm) and Sorento (436Nm) will still be unable to use future Korean DCTs due to the 350Nm torque limit, but this creates new potential for turbocharged petrol and other diesel variations. Additionally, it suggests that a DCT-equipped Hyundai Veloster Turbo is imminent.
Hahn also stated that his engineers will continue to use a dual-clutch transmission that is entirely dry, comparable to Ford’s “Powershift” system.
We will continue to use a DCT on a dry base because, in his words, “we are still confident that the dry DCT is the greatest answer for our cars with respect to their efficiency. If I talk about dry, it means fully dry.”
“So the actuations as well as the clutch itself are dry. To adjust the clutch, we are employing electromechanical motors.
There are other products on the market that perform this actuation using fluids, but based on our research, we are confident that using e-motors provides the optimum efficiency. In the stages where there is no need for actuation, we are not utilizing any power or energy.
While DCT development is ongoing, Kia has already equipped its huge Kia K9 (Quoris) luxury sedan with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which is a favorable sign for the company’s more well-known vehicles’ upcoming generations.
What CVT is the most trustworthy?
There is no clear answer to the topic of what is the best CVT transmission, but we can always look at the past and make educated predictions based on user reviews and online research. And that’s just what we did in this place today. There is a good probability that when you Google terms like “Honda CVT difficulties” or “Honda CVT reliability,” you will only be presented with a slew of pointless articles that don’t actually address your query concerning the reliability of specific car brands’ CVTs. These articles frequently reiterate what a CVT transmission is, along with its advantages and disadvantages. Absolutely useless, to put it mildly. Check out our guide if you want to learn more about CVT transmissions.
By reviewing the CVT history of each automobile model and compiling a list of the most and least dependable CVT gearboxes that frequently experience CVT issues, we decided to approach our task a little differently. Let’s start now!
It’s vital to note that not all automakers create and produce their own CVT transmissions before we list the most dependable CVT transmissions by automaker. This has a significant impact on reliability because transmissions that are outsourced are never subject to the same quality checks as those that are made “in-house.” As an example, Honda creates and manufactures its own CVT transmissions, making them dependable and simple to service.
Honda CVT transmission problems & review (WINNER)
In our opinion, based on online research, in-person conversations with technicians, and personal experience, Honda delivers some of the most dependable and issue-free CVT transmissions on the market right now. Honda makes and designs their CVT gearboxes with dependability and simplicity of maintenance in mind. You shouldn’t experience any issues with the Honda CVT transmissions if you follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule for changing the transmission fluid and filter.
Toyota CVT transmission problems & review (2nd place)
To no one’s surprise, Toyota came in second. Toyota’s CVT transmissions are just as dependable and durable as their entire brand is. The same information can be found by conducting a fast Google search for terms like “Toyota CVT difficulties.” Simply put, the Toyota CVT transmission systems don’t have any significant flaws.
Toyota owns the Japanese automatic transmission producer Aisin, which creates the CVT transmissions. The normal Toyota CVT and the e-CVT transmissions were both expertly made by Aisin, which is renowned for producing some of the greatest automatic transmissions in the world.
Depending on the type of drive train, Toyota offers a variety of CVTs. Consider the 2017 Toyota Corolla as an illustration. A standard CVT transmission is used in lesser petrol versions of the Corolla, which is appropriate for weaker petrol engines like the 1.8L found in the Corolla. Toyota actually installed a CVT transmission with a physical first gear for Corolla vehicles with stronger engines, such the 2.0L gasoline engines (like in a manual gearbox). The normal CVT system, which is only activated after the first gear, is put under less pressure when a physical first gear is used. Because the first gear is where the CVT receives the majority of the load, this design is genius. Toyota is aware of this, and by adding a physical first gear to stronger models of the Corolla, they considerably increased the CVT’s lifespan.
Toyota really employs an e-CVT system for their hybrid cars. In no way resembles a conventional CVT system. Single planetary gear sets are used in the hybrid powertrain’s electric component to simulate multiple gear ratios that effectively utilize all of the engine’s output. Many Toyota Hybrids, including the Prius, have logged more than 300,000 miles with no issues because to this integrated CVT system. Any CVT system made by Toyota should be serviceable for the duration of the vehicle.
Subaru CVT transmission problems & review (3rd Place)
Subaru, a further Japanese automaker renowned for dependability and toughness, comes in third. Their CVTs are internally developed and produced. If you have driven a Subaru, you are well aware of how great the Lineartronic CVT is. But there is a reason Subaru wasn’t there to begin with, and that reason is the years 2013 to 2017. During this time, Subaru CVT transmissions experienced transmission breakdown difficulties that led some drivers to lose power while driving, potentially endangering their health if they were involved in an accident as a result.
What kind of automatic transmission is used by Kia?
Automatic transmissions that can change gears smoothly are known as continuously variable transmissions. The advantages of a CVT over a traditional automatic transmission include quicker shifting and acceleration, lower weight, and claims of being far more dependable and long-lasting.
Which Kia Models Have CVTs (Continuously Variable Transmissions)?
Currently available Kia models include a CVT as a standard or optional transmission:
- 2020 Kia Rio Hatchback and Sedan
- Kia Forte compact sedan, 2020
- upcoming Kia Soul CUV
- Kia Seltos Compact SUV 2021
Why is CVT gearbox despised?
With its recent adoption of continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) throughout the majority of its automobile lineup, Honda is taking a chance. These gearboxes work on pulleys that continuously modify gear ratios to give best performance in sending power to the car’s wheels, as opposed to cycling through fixed gears. Because CVT technology overcomes the inherent inefficiencies in fixed-gear transmissions that lead to wasted energy, it offers significantly higher fuel economy. Customers are still not convinced about CVTs, though; some say these vehicles lack the rhythmic higher revs and forward motion experienced during traditional transmission up-shifting, which makes them listless, especially during acceleration.
This is undoubtedly a generational issue because older drivers have ingrained ideas about how automobiles ought to operate.
However, the automotive media regularly disparages CVTs, and this has a knock-on impact. Enthusiasts have every right to despise the items. Give me my clutch and 5-speed manual please! However, once they get used to the oddities of the CVT, the majority of users will welcome the improved fuel economy.
I’ve ridden in a lot of CVT vehicles.
A certain CVT is present in my own Toyota Prius, and I think it’s fine. I won’t give MPGs much thought if I want quick access to horsepower and torque. And after a short learning curve, the CVT-equipped cars I’ve driven are swift enough when necessary.
But one shouldn’t undervalue consumer responses. When it comes to autos, people are surprisingly hesitant about new technology. Because they didn’t demand that drivers embrace a paradigm shiftthey still used petrol, for examplehybrids are the most successful new innovation to appear in the last 50 years.
The history of the automobile industry, however, is one of ongoing gradual development. A long-term strategy is being used by automakers like Honda with CVTs. The recollections of “speeds” in an automobile may start to fade in ten years or so.