There are also two other new advantages. First off, the new Launch Gear addition allowed engineers to further tune every component of the transmission.
For the modern driver, the new Direct Shift-CVT is a win-win situation. The best part is that drivers can expect more of the qualities they currently adore about their Toyota: smoother acceleration, more responsive performance, and even further decreased fuel consumption.
The new Direct Shift-CVT opens up a new world of possibility for Toyota drivers looking for the most fuel-efficient performance possible. When combined with the most recent Toyota Dynamic Force Engine, which is equipped with numerous fuel-saving innovations, a high-tech fuel injection system, and world-leading thermal efficiency thanks to a compression ratio that approaches exotic car levels, it further increases the engine’s fuel efficiency.
Select Toyota vehicles, including the Toyota Corolla Hatchback, are now receiving the new Toyota Direct Shift-CVT with Dynamic Force engine.
In This Article...
Toyota Corolla’s CVT was introduced when?
The Corolla has been among the best-selling vehicles for a long time because of its illustrious history of dependability, plush interior, and comfortable ride.
The Corolla sedan, which is available from 2014 to 2018, is bigger than the model it replaces and has more internal room.
The Corolla has a continuously variable gearbox (CVT) as of 2014. The 4-speed automatic is still available in the 20142016 Corolla L (CE in Canada), for buyers who want a conventional transmission.
Starting in 2017, all Toyota vehicles are equipped with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P), which features a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beams, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.
Toyota Corolla Issues: The T-SB-0011-14 Toyota service bulletin details an issue that may result in the Check Engine light turning on on a 2014 Corolla powered by a 2ZR-FAE (Valvematic) engine. Reprogramming the PCM is Toyota’s suggested fix. The 20142016 Corolla has a problem with the fuel tank filler neck that may prevent the gas cap from closing properly, according to the advisory TSB008616. As a result, the P0455 or P0456 Check Engine light may illuminate. The gasoline tank filler neck needs to be moved as part of the repair process.
It could be necessary to replace a noisy water pump ($290$480). It is not a really challenging job.
It may be necessary to start the car by holding the smart key fob close to the start button if the battery dies. View more: Why does the Start button on a car not work? The fob’s battery has a three-year lifespan. It is simple to swap out.
A starter motor failure could prevent an automobile from starting. The car would click when the key was turned, but it wouldn’t start. When this occurs, the battery also has to be examined. A starting motor replacement costs between $380 and $510.
Vacuum leaks or a faulty or unclean mass airflow sensor might also result in the code P0171.
A few people have complained on Toyota forums that the infotainment screen is unresponsive in some locations and that the audio system frequently reboots or freezes. Although it seems to be a one-off problem, repairing the screen or the entire item is pricey if it is out of warranty. It’s a good idea to check the consistency of all the screen’s functionalities before purchasing a used car. Check the Toyota Entune support page for information on phone pairing and other infotainment system-related issues.
Snow or grit covering the front sensor or the windshield camera can result in the various Toyota Safety Sense warning lights (Dynamic Cruise Control, Lane Departure, etc.). This is a widespread issue in newer vehicles equipped with this kind of equipment. The radar sensor is situated behind the front grille emblem, as stated on page 211 of the owner’s handbook for the 2017 Corolla in the United States. “Always keep the front grille emblem and radar sensor clean,” the owner’s manual says. The windshield-mounted camera sensor operates similarly. The guide states, “If there are water droplets, an oily film, or dirt on the windshield
The windshield is cleared of snow, etc.”
Comparatively speaking to other vehicles, the overall number of reported issues is low.
Engine: The 1.8L 4-cylinder 2ZR-FE double-overhead cam engine with 132 horsepower is standard on the 20142018 Corolla.
It has an ordinary fuel injection system and a straightforward, low-maintenance normally aspirated (non-turbo) engine. This engine has been in use by Toyota for a long time and is known to survive more than 200K miles with proper maintenance.
The 140-hp 2ZR-FAE engine that powers the Corolla LE Eco has intake valves with a continuously variable valve lift mechanism called Valvematic. It regulates the amount of intake valve opening in response to load, rpm, and other variables.
Timing chain or timing belt? There is no timing belt in the 2ZR-FE or 2ZR-FAE engines; instead, there is a timing chain. Only when a timing chain is stretched or worn out does it require replacement. A timing chain can last the whole life of the vehicle if oil changes are routinely performed and the engine is constantly kept at the right level of oil. Read up on engine maintenance.
The 20142015 Corolla with a CVT transmission gets 2937 mpg according to the EPA. Although the Corolla LE Eco is rated at 30/40 mpg, Eco versions are hard to find. With a CVT, the 20162018 Corolla achieves 28/36 mpg in the city and on the highway. This means that the automatic Corolla may travel up to 449 miles (723 km) on a single tank during a long highway journey (13.2 US gallons or 50 liters).
A mechanical belt-driven CVT is used for the first time in a Toyota in North America with the 2014 Corolla. The Prius’ electric CVT, or eCVT, is designed entirely differently than those used in other hybrid vehicles. Nissan, Subaru, and other automakers all include mechanical CVTs in their vehicles, however Toyota gets its CVTs from a different manufacturer: Aisin AW.
In order to address specific faults with the CVT gearbox in some models of the 20142017 Corolla, Toyota launched Special Service Campaign JSD in 2018. The process of inspection and repair is described in the bulletin. Reflashing the ECM, replacing the valve body, or replacing the entire CVT transmission unit and updating the software are all potential fixes. To learn more, speak to a nearby Toyota dealer. On many sites including Reddit, there are several discussions on this campaign. For updates, type “Special Service Campaign JSD” into Google. See also: The CVT transmission’s benefits and drawbacks.
Does the CVT transmission require new fluid? We looked up the maintenance plan in the Warranty and Maintenance Guide for the 2018 Corolla, which is available in the ‘Resources’ section of the US Toyota Owners page. If the vehicle is operated under Special Operating circumstances, such as “Extensive idling and/or low speed driving for a long distance such as police, taxi, or door-to-door delivery use,” it is advised that the CVT fluid be changed every 60,000 miles. If you believe that your CVT transmission has been operating too hard, ask your dealer if they can change the CVT fluid. This basically refers to circumstances that can cause the CVT fluid to overheat.
How can I tell if the transmission in my Corolla is a CVT?
Identifying a manual transmission, often known as a standard transmission or a stick shift, is simple. Some additional controls that automated and continuously variable gearboxes do not have are included in vehicles with manual transmissions. Because the driver must manually choose which gear to utilize, a manual transmission goes by that name. The desired engine speed and the vehicle speed determine the gear you are in, thus a driver must be somewhat experienced and have some familiarity with the engine and vehicle to operate it safely. The “stick” portion of a stick shift, the gear selection lever, is typically situated between the front seats within easy reach of the driver in a vehicle with a manual transmission. This shift level was positioned on the steering column in certain very old cars. When the gear selector lever is in a specific gear in a manual gearbox, the engine, transmission, and tires are locked together at that specific gear ratio. A clutch, also known as a disconnect, is put between the engine and transmission so that it is possible to switch between ratios. In addition to the brake pedal, a foot pedal is typically used to activate the clutch.
Automatic Transmission: Automatic transmissions are so named because they automatically determine the gear ratio the car should be using and switch gears as needed based on the road’s conditions. Depending on the speed of the vehicle, the engine speed, and the throttle position, the automatic transmissions decide which gear to be in. While more recent automatic gearboxes are electronically controlled by sensors and electronics, older automatic transmissions were relied on hydraulic controls and pressure. Automatic transmissions are easy to spot while you’re driving because you don’t have to change, but you can also spot them when they’re not in use by checking for the gear selector lever, which should be located either between the seats or close to the steering wheel. The gear selector lever in a car with an automatic transmission will typically contain the options “Park,” “Neutral,” and “Drive, with possibly a few more possibilities like “L or “OD.
Continuously Variable Transmission: Consciously variable transmissions, often known as CVTs, have been around for a while but, until recently, were primarily employed in off-road vehicles and tiny motorized vehicles. The CVT has improved as gas prices have increased and more environmentally friendly vehicles have been required by both the law and the public. Its nearly endless variety of gear ratios and capacity to let the engine run at its most effective level contribute to fuel savings and higher overall efficiency. It might be challenging to tell if your automobile has a CVT by looking at the shift lever alone, and the pedal layout might be the same as on an automatic transmission. A lack of shift points when driving and the transmission fluid type that is suggested for your car are two things to watch out for. The best method to tell if your car has a CVT transmission is to look for the manufacturer’s emblems, which include those for Nissan’s Xtronic, Honda’s Multi Matic, and Toyota’s Synergy Drive.
The best place to look for the precise make or model of your transmission is on the housing, where you should be able to locate a casting number. As much pleasure as it is to work on your own car, this involves getting underneath it. Grab a flashlight and make sure your car is well-supported with blocked wheels. The bell housing will be the most obvious feature. It should be big and spherical since it joins your transmission to the engine. Look backwards from the bell housing in the direction of the transmission’s drive shaft or axle exit. You should typically find some numbers and/or letters etched or embossed into the metal, usually near one end and frequently on the side. Note these figures, then get dressed, wash up, and go to the computer. Start your search for those numbers on Google to see what results are returned. These figures will typically help you identify the particular transmission in your car and provide the answer to the query “What transmission do I have?
Any transmission, regardless of the type, needs some sort of operating fluid to keep it functioning properly. While you are looking for serial numbers, if you see fluid leaking, put BlueDevil Transmission Sealer right away to your transmission to permanently stop the leak and prevent expensive transmission breakdowns.
BlueDevil Transmission Sealer is available here online or at one of our affiliate auto parts retailers, such as:
Is the CVT in the Toyota Corolla dependable?
Because of the smoothness they offer in urban areas and because Toyota and other manufacturers of hybrid vehicles favor CVTs, they are widely used.
On the other hand, CVT gears often offer excellent fuel efficiency and are extremely dependable. They are currently providing strong acceleration when you wish to pull away. Toyota offers the CVT in a number of different models, including the ones listed below. To find out if they have the characteristics you seek, click through!
Conclusion
Hopefully you now know what a CVT transmission is! Naturally, while buying a car, the reliability of the CVT transmission might play a significant role in your decision.
Even Toyota’s current lineup has several vehicles with CVT transmissions, including the Corolla and C-HR! Do you already drive a car with a CVT or have you ever considered getting one? Tell us if you drive a car with a CVT transmission or not by leaving a comment below!
What Toyota models lack CVTs?
Toyota does not provide CVTs in the 86, Avalon (non-hybrid), Mirai, Supra, 4Runner, Highlander, Camry (non-hybrid), Corolla (manual only), Yaris, Land Cruiser, rav4 (non-hybrid), Tacoma, and Tundra.
How long is the Corolla CVT good for?
Anybody will tell you that a Toyota Corolla should have a 300,000-mile lifespan. Of course, that assumes excellent upkeep. If you don’t adhere to your maintenance schedule, change your oil and transmission fluid on a regular basis, and drive safely, you won’t make it there.
In a survey of still-running automobiles with more than 200,000 miles on the odometer conducted in 2020, Toyota makes up six out of ten of the top ten vehicles in terms of life expectancy. The Corolla may not have made the top ten merely because it has always been a reasonably priced, low-maintenance daily driver.
More than 16 percent of them have topped 200k because someone who drives a Land Cruiser is probably devoting a lot of time and effort into keeping it operating. The Corolla, on the other hand, is a car you might gift to a nephew when they start college after using it for seven or eight years to commute to work.
Of course, if you hang onto your Corolla and give it the same loving care and attention you’d give a classic, you might hit 390,000, as one driver did in a 2006. Even so, you might defeat that. A 1991 Corolla with a million miles on it is displayed with pride at a dealership in Florida. Although the real distance is 939,037, it’s still quite close.
You can find Corolla owners boasting about their first 300k in any automotive forum. Not every Corolla will endure the journey.
The previous owner may have neglected maintenance, your vehicle may have a flaw you are unaware of, and there is always the possibility of a surprise collision just before the finish line.
The fact remains, though, that a Corolla reaching 300,000 miles with its original engine and transmission in tact is not at all unusual. That is twice what Consumer Reports lists as the industry average, if you’re keeping score.