Did you know that 96% of vehicles sold in America are equipped with automatic transmissions? Well, this number isn’t relevant for us in India but is still a point to delve on. Manual transmissions may still be the pick for enthusiasts or drivers in general, but automatic transmissions are slowly gaining popularity in the country, and for good reason! With traffic worsening day by day and the convenience of automatics, it just makes sense why people would pick them over good ol’ manual transmissions. But what exactly are the automatic transmissions on offer? How different is their technology? And what offers the best use case in what scenario? This article is here evident that out for you!
iMT
The newest offering in the automatic segment, although not a full-fledged automatic, the iMT (intelligent manual transmission) removes the hassle of a clutch all the while keeping the control with a manual stick shift. It achieves this by having a sensor within the gearbox that enables the clutch at a certain RPM and allows you to perform the upshift/downshift. This is the perfect blend for those who absolutely love their stick but hate constantly pressing their clutch. Very cheap to maintain and not an expensive upgrade over conventional manual transmissions, it is currently offered only in Kia and Hyundai cars, namely the Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, and Hyundai i20.
AMT
The most cost-effective automatic gearbox solution, the AMT (Automated Manual Transmission), again in technical terms is still not a full-fledged automatic gearbox. It is essentially similar to a manual transmission, except for a bunch of smart sensors and actuators that perform an upshift or downshift at a certain RPM level, almost making it an automated manual transmission (thus being the name). With just around Rs 50,000 increment over manual transmission, it is a cost-effective and reliable option. Offered in cars such as Maruti Suzuki Alto, WagonR, Baleno, Swift, Mahindra XUV300, Tata Tiago, Tata Altroz and Nexon to name a few.
Torque Converter
Our first full-fledged automatic transmission on the list, the torque converter gearbox offers great reliability and fast upshifts and downshifts. It is essentially a type of fluid coupling, which allows the engine to spin somewhat independently of the transmission. With an incremental price of around Rs 1,00,000 over manual transmissions, it’s a tough sell for a lot of buyers but will run you a very long time without any hassle if you decide to go with it.
Also Read: Tata Punch, Nexon, and Altroz iTurbo To Get DCT Automatic Transmission Soon
Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT/DCA/DSG)
As the name suggests, its runs with the help of two clutches. One clutch is responsible for the odd numbers of gears (1,3,5,7) and the other clutch is responsible for the even (2,4,6) and reverse gears, it offers supremely fast gear switching due to the ability of one clutch quickly engage after the former disengages. It is great for enthusiast drivers looking for those quick overtakes and fast gear switches. Coming with an incremental cost of over Rs 1,50,000 over manual transmissions, it is a very clear demarcation between want and need. Although extremely quick, reliability does come into question with DCTs due to their overheating issues, which is thankfully resolved with the inclusion of wet clutches instead of dry clutches. Offered primarily with turbo petrol engines, it is seen in cars like the Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, Hyundai i20, Skoda Slavia, Tata Altroz, etc. to name a few.
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
The most diverse and different transmission offering, CVTs run completely different compared to conventional automatics. With shift-by-wire technology instead of multiple gears it runs on one gear with multiple gear ratios. Imagine it as a continuous belt, increasing linearly with your speed. CVTs offer great comfort and precision shifting to such an extent that you don’t even feel it. With an increment of over Rs l,00,000 over manual transmission, it is perfect for city conditions and in stop and go traffic and offers better fuel efficiency than manual transmissions. Offered in cars like the Honda City, Honda Amaze, Hyundai i20 NA petrol, etc.
