This is the first CVT I've owned but I know it's not really downshifting. I had the cruise set between 65-80, I noticed that on the slightest of hills the transmission would downshift to maintain speed. In older cars the computer would just add a little gas to maintain cruise speed, usually only 100-200 rpm increase. This thing would downshift at the start of a hill and the rpm would rise by 900-1100, it would maintain this engine speed until it topped the hill. This has to have a terrible effect on gas mileage. I haven't talked to the dealer yet but I can't imagine this was designed to operate this way.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
This is the first CVT I've owned but I know it's not really downshifting. I had the cruise set between 65-80, I noticed that on the slightest of hills the transmission would downshift to maintain speed. In older cars the computer would just add a little gas to maintain cruise speed, usually only 100-200 rpm increase. This thing would downshift at the start of a hill and the rpm would rise by 900-1100, it would maintain this engine speed until it topped the hill. This has to have a terrible effect on gas mileage. I haven't talked to the dealer yet but I can't imagine this was designed to operate this way.
- David T., Ringgold, GA, US