- Honda Car Owner's Manual

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77
CVTTRANSMISSION
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TheInsightismadewithtwotransmissions:
• aconventional5-speedmanualtransmission,and
• a continuously variable automatic transmission, also referred to at the "CVT" or "Honda
Multimatic"transmission.
NotethatwhiletheHondaInsightandToyotaPriusbothofferCVTtransmissionsthatbothprovide
steplessaccelerationandacontinuousrangeofmotorspeedtovehiclespeedratios,thePriusCVT(called
'ECVT'byToyota)systemismechanicallyentirelydifferent.
TheCVTtransmissionusedintheInsightis
very similar to the CVT transmission that
Hondahasusedinothervehicles,includingthe
CivicHX inthe United States,and the Honda
LogoinEurope&Japan.CVTequippedCivic
HX models have been sold in the U.S. since
1996. The Insight and 2001 Civic HX use a
redesigned and significantly improved version
oftheCVTtransmission.
*Note:Imagesprovidedherearebasedon
theversion ofHonda'sCVT transmissionused
in the '96-'00 generation Civics. By and large
this information applies equally well to the
CVTtransmissionusedintheInsight,butthere
maybesomeminordifferencesinthenewCVT
transmission. Consult your service manual
before doing any work related to the CVT
transmission.
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OverviewoftheCVTTransmission
Rather than having a fixed set of gear
combinations,or"ratios",theCVTtransmission
allows an almost limitless number of engine
speed to vehicle speed ratios. This provides
significantbenefitsoveratraditionalautomatic
transmission,including:
• ThecomputercanintelligentlychoosetohavetheInsight'sgasolineengineandelectricmotor
rotatingattheoptimalspeed,regardlessofhowfastthecaristravelling.Whencruisingunder
lowpowerdemandconditions,theengine&motorwillturnrelativelyslowly,whiletheywill
turn faster when accelerating or climbing a hill. This provides improved fuel efficiency as
comparedtoatypicalautomatictransmission.
• BecauseofthesmoothtransitioningearratiosprovidedbytheCVTtransmission,theCVT
Insightprovidesconstant,steplessaccelerationfromastopallthewayuptocruisingspeed.
This contrasts with the jerk of gear changes experienced with a typical automatic
transmission.
• The CVT transmission provides less power loss than a typical automatic transmission,
resultinginbetterefficiencyandacceleration.