Does the 12th-generation Corolla CVT have gears?
4 Answers
The Toyota Corolla CVT transmission is equipped with a low-speed gear mechanism internally. Below are the specific details about the Corolla: 1. Vehicle Positioning: The Corolla is positioned as a compact sedan, with dimensions of 4630/1775/1480mm and a wheelbase of 2700mm. 2. Powertrain: The Corolla uses two types of engines, one being a 1.2-liter turbocharged engine and the other a 1.8-liter naturally aspirated engine. The 1.2-liter turbocharged engine delivers 116 horsepower and a maximum torque of 185 Nm, paired with a CVT transmission. The 1.8-liter naturally aspirated engine produces 98 horsepower and a maximum torque of 142 Nm, with an electric motor that has a maximum power of 53 kW and a maximum torque of 163 Nm. 3. Suspension: The front suspension uses a MacPherson independent suspension, while the rear suspension employs an E-type multi-link independent suspension.
As a master technician who has repaired hundreds of Toyotas, I can confirm the 12th-generation Corolla's CVT indeed features a gear set. It employs an ingenious Direct Shift technology—using gear drive during starts or low speeds to deliver AT-like power, then seamlessly switching to belt drive at higher speeds. This design solves traditional CVT's sluggish start issue. Having disassembled the transmission, I observed its planetary gear set boasts exceptional build quality. However, always use genuine CVT fluid during maintenance—last time a customer used wrong fluid causing belt slippage, costing nearly 5,000 yuan to fix.
I've been driving a 12th-generation Corolla Hybrid for a year and a half, and I can confirm this CVT does have a gear structure. You can clearly feel the gear engagement when starting from a red light, unlike the older models that relied solely on steel belts and felt sluggish. On the highway, the tachometer is exceptionally stable—at 80 km/h, it's only at 1500 rpm. However, in cold winter weather, you might notice slightly more pronounced gear shifts when the car is cold, but this disappears after warming up for three minutes. I've driven 20,000 km in this car with a combined fuel consumption of 5.2 L/100km. This gear-equipped CVT is indeed much more fuel-efficient than my old Nissan Sylphy.
After studying Toyota's patent documents, the 12th-generation Corolla CVT is equipped with a Launch Gear starting mechanism. The principle is simple: below 25km/h, it uses direct gear drive to avoid high-load wear on the steel belt; above 40km/h, it switches to steel belt mode for improved transmission efficiency. This design expands the gear ratio range to 7.5, which is 15% wider than traditional CVTs. However, be cautious about frequent hard acceleration from standstill - although the gears can handle greater torque, sudden impacts may accelerate transmission valve body aging. During daily driving, gear shifts are almost imperceptible, with smoothness surpassing Volkswagen's DSG.
