Is the Corolla transmission AT or CVT?
2 Answers
The Corolla transmission is AT, a 4-speed automatic transmission. Automatic transmission is abbreviated as AT, short for Auto-Transmission. It consists of a torque converter, planetary gears, and a hydraulic control system, achieving speed and torque changes through hydraulic power transmission and gear combinations. The brand of the Corolla transmission is Aisin. Established in 1969, Aisin is a world-renowned professional developer and manufacturer of automotive automatic transmissions. In the field of automotive automatic transmissions, Aisin's products hold the highest market share in the world. When using the Corolla transmission in daily life, pay attention to the following points: Do not go for extended periods without changing the transmission fluid. Prolonged failure to change the transmission fluid can damage internal components such as bearings and the housing. Avoid prolonged coasting in neutral. Many experienced drivers coast in neutral when driving manual transmission vehicles, but for automatic transmission vehicles, coasting in neutral can cause the transmission to overheat and produce a certain impact when shifting back into D gear. Do not shift into D/R gear before the vehicle has come to a complete stop. Many drivers, to showcase their "smooth" operation, shift directly into reverse gear before the vehicle has fully stopped, which can cause significant damage to the transmission gears and, over time, lead to gear grinding and other faults. Avoid frequently climbing steep slopes in D gear. When facing steep slopes, automatic transmission vehicles often overheat due to high load or shift too early, resulting in insufficient climbing power. In such cases, use manual mode to limit lower gears or use sport mode to protect the transmission. Do not tow over long distances. If an automatic transmission vehicle breaks down, use a flatbed tow truck to move the vehicle onto the platform with the transmission in N gear, rather than using a tow rope or directly towing the vehicle.
The Corolla I drive is a 2019 model equipped with a CVT transmission, which feels incredibly smooth to drive with no lag—it's like continuous acceleration. This car is very fuel-efficient whether commuting in the city or driving on highways during weekends. I've tried the older AT version before, which had noticeable gear-shift jerks, but the current CVT has been significantly optimized. I recall that since around 2014, Toyota has primarily promoted CVT transmissions, with most mainstream Corolla models configured this way. Occasionally, some older or specific models might still use AT, but the standard for new cars is CVT. As a long-term owner, I find CVT maintenance straightforward—just a check during servicing—and it's been quite reliable with few issues. Overall, the Corolla is renowned for its durability, and pairing it with a CVT enhances this feature, making it ideal for daily commuters like me.
