What type of transmission is used in the Senova X65?
4 Answers
The transmission brand used in the Senova X65 is Aisin. Established in 1969, Aisin is a world-renowned professional developer and manufacturer of automotive automatic transmissions, holding the top global market share in this field. The Senova X65 is equipped with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic transmission. For the automatic transmission: During driving, the transmission will automatically adjust to the most appropriate gear ratio based on throttle position and vehicle speed. For the Senova X65's transmission in daily use, pay attention to the following points: Do not delay transmission fluid changes for extended periods. 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, this can cause overheating and create a jolt when shifting back into D gear; Never shift into D/R gear before the vehicle comes to a complete stop. Some drivers shift directly into reverse while the vehicle is still moving to showcase smooth operation, but this severely damages transmission gears and may lead to gear grinding over time; Avoid frequently climbing steep slopes in D gear. Automatic transmission vehicles often overheat under high loads or shift prematurely, causing a lack of power when climbing. In such cases, use manual mode to lock in lower gears or switch to 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 while in N gear, rather than towing directly with a rope or another vehicle.
I've been driving this Senova X65 for five years now, equipped with a manual transmission, the five-speed kind. To be honest, once you get used to driving a manual, it feels quite natural, especially when downshifting to overtake on mountain roads—it's quite exhilarating. However, in traffic jams, the left foot does suffer a bit. Some friends of mine have the automatic version, which I heard comes with a 6AT transmission that shifts quite smoothly, reportedly from a Japanese brand. If you're buying a used one now, pay special attention: for manual transmissions, check the clutch plate wear, and for automatics, test for any gearshift jerking. At this age, most are out of warranty, and transmission repairs aren't cheap.
Over the years of repairing cars, I've come across quite a few Senova X65 models. There are two transmission configurations: the manual version uses a five-speed transmission from Tangshan Aisin, which is sturdy and durable but prone to clutch assembly noise as it ages; the automatic version is equipped with Japan's Aisin TF-60SC six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode, featuring sport and snow modes. The most common issue with this 6AT is the high failure rate of the solenoid valves, specifically manifested as harsh gear shifts, especially a noticeable jerk when shifting from second to third gear. Last year, I repaired one with 100,000 kilometers on it, where the issue was a stuck spool valve in the valve body causing transmission fault codes—it was resolved after cleaning and recalibration. It's recommended to change the original transmission fluid regularly after exceeding 50,000 kilometers to extend its lifespan.
I bought the 2015 automatic luxury edition, and the manual states it's equipped with a 6AT transmission. It indeed feels smoother than my friend's dual-clutch, with no jerking during frequent starts and stops in traffic jams. As for fuel consumption, it's around 10-11 liters per 100km for city commuting, and about 8 liters on highways, which is slightly more economical than other domestic SUVs in the same class. I remember in the second year after purchase, the 4S store proactively recalled it to upgrade the TCU program, claiming to optimize the shifting logic. Now in its sixth year with 70,000 kilometers, I had the transmission fluid changed during last month's maintenance. The mechanic mentioned there wasn't much sludge when removing the oil pan, and the filter screen was still quite clean.
