HONDA Insight - Manual (Page 77)

77
CVT T
RANSMISSION
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.
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.