Automatic gearbox options were available in cars since ages but it’s only recently that the demand has seen a lot of traction. This is in part due to unit cost factor economics working in its favour and different types of automatic gearboxes available at various price points. That explains the supply side however its demand has seen a steady rise due to ever increasing traffic congestion, especially in cities. The demand for personal mobility will further increase in the light of current COVID-19 situation as people switch to personal cars instead of shared mobility like cabs thereby increasing traffic woes which in turn will see more demand for automatic cars.
In this topic, we will be discussing various types of automatic transmissions like AMT, CVT, DCT, iMT and Torque converter that are currently available in the Indian market and which one to choose according to our requirement and usage.

While all other types of automatic transmissions use a complex arrangement of clutch and gear, AMTs are very closer to manual transmission as it just employs sensors and hydraulic actuators which does the job of changing clutch and gear. It is simply a manual transmission car which is fitted with actuators which does the job of changing gears instead of the human performing the task. Since this type of transmission does not involve a lot of mechanical change, it is relatively cheaper and hence found in entry-level cars. For the same reason, the gearshifts in an automated manual transmission are not as smooth and easy as other forms of automatic transmission.

Pros: Fuel economy is at par with the manual transmission, relatively less expensive than other AT cars. The transmission can also be changed to manual.

Cons: Slow and Jerky gear shifts, up-shifts are often delayed.

Models with AMT: Maruti Suzuki Alto, S-Presso, Celerio, Wagon R, Swift, Dzire; Tata Tiago, Tigor, Nexon, Renault Kwid & Triber. The point to note is different companies have their own nomenclature like Maruti Suzuki calls AMT as AGS (Auto Gear Shift) but finally at the end all are AMTs.

This type of transmission is an edge above entry-level AMTs. The CVT is an automatic transmission that uses two pulleys with a steel belt running between them. As the name suggests there are no fixed gear ratios and hence it relies on the engine speed and continuously shift gears. CVTs offer nearly an infinite number of gear ratios, meaning your engine is always working at peak efficiency, regardless of speed.

Pros: Good for city commutes amid traffic snarls. Fuel economy is comparable to manual and in some cases higher than manual cars.

Cons: Lags during quick accelerations, not good for highway drives. Also, not as inexpensive as AMTs.

Cars: Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Kia Seltos, Honda City to name a few.

Convenience is the need of the hour and automatic transmission are sure to take on the manual ones.

As the name goes, Dual Clutch Transmission employs dual-clutch to shift gears automatically where one clutch represents odd-numbered gears while another for even-numbered gears essentially meaning when one gear is engaged, another clutch gets engaged for the next gear. Think of it like a manual transmission controlled by a computer, but instead of one clutch, it has two. E.g. While in 1^st gear, Clutch 1 (represented by odd gears) is disengaged and Clutch 2 (represented by even gears) is engaged.

Pros: Quick up-shifts and down-shifts. Fuel economy is also good.

Cons: Higher maintenance cost when compared to the above transmissions.

Cars: Kia Seltos Turbo Petrol and Hyundai Creta Turbo Petrol; Volkswagen Tiguan comes with DCT gearbox. Erstwhile BS4 version of Ford EcoSport, VW Polo & Vento, Skoda Rapid also came with DCT but are discontinued post upgrading to BS6. VW group calls the DCT as DSG (Dual Shift Gear) with minor tweaks in its functioning.

This is the oldest type of automation transmission. Here instead of a clutch, it uses a torque converter to transfer the power to the wheels. It has a very complex form of engineering and is a completely different form of transmission then the rest and are often seen only in expensive cars although of lately even Ford and Volkswagen have introduced this in their entry-level cars post moving to BS6 era.

Pros: Very smooth gears shifts.

Cons: Fuel economy is slightly lower compared to other ATs but again it not always the case.

Cars: Ford Aspire, EcoSport, Endeavor; Volkswagen Polo & Vento; Toyota Lexus, Mercedes, BMW etc.

This is the newest form of transmission available in India. It principally sits in between Manual Transmission and AMT. While in manual transmission clutch and gears are manually operated, in ACMT, the clutch is automatically controlled but the gears are still to be operated manually. Whenever there is a need for an upshift or downshift, sensors understand the intention for gear change and sends a signal to the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) which automatically engages the clutch. Hence there is no need for manual clutch and the only thing that must be operated is the gear. Simply understanding, it is like driving a manual car without clutch assuming that the clutch operation is automatically taken care of. Hyundai has launched ACMT in their cars followed by Kia. Hyundai calls it iMT (Intelligent Manual Transmission).

Pros: Fun of manual transmission and convenience of automatic transmission.

Cons: Not really a con but it will take time for customers to get used to changing gears without a clutch pedal. And who knows, this technology can be the next big thing.

Cars: Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet.

Since we are talking of the automatic transmission here, it becomes imperative to understand the context of each one of these. As we understand AMTs are the most basic form of automatic transmission and hence their functionality is only to the extent of its usage. Even though being an automatic you still feel in-gear shifts and are jerky. The only advantage here is that you get rid of a manual gearbox and free yourself from the hassles of daily traffic commutes and are relatively inexpensive.

CVTs are one of the newest forms of AT and since they work on engine efficiency, this type of transmission is suited for a relaxed driving experience but do fall short of energy especially on highways. CVTs are appreciated in the sense that they provide very good manoeuvring in city lanes without having to worry about managing clutch and gear. If you are in the market for cars with automated transmission and can stretch the budget a little bit above AMT, then this is the one to go for.

DCT is way better than AMT and CVT in the sense that they are exhibit extremely smooth gear shifts. This type of transmission is welcome for speed enthusiasts’ as there are quick upshifts and downshifts thereby providing much-needed power on highway journeys. At the same time, DCTs are fuel-efficient as well. Compared to AMT and CVT, DCTs are a little expensive to buy & manage and not many companies provide them except for Hyundai & Kia. But they are worth the price.

Torque converters are the oldest and most comfortable form of automatic transmissions. There are a very linear power delivery and the power kicks in as and when demanded. However, they come at a price. The fuel efficiency is not at par with other automatics. These are also more expensive than other forms of AT.

ACMTs combines the fun of manual cars with the convenience of automatics. However, it remains to be seen how well market accepts this technology but we are optimistic from the point of view of the section of people who are reluctant to buy automatic cars for the want for driving pleasure which is purely delivered when driven manually. These cars will also not be a burden on your pocket as they would fall in between manual and AMT price range.

At Local Garagewala, we do provide all automatic gearbox related services.

In the above blog, we have tried to explain things in a simpler way by not going into the mechanics of the transmission and at the same time giving enough information for people to know the basics of its functioning. So if you like this article, do share it with your friends & colleagues. We will try to bring other such useful & interesting articles in our next blog so stay tuned. Until then Happy Reading!!!