There are 5 different types of automatic transmissions. These are iMT, AMT, CVT, DCT, and Torque Converter. All of these offer different driving experiences and fuel efficiency to car owners. Additionally, they come at varying prices.
Therefore, understanding them in detail will help you select the most suitable automatic transmission type for your requirements.
iMT The well-known car brand Hyundai coined the term iMT or Intelligent Manual Transmission for the clutchless manual transmission in its cars. It is essentially a manual transmission without a clutch. The car driver has to manually shift gears like a manual transmission, but an actuator manages the engaging and disengaging of the clutch according to a sensor fit into the gear shifter.
iMT is a relatively new technology in the Indian automobile market available only in a select few cars, like Kia Sonet and Hyundai Venue. Price-wise, the iMT is the most pocket-friendly automatic transmission type and is available for about ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 above the three-pedal setup.
The iMT drive experience is similar to manual transmission but offers much more comfort in high-traffic areas. The only thing car enthusiasts miss in the iMT transmission is clutch control. You tend to feel it more on twisty roads. However, iMT’s fuel efficiency is similar to the manual transmission.
AMT AMT, or the Automatic Manual Transmission, was the most budget-friendly automatic transmission before iMT arrived. AMT’s construction is similar to a manual transmission, but unlike iMT, where only the clutch is controlled by an actuator, both the clutch and the gear shifting are controlled by an actuator in AMT.
AMT offers a closer automatic transmission experience than iMT. The driver has to control only the throttle pedal and brake while the AMT decides the most suitable gear.
You have to pay approximately ₹50,000 to ₹60,000 for AMT transmission over manual transmission. While AMT offers a similar experience as an actual automatic transmission, there are places where you will feel the difference. For example, you may feel jerks, especially when you are downshifting. Moreover, there is a head nod issue when you drive a little faster.
The gear changes in AMT are slower than usual. Therefore, it is best suited for drivers who prefer to drive at a moderate pace and want to enjoy the automatic transmission experience at a moderate price. In addition, AMT’s fuel efficiency differs between brands, and brands like Maruti and Hyundai offer decent fuel efficiency on ATM transmission.
CVT Continuously Variable Transmission or CVT is a unique automatic transmission type. Among CVT vs AMT vs DCT transmissions, CVT is the only automatic transmission with no actual gears. Instead, there is a belt-driven system suspended on two pulleys.
These pulleys can offer multiple gear ratios. A transmission control unit decides the appropriate gear ratio based on the driver’s speed, incline, etc. You may have to pay anywhere between ₹1 lakh to ₹1.30 lakh over manual transmission for CVT.
The driving experience of CVT is notably different from manual transmission. Unlike manual transmission, where gears are changed when required, the gear ratio continuously keeps changing in CVT transmission.
You can enjoy a smooth driving experience with CVT transmission, which is best suited for city traffic. CVT requires smooth driving and is not meant for sporty driving. The best feature of CVT transmission is its fuel efficiency, especially if you drive it with a light foot.
Torque Converter For a comparison of Torque Converter vs CVT and other transmission types, the former is the oldest and has become efficient and advanced over time. Earlier, the Torque Converter didn’t have the best automatic gearbox, but this has changed.
Now, the Torque Converter deploys 2 turbines, one connected to the flywheel and gearbox, respectively. There is transmission liquid in the middle, which moves the force from side to side. As a result, modern-day Torque Converters are efficient with significant no power loss.
For a Torque Converter, you may have to spend anywhere between ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakhs over manual transmission. In AMT vs Torque Converter comparison, the latter provides better performance and efficiency in cities and on highways.
DCT Dual Clutch Transmission is the most advanced automatic transmission type you can have. Here, 2 clutches that operate 2 sets of gear ratios. The computer automatically selects the next gear using the alternative clutch. This results in a negligible difference during gear shifting.
You will have to pay approximately ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakhs more for a DCT transmission over a manual transmission. Moreover, it comes with higher repair costs.
You can fine-tune your DCT transmission by altering the gearbox’s tune. Most DCT cars these days come with drive mode buttons, which control the engine performance, gearbox, steering wheel, etc. If you drive smoothly with a light foot, you can achieve excellent fuel efficiency with DCT transmission.
If you ask an enthusiastic driver — which automatic transmission is the best — they will probably say DCT. These cars probably offer the best automatic gearbox.
