Are automatic transmissions better than manual ones?

Disputes about the superiority of one transmission over another have been going on since the first automatic transmissions appeared on the market.

Over the past decades, many myths have arisen, mainly regarding automatic transmissions. Manufacturers Are automatic transmissions better than manual ones? cars, however, don't seem to care about this and are constantly improving their designs.

As a result of these activities, over the past ten years, much has changed in terms of the driving comfort of cars with automatic transmission. Both in Poland and throughout Europe, automatic cars are still a minority. It is estimated that they make up less than 10% of all cars moving on our roads. Meanwhile, in America the situation is quite different - about 90% of cars are equipped with an automatic transmission. This is partly due to the fact that gasoline has always been much cheaper over the Ocean than on the Old Continent, and automatic cars were relatively fuel-intensive. However, until the increase a few years ago, no one in the United States was particularly concerned about the high fuel consumption of the vehicle in use. However, in recent decades, the conventional wisdom has persisted that a car with an automatic transmission in this respect is less economical than a similar car with a manual transmission. Is it really true?

Most modern automatic transmissions do not increase fuel consumption. There are many comparisons of fuel consumption results of the same models of cars with automatic and manual transmissions on Internet forums, but remember that a lot depends on our driving style and driving habits. If the driver loves Are automatic transmissions better than manual ones? dynamic driving, he will get higher scores regardless of whether he is driving with an "automatic" or with a manual transmission. Old automatic transmissions usually reacted to pressing the gas pedal with a delay, not always recognizing the intentions of the drivers and often unnecessarily "spinning" the engine to high speeds.

A computer is responsible for the operation of modern automatic transmissions, which tries to optimize the speed so that the car is dynamic enough, but on the other hand also economical. In many car models, we also have a choice of driving modes - for example, "economic" or "sport", depending on whether we are driving calmly in the city or overtaking other cars on the highway. Thus, even in the case of SUVs, which are becoming more and more popular in Poland, i.e. larger and heavier vehicles than classic compact cars, the fuel consumption for a given model with a manual or automatic transmission is usually very similar.

Modern gearboxes work in such a way that the driver always feels that in case of need (for example, when overtaking), he will never run out of power. For those who love dynamic driving and especially appreciate this feeling of confidence, the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is an attractive solution. In the case of this type of box, constant access to the maximum power of the car does not necessarily mean an increased appetite for fuel.

Vehicles with different types of automatic transmissions are available on the market: classic automatic transmissions, stepless variators or dual clutch transmissions. "Automatic" differ from each other in terms of parameters, but the vast majority do not significantly increase fuel consumption and do not have a particular effect on the operation of the car. Moreover, in the case of some designs, cars with automatic transmission can be more economical and more dynamic than their counterparts with manual transmission. Are automatic transmissions better than manual ones?

However, remember that a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission must not be towed or pushed. To start, you need to use an additional battery and special cables.

A bit of history ...

The first mention of an automatic transmission in a car dates back to 1909. In the interwar period, electric gear shifting appeared with buttons on the steering wheel (Vulcan Electric Gearshift). The first classic automatic transmission was installed in an American Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser in 1939. A continuously variable automatic transmission made its debut in the Netherlands in 1958 (DAF), but this type of solution only grew in popularity in the late XNUMXs. In the nineties, the popularity of automatic transmissions grew.