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Two Decades of Refinement
The Nissan Continuously Variable Transmission
May 13th, 2025
Nissan is not just evolving the drive, they are making it more reliable.
The Nissan Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission® is more typically known as the Nissan CVT. Since its debut more than 20 years, it has been much talked about in the automotive world, and we’ll admit, often less than flatteringly.
But the CVTs found in today’s Nissan models are not the same CVT that people remember. Nissan has spent more than two decades improving the technology to create a durable CVT system that is well-suited for the demands of modern drivers. In fact, the latest generation of Nissan CVTs have had their durability tested on more than 4 million miles of public roads. These modern and heavily tested CVTs help provide smooth and effortless acceleration, climb uphill with ease and offer a quiet ride.
The latest CVT technology on Nissan models like the Sentra, Kicks and Rogue are 4 to 8% more fuel efficient than the previous generation of Nissan CVTs meaning fewer gas stops, especially on long highway drives.
Get “Behind the Wheel” of the 2025 Rogue to discover how today’s Nissan CVT is not the CVT of the past.
Awards & Accolades
J.D. Power
Nissan Ranked #1 2024 U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study [[3969]]
J.D. Power
Most Awarded For Dependability Among SUVs [[3990]]
Consumer Guide
Nissan - Consumer Guide's Most Awarded Brand for 2025 [[2371]]
Consumer Guide® Automotive
Nissan Rogue - 2025 Best Buy Award (11th Year in a Row) [[2371]]
Newsweek
2025 Nissan Rogue – Best Car for New Parents
J.D. Power
Nissan Kicks - The Most Dependable Small SUV [[3989]]
Consumer Guide Automotive
2025 Kicks – Best Buy Award (4th Year in a Row) [[2371]]
The Benefits of a Nissan Xtronic CVT for Drivers
The current generation of Nissan Continuously Variable Transmissions use a steel belt or chain and a pulley system to move up and down the gear ratio in continuously smooth motion without fixed gears. Current CVT systems create less friction than their predecessors. This reduced friction creates several benefits for drivers including:
A Better Driving Experience
The design of a CVT creates stronger acceleration from a standing start as well as rapid and seamless acceleration during merging and passing. Since the system has no fixed gears it never has to hunt for the correct one. It helps climb uphill with ease and creates less noise. Just quiet steady power.
Improved Fuel Efficiency
One of the biggest benefits of a Nissan vehicle equipped with a CVT is fewer stops at the pump, especially on long highway drives. The latest generation of CVTs on current Sentra, Kicks and Rogue models are 4 – 8% more fuel efficient than the previous generation of Nissan CVTs.
Enhanced Durability & Maintenance
A CVT vehicle has fewer moving parts than a conventional automatic transmission, which reduces friction and heat. This reduces wear and tear on your transmission, meaning it works harder, longer. With fewer moving parts, the CVT is lighter, too. This helps to increase performance and lower fuel consumption.
Like with any transmission it is important to follow the maintenance schedule. When checking or replacement of CVT fluid is required it is recommended that you visit a Nissan dealer for this service. Nissan recommends using Genuine Nissan CVT Fluid NS-3 (or equivalent only) in Nissan CVTs. Do not use Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) or manual transmission fluid in any Nissan CVT, as it may damage the CVT. Damage caused by the use of fluids other than as recommended is not covered under Nissan’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty. [[119]] Explore Nissan Maintenance Schedules.
Automatic vs. CVT
A Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) provides simple, efficient power delivery over a more traditional transmission. With CVT, shifting is seamless – the vehicle performs as though it has a variable gear for every driving situation. But really it just doesn’t have fixed gears at all.
It uses a steel belt or chain and a pulley system to move up and down the gear ratio in a continuously smooth motion, providing seamless, stronger acceleration and increased fuel economy. Friction reduction on the 3rd generation over the initial CVTs that debuted 20 years ago is 58%. We think that creates many benefits for drivers.
The real difference between a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and an automatic transmission (AT) is that while both are technically automatic transmissions and don’t require the driver to use a clutch to manually change gears, a traditional automatic transmission has fixed gears -typically ranging from five to nine in number. Nissan's XTRONIC CVT and all CVTs don’t have any traditional fixed gear ratios at all. There is no “shifting” in the conventional sense of the word.
Nissan CVT Technology: 20 Years of Improvements
Nissan was a forerunner in the development and use of CVT technology, which has now been adopted by many of its automotive peers. The first Nissan vehicle with a CVT in the United States was the 2003 Nissan Murano model year. Since then, the CVT transmission system has undergone several technical improvements, including a major overhaul in 2017 and an all-new CVT-Xs series unveiled in 2023 that is now in place on Sentra and Kicks models.
All current Nissan models equipped with a CVT also utilize D-Step Logic Control, computer software that uses dynamic inputs like vehicle speed, accelerator pedal position and application speed to determine the ideal gear ratio needed to provide smooth, constant acceleration. RPMs build as speed increases providing enhanced drivability with a direct, crisp shift feel – there’s no “hunting” or shift shock.
The Nissan commitment to CVT innovation
A CVT is a smooth driving and efficient system for a variety of driving conditions. Nissan CVTs have undergone millions of miles of real-world road-testing. Nissan will continue to use and improve its Nissan Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission® system to keep them reliable and durable. They are built for all of today’s, and tomorrow’s, drives.
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