I have a 2017 Toyota Yaris with a CVT, and after 85,000 miles, I changed the transmission fluid for the first time. No issues at all. But I keep hearing mixed things about CVTs in other brands. I’m thinking of getting a 2020 Civic with a CVT and want to know if it’s reliable. Will it last?
I have a 2017 Civic, and I’m at about 141k miles. No problems so far.
Go for it. Just make sure you stick to the recommended fluid change intervals.
I have a 2011 CR-Z with a CVT. It might not be the same one, but I haven’t had any issues. Just make sure the fluid is changed regularly—every 30k miles is a safe bet.
Chen said:
I have a 2011 CR-Z with a CVT. It might not be the same one, but I haven’t had any issues. Just make sure the fluid is changed regularly—every 30k miles is a safe bet.
The 10th gen Civic CVT is very different from the 11th gen. The way they drive is night and day.
@Sawyer
Which one do you prefer?
It should be as reliable as your Yaris, maybe even better. The Civic is a more solid car overall.
The 1.5T engine in some models has had head gasket issues, but it’s not common unless the previous owner was running a tune.
Compared to the Yaris, the Civic will feel like a big upgrade in terms of ride quality.
@Alex
I’ve had two 1.5T Civics—one 10th gen, one 11th gen. Never had any issues. The engines are a little different, though.
Sawyer said:
@Alex
I’ve had two 1.5T Civics—one 10th gen, one 11th gen. Never had any issues. The engines are a little different, though.
Yeah, it was more of a problem in the Accord and CR-V.
@Alex
Didn’t the Accord come with a 2.0T instead?
Sawyer said:
@Alex
Didn’t the Accord come with a 2.0T instead?
The 10th gen Accord had options for a 1.5T, 2.0T, and a hybrid.
Sawyer said:
@Alex
Didn’t the Accord come with a 2.0T instead?
The 10th gen Accord had options for a 1.5T, 2.0T, and a hybrid.
Good to know, thanks.
I’ve got a 2020 Civic Touring. Had it for a year now, put about 15k miles on it. No issues so far.
I’ve owned three CVT cars—two Hondas and one Nissan. Never had any problems. Just make sure to use OEM fluid and don’t forget there are two filters—one in the front and one in the pan.
Change the CVT fluid every 30k-60k miles and you’ll be fine.
Oberon said:
Change the CVT fluid every 30k-60k miles and you’ll be fine.
What if I don’t drive much? I only do about 2.5k miles per year. Do I still need to change it every 30k miles?
I’ve got a 2020 Civic with a CVT. It’s solid, shifts well, and reacts quickly. If you get the Sport or Touring trim, you get paddle shifters to keep the revs up and reduce turbo lag. Mine has 23k miles and hasn’t needed anything yet.
@Hollis
The 11th gen CVT actually holds higher RPMs automatically, kind of like driving a manual. It’s a much better design than the 10th gen.
Sawyer said:
@Hollis
The 11th gen CVT actually holds higher RPMs automatically, kind of like driving a manual. It’s a much better design than the 10th gen.
Yeah, but I like having the paddles. Gives me control over the RPMs when I need it.
@Hollis
Paddle shifters on a CVT are just for looks. You’re not gonna shift better than the computer. I’ve had both a CVT Civic and a manual Si, and I test drove one with paddles. They don’t really do much.