Toyota RAV4 eCVT transmission - I was wrong and here's why...

[@MarkDHastingsMusic]

1.) Make a mistake 2.) Admit it 3.) correct it - genius! I hope this idea catches on!

[@mlacson12]

I have a Highlander Hybrid and I'm an engineer as well and I had the same exact reaction about how eCVT works when I finally understood it...genius! I watched that exact video you recommended about eCVT multiple times to get my head wrapped around it😅. You have to forget the traditional gear box system to fully understand and appreciate this, it is really brilliant.

[@fivish]

other makes use an automated manual box where toyota have the 'Power Split Device'. Geesh!

[@larsthor9691]

The E CVT Transmission is clever. Whats not so clever is the rough running and load 2.5 l engine. They could insulate it better and to make it even more efficient, adding a turbo charger = more torque lower in the Rev range = quieter and more efficient!!

[@mlacson12]

@@larsthor9691 they probably insulate it already on Lexus models that uses this same power train like the NX hybrid I believe and you are mainly using the electric motor on the low range from stop for quick acceleration.

[@robertlefeuvre9404]

I owned a Camry Hybrid and loved the drivetrain, because it’s variable you feel no shift points. I also like Toyota’s because I worked as an assembly specialist for them and and retired with 31 years. They make great vehicles and treated me well.

[@robertlefeuvre9404]

Great video, thanks.

[@robertshunter]

In addition to my 500hp Audi Q7, and my motorcycles, I also have a Toyota hybrid. As an owner I must say that the use of the 'eCVT' label, by both Toyota and Ford for their planetary torque-split gearboxes, does them a disservice. Everyone sees the 'CVT' part, but very few understand that the 'e' stands for 'emulated'. It eliminates the direct linkage between engine and road speeds, just like a CVT, but is fundamentally different and shares absolutely nothing in common with the CVTs that so many cringe over. I applaud your taking the time to dig deeper, and learn more about how the system really works, as that lousy 'eCVT' label causes far too many to dismiss it out of hand. The Weber Auto recommendation was a fantastic choice, as he does a great job of demystifying planetary torque-split gearboxes. I'd highly recommend people take a look at Weber Auto's full catalog of videos to learn more about what makes their car work. 👍

[@FirstLast-tx3yj]

How do you compare the resposiveness of the ecvt in comparison to a manual or traditional automatic? Given that its in power mode for sure

[@robertshunter]

@@FirstLast-tx3yj In 'Power Mode' the response is instantaneous, maximizing the use of the motor-generators.

[@aussiedeplorable8670]

Exactly

[@powerguymark]

​​@@FirstLast-tx3yj just had this channel pop up in my KZbin algorithm, so I apologize for my comment coming a year later😂. I test drove a Toyota Avalon, which does not have all-wheel drive and forgoes the rear motor and it was quite sluggish from a dead stop. Toyota's 4 cylinder all-wheel-drive hybrid platform has the feel and acceleration of a V6 due to the instantaneous torque provided by the electric motors mg2 & mg3/r.

[@vaprex]

Just a minor nit, the "e" in eCVT stands for "electronic" ( *electronic* Continuously Variable Transmission)... Where the "e" is really referring to the implementation and functions of the the electric motors (MG1 / MG2) which control the driveshaft speed, crankshaft speed, HV battery charging, reverse mode, (and on and on) in the transmission.

[@Kyle-og4ng]

Great explanation! Toyota has really perfected the eCVT and reliable transmissions in general. All the misleading biased information about 'CVTs' comes from the lack of execution from other brands *cough* nissan. When you omit the belts and cones and replace those bits with a metal planetary gear set the rules change and Toyota has single handedly brought back the charm of what a true e CVT can be.

[@svr5423]

HSD is not a CVT. Those are completely different concepts. Everyone knows that.

[@aamgdp]

CVT stands for continuously variable transmission. Says nothing about how it's executed. Ofc the confusion comes from most of CVTs bring belt drive.

[@svr5423]

@@aamgdp CVT is a specific concept using belts. In contrast, Toyota's HSD works with planetary gears and NEEDS multiple motors to work. You wouldn't say that a dieselelectric locomotive or ship has a CVT, or even a helicopter with a secondary gas turbine, just because the RPM from the propulsion is decoupled from the power source.

[@Gopher31]

@@aamgdpExactly, CVT describes a behaviour rather than a specific mechanism.

[@lmb_codes]

Is Nissan’s transmission really that bad? ~I’m thinking about how their hybrid transmits power to the wheels. From the looks of it, seems to be a simpler mechanism where the ICE does not even send power to the wheels but rely solely on the electric motors.

[@acerforge3882]

Thanks for clearing that up. Perhaps the most impressive thing about this powertrain is that the electronics control both the engine and the transmission in every detail and the result is not just excellent fuel efficiency but also a very rewarding driving experience with a lot of flexibility left in the drivers control. As well as Weber's excellent explanation of the transmission there is also plenty of material about the highly sophisticated engine design which is itself a hybrid supporting both Atkinson cycle principles and more conventional operation as required. The electronics allow all these variations to operate seamlessly and the driver gets instantaneous response to the accelerator pedal.

[@alanjohnson7855]

As a former engineer I found this fascinating, very well explained and informative, well done.

[@PetrolPed]

👍

[@ericb330]

I’m 74 years and your video made me smile….. When I was 18 years I made a cycletour through Holland, the Netherlands. In the province Friesland impetus a young couple with a DAF ( Dafodle) , I believe that this was its name. That car had a CVT and DAF Eindhoven, from the van Doorn family, was the first CVT car in Holland and Europa.. It’s nice to see you so enthusiastic about the choice Toyota made with this car.. I will follow you because I like your style..

[@oliveringram3056]

Daf advert back in the day, " Forward to go forward, back to to go back" Brilliant system. Similar system on early combine harvesters, to increase or decrease forward speed in very small increments.

[@micheljansen85]

Yeah, the variomatics. Went as fast forward as they did backwards. They organised races driving them backwards on Zandvoort. Hilarious stuff.

[@fivish]

The DAF had a literal rubber band drive and it was rubbish.

[@Martinko_Pcik]

I appreciate your humility to acknowledge you didn't know enough in the previous review and instead of being defensive learned something new and shared it with others. Great explanation.

[@royholzmann5525]

Finally! Congratulations! You understand it now and admit you had it wrong in the first review. So many of your “professional” colleague reviewers still don’t understand it, only because they don’t take the time to really understand it. It just don’t fit their idea/concept how a car should sound and work. This makes your reviews so much more trustworthy. You have gained a subscriber. Thank you and keep on making these great video’s!

[@PetrolPed]

Thanks Roy for the lovely comment and Sun and welcome to the channel 👍

[@motioncompensation1544]

The motors don’t change direction to change from motor to generator, I doubt he really understands it. If MG1 needed to reverse direction, you would need to drive in reverse to get it to regenerate.

[@a64738]

Understanding how it works do nothing and have nothing to do with people disliking it... What many people dislike about it is the lag you get, when stepping on the gas a little to accelerate it do not accelerate but the RPM goes up, then it slowly accelerates. And this feels not good at all, to make the car go you must step hard on the gas and there goes all the benefits of fuel mileage out the window...++

[@mark46ification]

I also watch videos on WeberAuto and it is explained there perfectly...the problem is that people simply refuse to understand the eCVT drive because they have been technically connected to a classic drive with a classic gearbox for decades...but this system works completely differently than a classic combustion engine with automatic gearbox. ...they don't understand it so they refuse it...if you understand this system you start to love it...what amazes me personally about this system is its absolute simplicity...when I technically compare it with DSG it is like the sun and the rainfall...

[@a64738]

Understanding how it works do nothing and have nothing to do with people disliking it... What many people dislike about it is the lag you get, when stepping on the gas a little to accelerate it do not accelerate but the RPM goes up, then it slowly accelerates. And this feels not good at all, to make the car go you must step hard on the gas and there goes all the benefits of fuel mileage out the window...

[@rahul4288]

​@@a64738Not much of this rubber band effect in eCVT. Plus instant torque from electric motor helps.

[@richardllewellyn1551]

I enjoyed your first video on the RAV4 - thank you. I had already driven one but was concerned about the CVT transmission. I read loads about it and this morning took out another for a test drive for 2 hours specifically to come to terms with how it works. Like you, once I 'got it' it wasn't an issue at all - it's just a change of mindset about how the car is working. It really is very clever. Thanks for putting up this second video and for explaining how you have adjusted to it. Full marks for revisiting the CVT issue. I've just ordered a RAV4 as a result of my drives and your clear videos have been a real help. Thanks again.

[@AltaHangman]

I’ve been driving Toyota hybrids for the last 16 years including the last 10 months with a RAV4 Prime. It’s good to see you correct your understanding of the hybrid drive system, thank you. One small nitpick, the mg2 alone will only power the car to 84 mph not 124 mph.

[@powerguymark]

How did you arrive at this information? Thank you in advance.

[@pbear216]

I arrived at this information because I own one. 83 mph is the limit for EV only, at which point, the gas engine comes on and will power it to a top speed of 118 mph. No Prime goes 124 mph. The gas only version of the Rav4 will hot 124 mph though.

[@fivish]

@@pbear216 And you did this where?

[@pbear216]

@fivish anywhere really. It only takes a little over 1/4 mile to reach 118 from a dead stop

[@dannybryant6873]

​@@pbear216. Be extra careful with that 😮

[@reinmansmith]

This is why your channel will continue to grow… full credit to you for coming back and re-visiting this car (and drivetrain) with the benefit of hindsight and a few thousand miles of driving 👍 Very few reviewers would ..…. I knew once you looked into it you would appreciate the engineering and efficiency of this drivetrain which most reviewers fail to see. Like you I have grown to be really impressed by the smoothness and brilliant fuel economy of this system but I think it takes more than a quick drive to appreciate it. When you also take into account the long term maintenance cost benefits of no starter motor or alternator, it is a brilliant piece of design and gives you a comfortable family sized SUV with the running costs of a small hatchback, as a daily driver I think it’s hard to beat 😊 (hope you survived the storm intact 👍)

[@PetrolPed]

Thanks bud 👍

[@alannevin449]

Evening all , six months ago I bought a GR Yaris and on an impulse bought a hybrid Yaris too , first impression was this gearbox is weird but once you dive it and get used to it it’s actually not that bad and as a bonus the economy was astounding ! so just traded it in for a new Yaris Cross which is actually a lot quieter… thank god ! Oh and six months later still totally blown away by the GR , can’t stop smiling when I drive it !

[@PetrolPed]

Mega cars 👍

[@roymchardy7536]

Good on you for properly reviewing an eCVT vehicle. Too many reviewers do not know how it works including one American who claimed the new Prius did not accelerate quickly enough,whilst not looking at the speedo, presumably listening to the engine as you might with a manual box.

[@rusty911s2]

Interestingly the Outlander Phev is also called a CVT, but there's no mechanical gear variation at all. Below about 45mph it simply is driven by the front and rear motors. If the engine is running, it's purely a generator. So engine-generator-battery and / or motors. Above 45(ish), if conditions allow, engine turns both generator and a direct drive to the front wheels is engaged. Just like the RAV, the engine drops in and out depending on state of charge. It's a simpler system than the RAV but is quite effective until you have a very low battery. At this point, on a steep hill its only option is to thrash the engine to generate electrical power for the motors. It doesn't have a low mechanical drive available to get power direct from engine to wheels. This is the great advantage of Toyota's eCVT: it has a way of being able to get engine drive to the front wheels with no limit on ratio. All new to me, so thank you. I shall now drive my inferior Outlander to the shops ...

[@1Iberica]

Thanks for your honesty. CVT transmissions have caused confusion with many people who are confused by the engine revs. It does take some time to get used to the way they operate compared with normal gearboxes. The Toyota system is very clever and could well be the direction we need to go during the transition to full EV. Thanks again, a great video. Gerry in Australia.

[@PetrolPed]

Thanks Gerry 👍

[@miltechmoto]

What does going full ev have to do with this transmission?

[@1Iberica]

@@miltechmoto essentially a CVT will give the driver an experience not achieved in standard gearboxes. It will find peak torque and the car can remain there whilst it accelerates. This is similar to the power delivery by EVs, albeit not so brutal. In other words a CVT has one effective gear just like an EV. Yes there are various CVT boxes available and depending on the manufacturer and the software that they have, the may behave differently.

[@robertmackenzie5850]

Good explanation, been driving Toyota hybrids for a while now . Until you know how they work unlike CVTs of old you come to appreciate how good they are and how clever Toyota are bringing this to market and being successful

[@PetrolPed]

Yep 👍

[@barryhack8037]

I have a RAV4 & think its very clever technology and now through your great explanation I know how it works

[@JoeBlowUK]

I picked up my new Corolla GR Sport 2.0 Hybrid one month ago. It is the first CVT transmission vehicle that I have used. I quite like the roar you get on acceleration, then the quietness you get when cruising. You can barely detect when the engine cuts in after driving on EV only. My wife loves driving it too, so happy days.

[@PetrolPed]

They are great cars 👍

[@riccccccardo]

Correction for everyone it’s called a E-CVT.

[@robh9207]

Super impressed you could talk about something so complex and drive!

[@PetrolPed]

👍

[@PFW308]

It is a great skill to explain the complex in a concise and understandable way, thanks Pete. I’m 2,500 miles into RAV4 PHEV ownership and loving it. You have to drive in a manner that suites the car, there ‘s no point hustling it. When I switch to my Alpine or Caterham then I have to recalibrate quite a bit!

[@toninocars]

Correct. 3 things Toyota hybrids doesn’t like and best to avoid: 1. Hard acceleration 2. Extreme stopping 3. Constant fast driving Build for smooth pleasurable everyday drive , efficient and reliable cars. 👍

[@pollumG]

@@toninocars I drove a mitsubishi outlander once a bit too hard and got a warning on the dash about the battery overheating lol

[@robertnixon1374]

We are @15600 miles on our R4P and this is the very best auto SUV we have ever owned. It took us about 1500 miles to figure out the trans and the ice setup. We average 3.2 miles per kilowatt hour for a range of 44- 50 miles electric. On lever ground @65-75 mph we have surpassed 42 miles per gal in straight hybrid mode. There are additional driving modes in the “S” mode for a real thrill in very steep hills. S1 thru S4 are under drives for steep hills and S5- S6 are near normal driving. We have owned 23 new cars from Toyota Corollaries to even a Turbo Supura and this thing is faster then all of them. ( turbo Supura was a wheel spinner) . No faults yet.

[@kroberts7576]

@@robertnixon1374 hi are you suggesting putting the car in sport mode for steep hills, but does this not increase the revs thanks

[@robertnixon1374]

@@kroberts7576 the S mode does increase revs but this also allows better road feel and dynamic braking. Steep hills seem much more controllable in S2-3 at lower speeds especially on twisting steep roads at 25-40 mph.

[@thomassowell3219]

Best description of Atkison Cycle I’ve heard or read about. I drive a Rav 4 hybrid, not the plug in type. It is an amazing vehicle. Engineering is really impressive. Thank you

[@PetrolPed]

👍

[@MrPeteJMc]

Excellent video, thank you. I have a 2019 RAV4 hybrid Excel and love it. Before that I had a 2017 RAV4 hybrid and Toyota have improved on each gen. I have got used to the higher revs and don't notice it. Toyota are now offering a 10 year warranty providing the car is serviced by themselves each year. The ecvt is near enough bullet proof. I wish I could afford the PHEV but it's a little over my price point. Thank you for your comments.

[@kencatchpole5063]

I can’t have a PHEV so would need the standard petrol hybrid. Is it the same gearbox in both

[@MrPeteJMc]

@@kencatchpole5063 yep same ecvt. Every thing is the same apart from a bigger battery and an upgraded inverter to push more power to mg2 and the rear motor. This gives a 301 hp to the 219 hp of the regular hybrid.

[@stealth_yellow]

I recently test drove a Lexus UX with a CVT box. I was very wary before the drive but it is perfect for that kind of vehicle. It was a lovely smooth drive and I couldn’t even feel the engine kick in and out. Great in town and busy traffic. Smooth at speed. My wife even ordered one to replace her Mini Cooper S!

[@sydsnott5042]

Excellent car and excellent choice. You don't realise that on the motorway at 70mph the engine isn't running. Enjoy it when you get it.

[@riccccccardo]

Yep u can’t feel it.

[@TC-V8]

Very good, simple explanation. Only part I would add is that for any planetary gear set if two of the three components move at the same speed it effectively locks the gear set so you get 1 to 1 ratio - so in the rav 4 at 1 to 1 engine ratio MG1 must match the engine speed.

[@gibbscharlese]

I watched the previous video and now viewed this! This helped me feel better about ordering my RAV4 hybrid. It’s coming soon!

[@PetrolPed]

That’s good to hear 👍

[@graemewhitehead6233]

Good video ped - and it’s important for people to realise how clever these systems are (yet so reliable). Couple of errors I picked up on (only minor). MG2 doesn’t run in reverse to charge (it’s meshed directly to the drive wheels remember), it just drags to regenerate. MG1 doesn’t do re-gen braking, however it can be turned by the ICE to generate electricity. If ICE is generating while your driving, MG2 is driving, whilst ICE / MG1 are generating. You can’t use the ICe to contribute to acceleration if MG1 is generating, as MG1 would have to be turning the sun gear to provide the variable ratio.

[@aaronb6390]

Just to add, MG2 swaps polarity, rather than direction, to provide regen and braking, the effect can be varied by the brake pedal, the car is brake by wire. There is no direct connection to the brakes, the computer handles the swap between motors and physical brakes (there is an emergency backup, where it becomes physical). MG1 also starts the engine as there is no starter, and can provide 'engine braking'. It's not true engine braking, it spins up the ICE without ignition and allows MG2 to provide additional resistance or cope where the hybrid battery is regarded as 'full'. The battery technology will determine the balance there. For NIMH it operates somewhere between 40-80% and that reduces the number of cycles and makes the battery last much longer. The cars have an electric water pump, no alternator as that's done by the DC to DC convertor. A smaller 12v battery as they have no starter and once running, the main larger battery provides all the current. The aircon units are electric, so can run without the engine. There are lots of videos of the technology, it's complex software but physically simpler than a normal car and by that, it's more reliable and more reliable because it's Toyota.

[@xfirstxlast6502]

Yes, on reliability. Until I did the digging on eCVT, I always wondered why the hybrid Toyota system seems to be so reliable, when at first glance, they would seem to be more complex. Well they actually are a pretty simple system as compared to an 8-10 sp auto with it all it clutch packs , TC and solenoids.

[@johnkeepin7527]

@@aaronb6390 And just to add a bit more: both MG1 & MG2 are 3 phase variable frequency a.c. motor/alternators with permanent magnets. Nice and simple mechanically, with no nasty contact brushes or anything like that. The Toyota “synergy drive” kit has 3 inverters (for the 3 phases) that work both ways between the high voltage traction battery and the motors, and a couple of dc to dc converters, to cover all the odds and ends that still use 12 V dc etc, including maintaining the conventional 12V battery. MG2 is sometimes called the traction motor, and as with all traction motors, it can churn out maximum torque at zero speed, and it’s permanently connected to the differential gear - even if one selects “neutral”, which just isolates the circuitry (including any battery charging). There are no rubber belts used in the Toyota hybrids - no low voltage alternator or any pumps. The ICE uses chain drive for the camshafts. Much of the complexity has been taken over by things like Integrated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBT) for power electronics, and associated software. However, the power electronic unit is liquid cooled, with it’s own coolant and so on, physically separate from the engine cooling, so that needs maintenance as per the manual - but it’s easy to glance at the fluid levels every so often.

[@djhvideo]

@@xfirstxlast6502 Correct. The transmission only contains the motor/generators and gears including the sun and planet system so there are no wearing components there at all. This gives the mechanical components extreme reliability. Where I live a lot of the private hire drivers are driving Toyota Auris/Corolla hybrid estates.

[@FirstLast-tx3yj]

I believe in power mode if MG1 rotates in the opposite direction to the engine at the same speed no power goes to the wheels If MG1 slows down at an rpm lower than the engine the gear ratio starts to decrease numerically and moving power to the wheels At equal rpm between mg1 and ice you have 1:1 gear ratio And when MG1 spins the same direction as ICE you will have over drive!

[@ffotograffydd]

Thank you for the clarification. Very helpful! We are trying to decide between the HEV and PHEV versions of the Rav4. We we’re leaning towards the HEV simply because we know we won’t always have access to charging, but now we know the car can charge the battery (albeit with a higher fuel consumption) that’s swayed things back in favour of the PHEV - which is more appealing because it has a few more features (such as a HUD).

[@kellymoses8566]

The original eCVT in the Prius actually won a major Engineering award.

[@Just_In_credible6]

And I think toyota has a patent on it and that is why no other cars can reverse engineer it and use it.

[@ThePrawlin]

Yup. I’ve had 2 generations of Prius since early 2001. The basic ECVT drive train is essentially the same as it was on the first Prius NHW10 released back in 1997 only in Japan home marketplace! So it's a very well tried and proven system and isn’t really that new at all. It was and still is streets ahead compared to any other transmission system. It is ultra reliable as well as ultra efficient. Glad you came back to correct the errors in the first vid! I was cursing at the screen when I watched it before watching this one!

[@fallguy4209]

@@Just_In_credible6ford uses Toyotas hybrid system

[@pickupro]

Thankyou so much for this video. You have used my exact words when I have been complaining to my wife as the passenger regarding my Rav 4 Hybrid, that the revs have been rising with little progress forward. I was convinced that the auto gearbox was effectively slipping but clearly did not understand how these motors work. Things have advanced a lot since the old auto boxes obviously. I now no longer need to pester my Toyota Dealer, convinced there was a problem. My mind is at rest. Thanks again.

[@aussiedeplorable8670]

Pity all the other reviewers haven’t owned up to not knowing how brilliant the E CvT is, well done sir, I only wish the plug in hybrid was available in Australia, so much for our politicians being seriously concerned about the environment.

[@austinedwards1918]

Why I love this channel is because of your honesty in reviewing cars. Keep up the good work.

[@PetrolPed]

👍

[@76litho]

And here was I thinking my transmission was slipping. I'm so use to direct drive so to speak. Thanks for the explanation 👍

[@PetrolPed]

Glad to help

[@patrickcunningham4995]

Watched this and the in shop breakdown video you recommended and I feel like with both videos, I really understand the basics of the eCVT. Well done!

[@PetrolPed]

That’s great to hear 🙏🏻👍

[@laura-ann.0726]

I have a 2019 Prius Prime, which uses the P-610 e-CVT (the baby brother to the P-710 in the Rav4 Prime in this video). Toyota's HSD transaxles are really good technology, very reliable, and they last a very long time if you just change the oil and coolant at the recommended intervals. They are much simpler internally than a conventional automatic or belt-drive CVT, and there's not much that can go wrong with them within the normal life of a car (250,000 miles). I'm not counting the traction battery, of course - the battery will probably need replacement at 120,000 miles - but the internal components of the transaxle and power inverter/converter are generally good for 250K. And the operating cost for gasoline and home charging on a plug-in Hybrid make them pretty easy on the wallet. PHEV's occupy that middle ground between conventional vehicles and pure battery-electrics, with all the best qualities of both, if not the 240+ mile electric range of a Tesla, Bolt, or Leaf. As for high-revving: My Prius Prime, in Hybrid mode, cruises at 55 mph with the gas engine running at 1200~1300 rpm, and it's virtually silent. Climbing steep grades on a freeway, say 6% (that's 6 feet of rise per 100 feet, or 3°26' if you like angular measure), at 55 mph, the engine will be running between 2400 and 3200 rpm, depending on state of charge in the battery and how heavily loaded the car is. The computer that's controlling everything will never allow the gas engine to rev past 4,200 rpm, which is the torque peak - revving it any faster will not gain you any faster acceleration. The low torque peak speed is a consequence of the Atkinson cycle; you sacrifice top end power for better fuel economy and efficiency. At engine speeds above 2500 rpm, the engine noise becomes more noticeable, but since the car is only that noisy on steep hills and hard accelerations, and very quiet most of the rest of the time, in my opinion, the Prius and Rav 4 Hybrids and Rav4 Prime are among the smoothest and quietest cars with a gas engine that you can get. Pure EV's are quieter, but can't match the 550+ mile driving range of a Prius or Rav4 Plug-in hybrid. And that's 550 miles year round: summer or winter, rain or snow, hot or cold. Pure EV's often see their driving range cut in half if the temperature falls below 5°C. To elaborate on the explanation of this Rav4's drivetrain: The planetary gear he refers to is the "Power Split Device" in the heart of the transaxle. The MG1 motor is splined to the central Sun gear. The MG2 motor is splined to the outer ring gear of the PSD and to the differential. The gasoline engine is splined to the planetary gear carrier. The computer that's controlling the powertrain looks at the position of the throttle pedal, the car's speed, and the state of charge in the traction battery, and if the vehicle is in Hybrid mode with the gasoline engine running, it will first decide what RPM is most efficient for the gas engine. It will send fuel to the engine, and electric power to the MG1 motor, is a proportion that causes the engine to deliver the desired amount of power at the proper engine rotation speed that matches the vehicle speed. It does this by causing the MG1 motor to spin faster, or slower, or even in reverse, depending on the speed of the vehicle. Before the availability of small yet powerful computers in the late 1990's, the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive would have been impossible. The computer that accomplishes all of this magic is reading dozens of sensors and making thousands of decisions every second as to how to allocate gasoline to the engine and power flow to the two motors and the traction battery.

[@goranjurkovic6796]

Rav4 plugin hybrid uses p810 just like highlander

[@joey-pn3xe]

Wow, glad you’re not just another basic motoring journalist. In the Lexus NX phev which is the same tech as this, the noise isn’t much of an issue as it’s got really good sound dampening.

[@joedanero5360]

The motor deserves credit too. It's the perfect engine and trans combo.

[@nigelthackeray7150]

10/10 for the come back video. Thought your last video was a bit harsh. Watched the weberauto guy myself when I bought my Rav to understand how it worked, his explanation and build video is fantastic.

[@xius0101]

I had also just watched the full video on the eCVT for the RAV4 last week. It makes you appreciate the amazing thought and design going into it. Most people I would say only care about the figures and stats, so I understand that eCVT opinions are just based on Misty how it feels. Otherwise, keep up the good work 😎👍.

[@moonsapling]

You easily earned a subscriber with this video of yours! This RAV4 with the hybrid AWD system is also very capable off the road for what it is. With the capability and efficiency it provides, it makes up for a perfect road trip car no matter the conditions!

[@PetrolPed]

Thanks for the sub and welcome ti the channel 👍

[@davesutherland1864]

I would strongly recommend watching the WeberAuto video. I watched that before I bought a Prime as I wanted to understand if the technology was new and potentially less reliable - it is not actually new and I believe it to be very reliable. To really understand the Toyota eCVT you also how a planetary gear works. There are lots of videos for this, but in a nutshell for a planetary gear to transfer power you need to hold one of the three gears (in the planetary gear configuration) in a fixed position. Automatic transmissions have a series of planetary gears where hydrologic clutches hold various gears fixed in to give the desired gearing. The brilliant aspect of the eCVT is rather than hold a gear fixed, MG1 controls the sun gear to create a CVT like performance. It also only uses a single planetary gear, as opposed to three or more in a typical automatic transmission. I should also add, thanks for correcting your previous error. Too many KZbinr's do not do that.

[@spannerman2887]

As a lifetime diesel mechanic and technician I have only recently come upon this drivetrain and appreciate it's mechanical simplicity and the number of components that are no longer required such as a traditional clutch assembly, master and slave cylinder, starter motor alternator etc. The electronics and high power control obviously add a certain level of complexity but well made electronics can be very reliable. I wouldn't consider one these made by Ford or PSA but I trust Toyota and the fact that they offer a ten year warranty on the car if you service it with a franchised dealer. I'm seriously tempted to buy one of the smaller models as it suits my need for car_ and I'm usually too careful with money to buy new cars.

[@giovannidegrandis1879]

Hi Ped: that's intellectual honesty! Well done and kudos to you! And even though I knew quite a bit about the e-CVT transmission, I have learned something new about the division of labour between the motors. And I am happy to see that you came to like the transmission, since I also like the E-CVT of my Corolla. 👍

[@jvd6282]

You are so humble and professional for you to actually say ' I got it wrong'. I have also learnt a bit of details about the 2 types of motors and their functions. I love your videos and looking forward to your next. Thank you.

[@reaality3860]

Toyota's hybrid is a generation ahead of its competitors. I have never heard of someone having problems with Toyota's RAV4 Hybrid e-CVT.

[@PetrolPed]

Really ? Maybe read the comments below 🤷‍♂️

[@ashleychambers7602]

Your research paid off Peter because that was beautifully explained

[@PetrolPed]

Thanks 🙏🏻

[@EvanButler320]

So, fun fact, the XSE PHEV with the premium package (the vehicle you're driving) is the only one in the RAV4 hybrid lineup to actually HAVE a rev gauge + paddle shifters (I have a feeling you weren't aware). It can be found in the heads up display.

[@april7_]

How they actually work, because eCVT do have only one continuous gear? Bet like computer or speakers fooling 😂

[@bobfancy77]

Just watched this as having bought the same car and had the same concern about revs. Great explanation, thank you It’s really helped. So pleased with the Rav 4.

[@stevelamb143]

Hi Ped, really great video, very honest and well explained. I very much agree that plug in hybrids need more range, I do a 72 mile daily commute daily. So even the more advance Mercedes hybrids are not quite there yet. I would be happy to sacrifice engine size to achieve this, as it would take care of 90% of my journeys. Thanks again.

[@vaprex]

A couple days ago I wanted to understand more about the eCVT in my 2019 RAV4 XSE Hybrid, and watched that same video by WeberAuto. Your video popped on my radar today, and within a few minutes I KNEW that it was his video that made you as excited (as I now am) to tell people about how COOL and BRILLIANT this transmission is. Between the MG1, MG2, and a few gears, I think there are a total of ~8 moving parts in the transmission -- and no heat generating, transmission destroying, "flexible metal belt" garbage like an old-school CVT. Unless someone somehow comes up with something simpler that works just as well, I could easily see this style of transmission be the standard for all hybrids.

[@redjohn20001]

The Toyota Hybrid Synergy drive is an amazing bit of kit, mixing an internal combustion engine with two electric motors using a planters gear sytem to give a variable ratio transmittion with, I hear, ultimate reliability. As you mentioned, a hybrid that does 100miles then drops back on petrol would suit many people and is a great interim transition to full electric cars in the future. I tried a Mazda MX30 last year and really liked it. It has been slated by many as having too short a range, but if Mazda fit the range extender as promised, I think this car has a lot of potential. Remember the BMW i3 REX.

[@adrianmusto1854]

Hi, I am reminded of the young people who race around on rev ‘n’ go automatic mopeds / scooters. Their engines and cvt transmissions let the engine spin straight up to optimum engine performance as they accelerate quickly away. I watched a video today of a 70cc rev ‘n’ go scooter in a race on a race track and it absolutely blitzed the other bikes! Like I said, the transmission allows the engine to reach optimum power and torque and literally hold those revs as the little scooter raced away with the engine holding those revs. Your initial thoughts on the hybrid sound brought the scooter analogy to mind. That Rav 4 hybrid will be mine one day! Great work Pedro!

[@petershen1984]

I put an OBD tach in my RAV4 and I can see why Toyota replaced it with a linear power gauge that corresponds to your accelerator demands. The high idle when it needs to charge, and the high rpm engine braking would be overwhelming for the average driver. But I particularly enjoy rolling along at zero rpm :)

[@debendragurung3033]

And Bang!!!!. There you go. Once U know, U can't deny it's beauty. Toyota's ECVT for me is one of the most incredible technology to come out in the history of automotive industry. Period.

[@cookeryskills]

Really enjoyed that. Well explained. I have a 2021 corolla - not sure if it has exactly the same setup as the RAV4 but I am fine with the engine note. Not quite as efficient as my previous Prius but still a smooth, comfortable car to drive.

[@davesutherland1864]

My understanding is the Corolla has a ‘typical’ CVT. Not sure about the Corolla, but some Tototas have what (I believe) they call a DCVT. CVTs only provide good performance over a small range of power and the DCVT provides a first gear (similar to an normal automatic transmission) to get your started, then shifts to the CVT.

[@cartmann227]

@@davesutherland1864modern Corollas have an eCVT.

[@davesutherland1864]

@@cartmann227 No, they have a Direct Shift CVT - that is described on the Toyota web page as well as many car reviewers. I assume hybrid corollas use an eCVT

[@mattt3302]

I bought a Brand New Corolla Excel Hybrid 2.0l. I did a LOT of research and despite my initial thoughts of the eCVT's being rubbish, I thought I would give it a go. Yes, it took a little getting used to, having come from a BMW 3 series with ZF gear box. However, having owned it 3 months and done upwards of 3000 miles, I can confirm, they are great gearboxes with the Hybrid drivetrain - even if they are 'different'! Glad you enjoyed your time with the RAV 4. Maybe my next Car?

[@PetrolPed]

👍

[@jackgrimes-wl8fb]

An excellent simplistic explanation. I recently traded in my beloved 9.5 years old LR Discovery 4, which I owned from new. I purchased a late 2021 registered Toyota Highlander Hybrid (not a PHEV) now discontinued here in the UK and which is, I think, basically a RAV4, albeit with 7 seats. The differences for me were, initially at least, confusing, for a 70 years old retired engineer. When I bought the car I hadn't realised just how radically different it truly is. Very smooth, very quiet in operation, with that high rev surprise. I had to investigate further. From an engineering perspective, what Toyota have achieved is stunning! I think many folk, unless they have an engineering background, or an interest in engineering and how things work, will not appreciate just how revolutionary this design is. Because of my background I am well aware of planetary gearboxes, motors and generators etcetera, but the design and innovation work on this combined concept is nothing short of amazing. I'm still learning about this system, but I now believe that this really has the potential to replace the current mania for pure EVs. It's a shame that many people will only appreciate it from a fuel and emissions saving perspective. I, for one, am now a convert to the hybrid. Thank you.

[@karlhillcoat-williams8674]

Your review throughout the long term loan experience has totally solidified my sincere desire to get the exact model you have been driving. Candid, insightful and helped me massively thank you.... just need to sort my finances, as can only go down the pre owned route, but a 71 or above plate will be perrfect. Karl H-W

[@PetrolPed]

Glad it was helpful 👍

[@toy838]

Glad you read comments. However long term reliability exemplary stands above most other makes regardless of gearbox. This you failed to mention. Most competition falls short BMW etc

[@PetrolPed]

I did indeed…oops 🙈

[@alanb76]

Good video. The direction of rotation is not what determines if a motor generator is generating or consuming power. For example when in EV mode and accelerating vs decelerating with regen the MG2 is rotating the same direction, however the power flow is reversed. This is actually accomplished by the inverter controlling the phase relationship or timing between the permanent magnets in the rotor and the rotating magnetic field generated in the stator, in one case this rotating field is accelerating the rotor, in the other case it is decelerating the rotor. It is simple in principle and complex in details at the same time. It is a fascinating system! Weber Auto is great.

[@bertie1989]

As always, a clear, concise and well researched video Pete, I owned a C-HR for about 18 months and can honestly say you don’t get used to the engine screaming like a banshee whilst not going anywhere particularly fast. It had god awful MPG on a long motorway drive too. It might be very clever tech, but it’s not appealing to me at all.

[@toninocars]

That’s because you never understood how the system works and how to drive the car. Toyota hybrids are ultra efficient on motorway journeys, however within speed limits only and because of the drive train and how it works even with 2.5 ltr engines these are not particularly suitable for high speeds or fast acceleration, also for constant engine loads.

[@Russell_G]

I have had 2 Prius in my company car days, averaging 30k a year, mainly motorways, they would comfortably return 50-60mpg all day long, the CHR drivetrain is identical to the Prius. the engine only revved up when you were giving some welly. maybe you were speeding up/ slowing down a lot on your motorway trips? When cruising at 70, the car was virtually silent.

[@pollumG]

I get about 45-50mpg whilst leaving most other drivers behind in my Hybrid...took me about 3months to understand how the car works. Now that I do, I can get about briskly whilst maintaining good mpg.

[@WokeisaJoke0522]

Too many people can’t admit when they’re wrong. Glad you could. It’s refreshing

[@PetrolPed]

Cheers 👍

[@alvandarlington2034]

*"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago and the next best time is now" I consider this to be best motivational quote I've heard in a very long time. But motivational quotes are useless if you don't practice what you preach*

[@keithsargent6946]

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[@maryellis1165]

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[@sallymartinez1521]

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[@sallymartinez1521]

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[@arnooverman242]

Thank you for making this video. You explanined very well how it works. The only thing i was missing is that when it rev's that it rev's for only a short period of time only when you are accelerating and then the car is super quiet. That is the main reason why you get used to it very quickly and it elevated the comfort. As you said it is a very comfy car and very smooth. I have a Toyota Auris hybrid ts myself so i am familiair with the drivetrain. Appologies for my English. I am Dutch. Thanks again for your video. 🙂 Greetings from Arno.

[@domtdoodar99]

The next step for these cars (I think) is to reduce the size of the engine and fuel tank, and increase the size of the motors and batteries, something like the bmw i3 range extender, would be a popular way into the ev world for many. 150mi on ev + 250 on petrol REX would be great.

[@TheSmallRabbit]

Yes I agree. However for myself I could live with a realworld range on EV of 60 real miles so I would say to Toyota to optimise the battery tech and efficiency if possible to get a bit more out of the battery only mode. But great shout at least were progressing.

[@davidy7004]

Plus one for this. For me 100 miles "real" range would be enough though (60 below sadly not enough though). Tantalisingly I think the Mazda MX-30 might be released as a Range Extender, using a rotary engine to charge the battery. But... it's such an impractical design (eg. passengers can't get out of rear seats without inconveniencing people in the front). Put that drivetrain in a practical car and I'd buy one.

[@xfirstxlast6502]

Thanks for the update on eCVT. I was one of those that commented that you should look again at the totally different eCVT. Well done! Even the Honda CRV 1.5T with its cone/ pulley system CVT works well, since the turbo has pretty much max torque at 2k RPM, so it only revs high if you floor it. And at 60-70 MPH highways speeds the engine RPM is around 1800-2200 RPM thanks to the CVT ability to optimize the engine to load.

[@Pierre-de-Standing]

I think the Jazz ehev has a similar system to this Rav. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJjPoY2Kh7lpp6c

[@grahamadamson4722]

Great video Pete, very informative. I test drove one of these when changing my car last year but found the engine revving along with what I felt was general lack of refinement (I was coming from an Audi A6 Allroad) in a 50k car a step too far. Not sure I could have lived with one even after hearing your explanation and appreciating how clever the car is.

[@rufdymond]

I know this is an old video - but I’ve been driving the 2024 facelift Ford Kuga which uses a Toyota based hybrid system and I love it, I don’t find the car noisy at all…..great explanation of how the system works.

[@alasdairwilson4806]

Nicely explained.I have never really been a fan of CVT because of the high revs but I may have to adjust my thoughts after this.Makes me want to go out and try one.

[@SWR112]

Really all it did was make me understand why the friends I know hated the Car and said it was the worst car they had ever driven. But at least I know why it does it after this but I’d not want to live with it.

[@PetrolPed]

Go for it 👍

[@markmuir7338]

As one of the chief pedants on your previous RAV4 video, well done on a good explanation! "It doesn't sound right" is exactly the reason why car enthusiasts don't like hybrids. Despite hybrids actually being very responsive - making great use of the (rather limited) engine power.

[@PetrolPed]

👍

[@tonyhull4978]

MG1 and MG2 turn the same way all of the time. To change from a 'Motor to Generator' all that happens is the Polarity is changed.

[@rusty911s2]

No, MG2 gets reversed when high ratios are required (above 65mph). Basically as the motor is slowed to a halt, the gear ratio climbs. At 1:1 the motor is stopped, then as the ratio climbs higher the motor is reversed. These motor speeds are what allows a genuine mechanical CVT but you are not slipping a rubber or metal belt. Obviously the main drive motor is a simple direct drive.

[@marcprobin1659]

I learned about the eCVT from the Car Care Nut on you tube awhile back. Yes it is amazing. I drive the 2023 Prius AWD XLE and love it!

[@johns14a]

Thanks for the explanation. Doesn't make the CVT revving feature any more appealing though, I'm afraid.

[@SWR112]

Exactly it screams but it does it because it clever doesn’t really work for me. When you need a gearbox explained to you to account for a noise it’s not a selling point and people obviously don’t get told about it. How many of these get brought back after the first week by new owners saying something sounds wrong.

[@robertmackenzie5850]

@@SWR112 hardly any actually

[@carholic-sz3qv]

@@SWR112 that E CVT is way way simpler than all gearbox types, it’s basically two electric motors with a planetary gearset, no clutches or shatfs or whatever, it’s super simple, plus no belt, all accessories are driven by electricity

[@baxtersfarm]

Thank you, very good review and expanation. We ordered ours last year and apparently it is nearly here. Back in the eighties we had a DAF 66 estate which was very good in most respects but if driven hard only did 20mpg. My mother had the DAF 55 which suffered a turned belt which meant that one wheel was driven at a higher ratio - nightmare. A new belt sorted it. Your review has given me renewed excitement for when ours arrives.

[@HQBProductions]

Peter…very interesting and a very good explanation of this format of gearbox. After a lifetime of driving, this revving would get hard to cope with even though it happens for good reasons but it is another aspect that worries me more. It is the way the engine starts from stone cold after say an early morning five mile commute then you join the M27 and suddenly the poor engine goes from nothing to a frantic 4/5000 rpm which must have a bad effect on engine life. Now I do read that some have engine preheaters to try to overcome this but it takes a lot of energy to heat the water and oil so I doubt it is more than slightly warm. The old careful/sympathetic driver in me finds this horrible….young drivers will not give it a thought…but my hybrid would get warmed gently as best I could! I’ll stop now…stay safe…next daily..a Transit MRST!!😎😎😎😎Richard.

[@Udayvsingh]

Toyota has thought of cold repeated start scenarios, these engines & transmissions have been around for almost 2 decades. For starters they have an electric oil system indipendent of the engine to get the engine primed, they also use 0w16 oil which flows easily at low tempratures and dosent need to be hot to flow well. Aditionally they also have a innovative thermal mangement system to get the engine to the optimal temprature fast & to keep it there longer even between start stops.

[@fransb8543]

Great video. I drive an earlier iteration of an ecvt ('13 gs 450h), once you get used to the utter glassy smoothness you'll find every other transmission lacking in refinement. Luckily, being coupled to a 3.5 v6, it never needs to rev quite so highly during normal driving. The moment you step on it the power is there instantly, no kickdown, just straight into the powerband. It's a weird feeling but the speedometer shows that you're accelerating at a decent rate (of course, in comparison to today's 400hp+ EV benchmark it's nothing spectacular).

[@alibro7512]

Any PHEV with a range of 150 miles would probably end up with stale petrol for many people. According to the RAC petrol has a shelf life of 6 months and many people could easily go 6 months without driving far enough to need the petrol engine. It would need an automated way to deliberately burn off the petrol every so often to purge old fuel. I'm sure it could be done but it kinda defeats the purpose. 😕

[@Hogan132]

This is already done via computer software with the Rav4 Prime and Prius Prime. The engine will start automatically after not running for several days to make sure to keep clean gas flowing. Ultimately a PHEV with 150+ electric range would just need a smaller tank so you burn through it more often and it doesn’t sit. With 150 mile range the need for fuel greatly decreases except on the rare long range trips in which case more frequent stops to fill up might be worth it for most folks given the convenience on daily driving.

[@alibro7512]

@@Hogan132 It's just another reason why PHEVS are kinda pointless. They only make sense for people who have home charging available, rarely drive more than 50 miles a day and will religiously plug them in every day. For these people a BEV would be better and for those who cannot live with a BEV then a HEV would be better.

[@VanPray]

Late comment but I believe one of the best parts of this Ecvt system is that the MG1electricaly accelerates the engine to optimum power delivery RPM without having to enrichen the mixture. Once the engine is at that speed, it can be kept in Lean mode vs Rich Pwr mode that is normally required. The next is that when low engine pwr is required, the engine runs at 1050 RPM and you can hear the throttle plate open, reducing pumping losses

[@H1WEX]

A great explanation Pedro, unfortunately it underlines for me the weakness of hybrids, to work well they are very complicated and always inefficient as one drive system is tugging around the one not being used. Would you want that complexity in a used car… not me.

[@bjarnehansen3812]

It is in fact much simpler than most automatics and manuals. Only one planetary gear where some automatics have 4. No dual clutches to fail, no lowsy torque converter. Just one planetary gear, two motor/generators and some clever software. Smartest drive train I have learned about.

[@graemewhitehead6233]

Toyota hybrid transaxles are super reliable - no gear shifters, no clutches, no synchromesh. This is why taxi drivers love a Prius. . . 500k+ miles with no hassle

[@carholic-sz3qv]

It’s actually way less complicated than a normal petrol car, in Toyota hybrids everything is driven by electricity, there is no alternator or starter, the water pump and compressor are all electric, the steering pump is electric, the gearbox is super compact and simple no need of a backwards gear, the engine is super efficient and can even run and power things in your house .

[@carholic-sz3qv]

People have been living and camping in Toyota hybrids/Prius for almost a decade, in fact it’s the most robust well thought hybrid system in the world. The only expensive repair that can happen is the high voltage battery but it’s still last a very very long time.

[@carholic-sz3qv]

@@bjarnehansen3812 and in this rav4 prime the awd system is just another electric motor at the rear which means no need of heavy shaft and clutches or differential like a conventional awd. Also the car very cleverly uses the heat from the engine to heat the cabin when camping.

[@Appalling68]

I’m late to the party here (video is 8 months old at time of my post), but that was just an EXCELLENT explanation of the Toyota hybrid charge system. I’ve been mulling over this car as a replacement to my 2018 Volvo XC90 D5, so maybe I’ll step up. Problem for me (here in Spain) is that the lead time is almost one year from date of order!

[@UnknownUser-rb9pd]

Coming from a series of diesel cars I think I'd find the high revving annoying. I also think that hybrids are now just complicating matters with two drive systems. Your Toyota most likely will not be serviceable by an independent dealer for the hybrid parts at least, and I suspect will be very expensive should the EV technology fail. I realise Toyota has been perfecting this for a long time and have legendary reliability and it does solve range anxiety but the beauty of EVs is their simplicity, reduced servicing and what should be extreme reliability, especially now that batteries are rated to drop their capacity approx 20% over ten years. These won't be issues if you're buying new /nearly new and changing every few years of course but I think for most people, one of the long range EVs are now good enough for travelling up and down motorways if you take reasonable breaks and don't live in the North of Scotland. If not and you're doing big miles then I'd keep it simple and go with an ICE car for a few extra years until the EV infrastructure and range improve further. Videos like yours have persuaded me that I should just hang on to my diesel car for 3 or 4 more years at which point it will probably be worth very little but the EV situation will be much clearer and prices should be coming down as competition increases (the Chinese are coming). Thank you.

[@toninocars]

Toyota hybrids are the best invention happened to cars in recent years and in fact these are the best cars with ice in the world, ten simplest technology, the most efficient and most reliable. No diesel, petrol or even some electric cars can be so good. But you need to have one of these for some time and learn about to understand it and enjoy it.

[@shithead4767]

The Chinese are coming 😈

[@UnknownUser-rb9pd]

@@toninocars I have to disagree as to me, it seems the hybrid system is a fudge to get around the limited range of EV only cars, something that seems to be coming less relevant. Please note that I am not saying that they don't work well (after 30 years of development) but you have two systems for powering the car which must include additional weight and complexity. Reviews I've seen suggest they are no better for fuel consumption than a diesel car when running in ICE mode and any fuel consumption advantage is only achieved if they are used in EV mode for short journeys. Now EV infrastructure is more widely available I think it makes sense to get a full EV for most people which has the advantage of no engine maintenance, the better space and packaging of cars designed as EV with no ICE compromising the design, and with the better driving characteristics of an EV for long journeys. If you cannot cope with a 250 to 300 mile real life range of the better EVs then a full ICE car would be a better option, unless you need to drive in an emissions charging location regularly.

[@UnknownUser-rb9pd]

@@shithead4767 Yes they are. established car makers are deliberately moving up market with EVs to firstly recover their development costs and secondly because they make more money on fully loaded cars than they do on the lower spec cars . New car prices have risen massively recently. Compare the latest EVs with the equivalent ICE cars when EVs should be the same or cheaper as electric motors are much less complex than ICE engines and battery prices are 10% of the price they were a decade ago. The lower end of the market is likely to be filled by Chinese models unless the Europeans, Japanese and US brands change strategy, which they are unlikely to do as they are becoming more profitable on lower volumes. There is an interesting Autotrader video about this on YT.

[@Gopher31]

The more I’ve read about the transmission the more fascinating it seems. I have actually put an order through for a Lexus NX450h as a company car. It’s basically a luxury version of this car. I was surprised in test drives that the ecvt did not bother me at all.

[@colinw1591]

I admire the level of technology going into these vehicles, but as with all hybrids, the economy claims (based on a standardised test cycle) are as misleading as dieselgate....e.g. 282mpg for a RAV4, you'd apparently use the engine so little you may as well go full EV.....

[@Pierre-de-Standing]

I guess if you only ever do a handful of miles and keep charging it, the tank of petrol might never get used, infinite MPG.

[@garrido58]

Thank you for the explanation and sincerity. Ford kuga has exactly the same system. Very very smooth and low low consumption.

[@tallan1491]

All CVT transmission vehicles tend to be very efficient but still unpleasant to drive!

[@ReubenHorner]

Because it is not a belt type cvt but instead controlled by the electric motor speed, it is decently fast response

[@LexusGX460-OFF-ROAD]

Lots of instant torque on a eCVT... no belts or clutches, just direct torque when you need it

[@tallan1491]

Still don't find it an enjoyable driving experience with the engine revving to it's most effective RPM! Feels like the clutch is slipping on a manual..

[@ReubenHorner]

@@tallan1491 I feel like its more of an EV driving experience but with the engine doing its own thing

[@LexusGX460-OFF-ROAD]

@@tallan1491 all I can say is: you get used to it lol... after a while you understand the drivetrain logic as it relates to engine rpm sounds...

[@bjmm665]

Brillant explanation Ped, I have 17 plate Rav4 Hybrid and really didn't like the CVT due to the high revving of it, but just didn't understand why? until now from your super clear explanation. I am due to upgrade and wasn't sure which car to get next, you have now just convinced me, it's a plug in Rav4. Thank you.

[@leemarklew2496]

C V T = Constantly Very Terrible Mr P.....

[@mikejoseph425]

Last weekend I sold my 5 year old Jaguar IPace which I liked a lot and this weekend I pick up a Toyota C-HR Plug in and watching your video means so much more now than the last time I watched it I do have some trepidation with nervous excitement, so tonight I will be back to my childhood on Xmas eve

[@PetrolPed]

Very nice!

[@roysmith9733]

I’m so pleased I found your channel. I’m about to buy a Suzuki Across which will have exactly the same technology, I was concerned about the ECVT and it nearly put me off choosing the car.

[@PetrolPed]

Glad to be of help 👍

[@zerochance6899]

Hi there. Thanks for the video. I just recently decided to buy 2.0 toyota hybrid and I always wondered if there are those cones in the e-CVT. Now I do understand, simple and very well explained, thanks again. The dealer will deliver the car to me in about 2-3 months, I cant wait for it. I am a petrol head by nature, I always loved sports cars, big muscle engines, now settling down to hybrid 200hp car. That is the only thing that makes sense to me now with all those ecology restrictions, increasing petrol prices and stuff. Hopefully this is really as good as everyone says and thanks to you I also have clearer picture about the nature of the transmission. cheers.

[@zerochance6899]

Also, you mentioned front-wheel drive, how the four-wheel drive work? Via MG2 that powers up the rear?

[@Coooooookie806]

Thanks for doing this video as a guy currently looking at a range of suv phev cars your first video review got me worried about this car but after this video it's helped clarify alot of things so won't be taking this car off my shortlist so quickly now!

[@attilanagy5137]

Hi. Last year I bought a new Lexus NX. I believe it has a very similar set up as it's four wheel drive. My previous four cars were six cylinder BMW's, petrol and diesels. Before I purchased my Lexus, I only had a five minutes test-drive, never used a CVT gearbox before. I done my homework ,-a lot of it-, so I new what to expect. Don't know about Toyota,but the Lexus is so quiet, I hardly hear the engine. It's perfect!

[@davidpickard9393]

In the 1970s I owned four DAF cars that were driven by real rubber belts.The Toyota POWER SPLIT ECVT is mechanically the most elegant variable transmission available. No friction clutch or steel belts are needed

[@Bin-The-L-Plates]

Every day’s a school day, thanks for the info, enjoyed learning about the tech.

[@PetrolPed]

Indeed 👍

[@MrGMB52]

Good that.you’ve produced this addendum to your original review and explained how the gearbox works. I’ve owned various automatic cars and found the CVT equipped cars to be the most efficient and smoothest gearboxes.

[@leeheverly]

I’m just over the 5000 mark on my xse, I never really understood the inner workings until today, I knew already that it wasn’t a conventional CVT but I wasn’t sure if the high Revving nature Was completely normal until I talk to the dealer, but now I fully understand and I love the mpg, Anyway thanks for the time you took to fully explain it

[@amadormatador]

Your review was very insightful and clear. I appreciate your candor and honesty. I have watched several videos and yours is one of the top videos for this vehicle. You have a dedicated subscriber. Thanks again!

[@suniljotwani3462]

Excellent video. This is the first time someone has been able to explain to me how an Ecvt works. Thank you very much.