Hyundai’s SmartStream IVT CVT fixes one major issue by replacing the metallic belt with a chain belt system. But is it enough to overcome the problems owners have experienced early on with the new CVT?
Key Points
- Hyundai introduced the SmartStream IVT CVT in 2020 on models like the Elantra and Accent.
- SmartStream IVT CVT uses a chain belt system instead of traditional metallic belts, eliminating the potential for slippage while improving power delivery.
- However, like with all new tech, some owners have experienced teething issues with the CVT, including sudden power loss.
- CVTs possess a reputation for reliability problems. It’s too soon to know if Hyundai’s CVT may be one of the few to overcome the odds, though.
Hyundai Offers a New Take On Traditional CVT With SmartStream IVT Chain-driven Unit
The continuously variable transmission, or CVT, is a type of non-manual transmission that has found its way into many models across several automakers over the past decade. Nissan has replaced the traditional automatic almost entirely with its brand of Xtronic CVTs across its range.
Unlike traditional autos, the CVT handles power distribution via a pair of pulleys connected by a belt, improving efficiency while providing a smoother driving experience, as no shifting occurs.
The CVT belt, though, is one of the major weak points in a CVT. Thus, when Hyundai jumped in with its own unit in 2020—the SmartStream IVT—it did away with the belt entirely. Instead, a chain belt connects the two pulleys together for power distribution from the brand’s line of SmartStream engines.
According to Automacha, the so-called “intelligent variable transmission” uses the tension in the chain “to adjust the pulley diameter, thus eliminating the instances of slippage and improving the efficiency in power delivery.”
Though Supposedly More Reliable, Hyundai’s New CVT Has Teething Problems
Some drawbacks of the CVT include a constant hum from the belt while it distributes power, and the potential for slippage as the belt runs across the pulleys. Also concerning is Nissan’s poor reputation for its CVTs, which are prone to overheating.
As Nissan is the flagbearer for CVT adoption, the automaker’s problems shadow other manufacturers’ CVT units, even if those units aren’t on the same level (for better or worse) as Nissan’s.
Hyundai claims its chain-belt-driven SmartStream IVT is a sturdier, longer-lasting unit than traditional CVTs. The CVT is found in a handful of Hyundai’s models, including the Accent and Elantra, plus the 2022 Kona and Santa Cruz. Thus, data on the new CVT is still being compiled.
Released data on the Hyundai CVT’s reliability thus far points to some teething problems. On the Reddit forum r/Hyundai, an owner of a 2020 Elantra found themselves stranded on the highway due to “an internal transmission failure,” noting massive rpm fluctuations.
Meanwhile, among the 18 complaints submitted by consumers to Car Complaints about the 2020 Hyundai Elantra, 17 of them are about an issue with the CVT, ranging from “sudden uncommanded acceleration” to random power loss on the road.
Will Hyundai’s Innovative CVT Overcome Early Flaws?
As stated earlier, Nissan’s widespread adoption and promotion of the CVT and the company’s subsequent problems with their own version of the transmission have not helped the public perception of CVTs used by other manufacturers.
Hyundai’s entry into the field is meant to improve the reputation of the CVT overall, mainly through the use of a chain belt instead of a steel-belted rubber band.
Though the new tech developed flaws early on, they have not caught the eye of watchdogs like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as far as recalls are concerned.
Perhaps the SmartStream IVT can overcome Nissan’s dark shadow to establish a path toward improving the reputation of many consumers’ least favorite non-manual transmission.
Photos: Hyundai