Driving an e-CVT transmission in hybrids: Top 5 questions answered

I believe the Hybrid battery needs to charge even when stationary in bumper to bumper traffic, which is only achievable if the vehicle is in D.

BHPian RS01 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

I’ve recently bought an e-CVT automatic after 25 years and lakhs of kilometers of happily driving manual shifting cars. The transition was neither due nor planned but happened out of a favorable development leading me to upgrade from my current sedan to a bigger SUV, which was only available in the automatic configuration.

Having driven all types of vehicles and automatics occasionally, I did not think twice moving full time to an automatic. However, the muscle memory is trained to reach out to the clutch and gear lever every time there is an overtake/sudden braking/etc. I’ve also got paddle shifters and an S-mode, but I’m yet to figure out how to use them properly. Although the engine is powerful enough to not require my human inputs and supposedly intelligently decides which gears to deploy and when, I still feel I can add value to the car’s already intelligent engine. I have a few queries which I look forward to the forum for guidance:

1. Stopping on the traffic lights – do I use the Hold function/brakes and leave the gear shifter in D or should I shift to N with Hold or to move to P?

2. Pressing the accelerator after deploying Hold for brakes in the stationary vehicle, moves it with a slight jerk. Does putting vehicle on Hold wear out the brakes?

3. Going Downhill, I have been trained to shift to a lower gear for engine braking. Now since I don’t have gears anymore in the normal D mode, I’m worried if enough engine braking is available automatically or should I be doing something about it.

4. I’m not sure if the +/- gears in D or S even work the same way as a manual. One of the Toyota’s video says e-CVT has infinite gears. Should I shift to manual or let the engine do its thing while going downhill/ overtaking/ normal traffic/ highway driving.

5. Any suggestions or resources on how to make best use of S mode.

Some years back, even if you bought a 10k Microwave oven, a week of free classes were offered to educate and acclimatize the user with the new machine. I so wish if something similar could’ve been offered when anyone bought a new car or shifted from manual to automatic or vice versa.

Look forward to guidance from the forum. Thanks in advance.

Here's what BHPian Riteshritesh had to say on the matter:

1. Stopping on the traffic lights – do I use the Hold function/brakes and leave the gear shifter in D or should I shift to N with Hold or to move to P?

If the wait is longer than a minute, I go to N and pull the handbrake to rest, else in D with foot brake pressed.

3. Going Downhill, I have been trained to shift to a lower gear for engine braking. Now since I don’t have gears anymore in the normal D mode, I’m worried if enough engine braking is available automatically or should I be doing something about it.

Put in D for anything and everything and forget about the rest. The car is smart to choose wisely.

4. I’m not sure if the +/- gears in D or S even work the same way as a manual. One of the Toyota’s video says e-CVT has infinite gears. Should I shift to manual or let the engine do its thing while going downhill/ overtaking/ normal traffic/ highway driving.

Put in D for anything and everything and forget about the rest. The car is smart to choose wisely.

5. Any suggestions or resources on how to make best use of S mode.

In my 15 years of CVT/TC usage on Hondas, Toyotas, Mitsubishi and a sole Audi I have never used the paddle shifter/ S mode. D mode works fine for everything.

BHPian RS01 had the following update to share:

Today, I shifted to N and held brakes at a traffic signal. It turned out to be longer stop than expected due to heavy traffic. The car started beeping with a message at the MID: "shift to D to protect traction battery".

I believe the Hybrid battery needs to charge even when stationary in bumper to bumper traffic, which is only achievable if the vehicle is in D.

So it seems the vehicle has answered my query itself

Still, going through this thread, I see that the topic has been discussed through decades now without a clear SOP. I feel every car is a different machine with its own gearbox type, hybrid and other setups and a one-size-fits-all may not be possible.

I think we all love our cars and that's why the topic garners much discussion, particularly from the folks transitioning from manuals to automatics. I don't remember much thought being given when people shifted from a geared to a non-geared scooter (although we love our two wheelers too) and that transition was relatively more seamless.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.