Why Some Automatic Transmission Shifters Move Straight and Others Follow a Zigzag Pattern — And Which Works Better
Automatic transmission vehicles use two main shifter layouts, each designed with different safety and usability priorities.
Why More Drivers Are Starting to Avoid Cars Equipped With CVT Transmissions
Concerns about reliability continue to influence drivers when choosing vehicles equipped with CVT transmissions.
Chevrolet Drops CVT for Equinox — Here’s What Transmission Will Replace It
Chevrolet plans a major update for the Equinox, replacing the CVT with a traditional automatic.
Porsche Patents Gear Shifter That Can Simulate Both Manual and Automatic Driving
New Porsche patent reveals smart gear selector designed to replicate manual shifting feel in modern vehicles.
Five Simple Signs Your Automatic Transmission May Be About to Fail
Several common warning signs can signal automatic transmission trouble long before a costly breakdown occurs.
Many Americans Don’t Know This: What’s That Red Button Next to the Shifter For?
A small red button near the automatic gear selector — why was it installed in the first place?
Many Drivers Don’t Know What the “2” and “L” Modes on an Automatic Transmission Are For — and When to Use Them
You can’t figure out the purpose of these modes at a glance, there’s no time to read the manual, and experimenting feels risky.
Why You Shouldn’t Floor the Gas If You’re Stuck in Snow or Mud With an Automatic Transmission
Your car is high-centered in slushy snow, and with your teeth clenched, you mash the accelerator to the floor—but it won’t move.
Toyota Recalls Land Cruiser 300 Over Critical Transmission Defect
The gearbox “went rogue”: Japanese reliability hit hard by a serious defect.
GM Crossovers Stuck in First Gear: Chevrolet and GMC Face Investigation Over Unusual Transmission Issue
GM crossovers have been found to experience transmission problems.
You Probably Didn’t Know This: What the L, 2, and 3 Gears on an Automatic Are Really For
Vehicles equipped with an “L” gear are still being built today.
Five of the Most Reliable Automatic Transmissions Ever Built
Which automatic transmissions have earned a reputation as the most dependable in the business?
Americans Reminded What’s Better: A Traditional Automatic or a Modern CVT
Many car buyers still look down on CVTs and try to avoid vehicles equipped with them
Most Drivers Don’t Actually Know What N on an Automatic Transmission Is For: When Neutral Makes Sense—and When It Can Do Real Damage
Why coasting in Neutral is a bad idea, what the N mode is really for, and why in traffic it’s better to keep your foot on the brake instead of playing with the shifter.
“Many Drivers Still Don’t Get It”: When to Use the + and – Modes on an Automatic Transmission—and Why They Matter
Most owners of automatic cars have never even tried manual-style shifting.