Which dual clutch and CVT would you recommend?

I’ve been researching and debating about the type of auto boxes available. There seems to be an even amount of disadvantages for all of them.

Torque converters aren’t as fuel efficient, CVTs are noisy and dual clutches can be unreliable.

My budget is £10k. Torque converters in this price range seem to be either too old, too small or not well equipped.

Can you recommend a medium sized CVT that isn’t noisy (if possible) and a medium sized dual clutch that’s reliable (if they exist) for this price range?

Asked on 28 July 2023 by Lydia

Answered by David Ross
No type of automatic gearbox is perfect, but there are good examples of each that would be within your budget.

The Mazda 6 is available as a saloon or estate and uses an efficient torque converter gearbox, while 2.0-litre versions of the Skoda Octavia use a wet-clutch version of the DSG gearbox which has proved to be more reliable than the dry clutch version.

You could also look at the Honda Jazz or CR-V which use a CVT transmission. CVT-equipped cars can be noisy but this can be mitigated by adapting your driving style slightly - as long as you avoid using full throttle too frequently or for too long you should find it perfectly acceptable. We would recommend a test drive to decide for yourself.
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