Can some explain how manual shifting works with CVT?

Now that the 2019 civic will have paddle shifters, how does that work with a CVT. I was under the impression that there are no fixed gear ratios with a CVT so how would the paddles work, you can't really shift like a traditional 8 speed auto transmission right? I feel like I'm missing something. If someone could direct me to a video that'd be great. I'm just kind of curious about how this would work.

The cvt doesn’t really “shift”. The computer adjusts the cvt to a pre-set ratio that simulates a gear shift.

Goseki said:

Now that the 2019 civic will have paddle shifters, how does that work with a CVT. I was under the impression that there are no fixed gear ratios with a CVT so how would the paddles work, you can't really shift like a traditional 8 speed auto transmission right? I feel like I'm missing something. If someone could direct me to a video that'd be great. I'm just kind of curious about how this would work.

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The 2018 sport has paddle shifters and all it does is pretend shift by raising or lowering the rpm honestly it feels like a gimmick. Stick is way more fun.

With any gear transmission, the ratios are fixed, based on how many teeth the gear has. 6 speed MT has 6 different ratios.
CVT is c0ntinuously variable, via moving two cones closer or farther apart from each other, a metal belt (push belt) is pinched between the cones. Both the driving and the driven cone's create a smaller or larger diameter for the belt to ride on. Similar to a bicycle gear derailer changing sprocket sizes. With a CVT the diameter change is smooth and variable, almost infinite number of ratios ( within a defined limit).
The paddle shifter commands the control module to freeze or locks the cones in a preset position. In those positions, the "gear ratio" or cone diameter will be fixed just as in a manual gear transmission. Your engine RPM will no longer try to maintain an efficient RPM range, but will freely go from idle to redline while being a given "gear". The car will accelerate or decelerate just like a manual trans. The difference is that the car will protect itself from stalling or over-revving.

Edit * push belt, most belts pull, but metal belts push.

Well a bad knee will keep me from a stick. So I'll have to make do with the CVT and paddles. I suspect that the fixed ratios will make for a more traditional automatic experience so far as the engine RPMs are concerned. I'm not a fan of the constant RPMs that go along with the CVT. I like the vroom, yo.

Goseki said:

Now that the 2019 civic will have paddle shifters, how does that work with a CVT. I was under the impression that there are no fixed gear ratios with a CVT so how would the paddles work, you can't really shift like a traditional 8 speed auto transmission right? I feel like I'm missing something. If someone could direct me to a video that'd be great. I'm just kind of curious about how this would work.

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It works like in any of the many other cars with paddles and a CVT. And like in the current hatchbacks Sport.
CVTs are controlled by a computer and if the computer is programmed to skip intermediate ratios and only set the transmission to the preset in memory 7 ratios, it will do just that. These 7 ratios exist only in computer memory and are not used when the lever is in D.

shoegazer said:

Well a bad knee will keep me from a stick. So I'll have to make do with the CVT and paddles. I suspect that the fixed ratios will make for a more traditional automatic experience so far as the engine RPMs are concerned. I'm not a fan of the constant RPMs that go along with the CVT. I like the vroom, yo.

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You can keep driving in S position with or without paddles to make more vroom vroom and to enjoy the simulated 7 speeds at the cost of higher mpg and higher engine wear over time. I have been using S only rarely and the paddles maybe once per two months.

shoegazer said:

Well a bad knee will keep me from a stick. So I'll have to make do with the CVT and paddles. I suspect that the fixed ratios will make for a more traditional automatic experience so far as the engine RPMs are concerned. I'm not a fan of the constant RPMs that go along with the CVT. I like the vroom, yo.

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My 2017 sport hatch has the paddle shifters.

As a former die-hard manual transmisison enthusiast (I still own a 1995 Civic EX manual that I bought new and supercharged back in 1996), the CVT is great in the ways you like AND hate.

PROS:
That constant RPM that you don't like - it makes the car just shove itself forward, without falling back as cars that shift do - at each shift. Effortlessly.
The "S" mode on the transmission tries to constantly stay around 2500 RPM - a great thing for spirited driving (or competitive commuting).
The paddle shifters upshift and downshift to one of seven pre-set "gear" ratios. If you are in "S" mode, it will stay in a fully manual mode.

It is quite flexible - in my opinion there's only two
CONS:
This engine is so small, that when you do downshift, there's not as much engine braking as you might expect - but it does work just fine.
There's no way to hold the revs up at a dead stop for a launch, like you can with a stick. (launch control would fix this, which some ECU programmers add)

For the most part, it's mild-mannered when you want - but that S mode really wakes it up, and the paddle shifting is no Ferrari but it's more than responsive enough.

I actually leased my Sport, because it's my daily driver, and I wasn't sure if I'd regret not getting the stick.
I don't. In fact when my lease is up, I am considering leasing or buying a Touring hatch, which only comes with this CVT.
It's good - my main concern would be that it would limit any HP adding to some degree.

paddle shifters on a CVT are pointless. It’s fake nonsense.

geolemon said:

CONS:
This engine is so small, that when you do downshift, there's not as much engine braking as you might expect - but it does work just fine.

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to add to this, torque converters are not 100% efficient in sending power backwards like a clutch, so that contributes to the lack of engine braking as well as the better mileage.

totopo said:

to add to this, torque converters are not 100% efficient in sending power backwards like a clutch, so that contributes to the lack of engine braking as well as the better mileage.

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True...
However, a lot of the newer cars command the torque converter clutch to lock on deceleration in order to utilize engine breaking, especially on downhill some will shift to a lower gear to maintain set speeds. Civic CVT does that. Camry slushbox, Beemers and so on. Not sure if it is tilt sensor or brake pedal input does it, but eco mode seems to disengage it and the car rolls more freely, RPM drops more.

geolemon said:

If you are in "S" mode, it will stay in a fully manual mode.

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Yes, but if you switch to drive S and don't touch paddle shifters, it will remain in a fully automatic mode but with higher rpm, more engine braking etc.

Ataricade said:

paddle shifters on a CVT are pointless. It’s fake nonsense.

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Absolutely; I totally agree. CVT renders the optimal ratio under essentially any circumstance and does so smoothly and without any hesitation or hiccough. I'm amazed at how well it works and wouldn't trade it for anything.

andromeda said:

Absolutely; I totally agree. CVT renders the optimal ratio under essentially any circumstance and does so smoothly and without any hesitation or hiccough. I'm amazed at how well it works and wouldn't trade it for anything.

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Disagree.

CVT does maintain an optimal ratio. Either optimal for fuel economy *or* optimal for performance (in certain cases in-between), depending on what driver does with the gas pedal. Driving slow with no acceleration will result in a low ratio (high gear, say 6) which is optimal for fuel economy. Now you want to accelerate hard, gear should be changed to a much higher ratio (low gear, say 2) for optimal performance. Significant ratio change on CVT takes considerable time, the car accelerates slowly in this scenario.

With paddle shifters, you can prepare for that. Diving slow, but expect to accelerate soon? Change gear in advance! World of difference. I would never drive a CVT w/o paddles.

Ataricade said:

paddle shifters on a CVT are pointless. It’s fake nonsense.

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Agreed. Driven a CVT w/paddle shifters before (not the Civic) - it's really not that great.

MDB said:

Disagree.

CVT does maintain an optimal ratio. Either optimal for fuel economy *or* optimal for performance (in certain cases in-between), depending on what driver does with the gas pedal. Driving slow with no acceleration will result in a low ratio (high gear, say 6) which is optimal for fuel economy. Now you want to accelerate hard, gear should be changed to a much higher ratio (low gear, say 2) for optimal performance. Significant ratio change on CVT takes considerable time, the car accelerates slowly in this scenario.

With paddle shifters, you can prepare for that. Diving slow, but expect to accelerate soon? Change gear in advance! World of difference. I would never drive a CVT w/o paddles.

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Exactly the correct answer.
The optimal ratios for continuous highway cruising or an economical trip to a Dollar General store are not the same as the optimal ratios when trying to be the quickest kid on the road leaving behind all soccer moms in their minivans.
But beyond that, no computer will slow down for you before a turn. If you like to do that naturally, you can achieve it with the paddles. Going downhill, you can choose out of several gears exactly the one that suits the circumstances, instead of just 2 and L, or even just L, like in a typical AT car. It is way besides the point whether the paddles are better or almost as good as a manual transmission. If you want a stick, get a stick. But the benefits of having the paddles under your fingertips are quite obvious and self-evident for people who understand driving.
The best thing is that if you have them, you only need to use them when you so desire, or never. But if you don't have them, you can only envy.