Hi Scotty,
I have a 2020 Nissan Altima with the 2.0 Liter variable compression turbocharged engine (automatic...platinum edition). From a dead stop if I floor the accelerator there is a 2 second lag before the car moves. If I am moving, there is a 2 second delay before I notice the car respond to my stomping the accelerator. On this car there is a screen that will show you level of turbo boost and level of compression. It does not seem to make any difference level of boost or compression at the time if moving. One thing I also notice is that the RPMs jump up during this 2 second lag time, and then the car finally moves and the RPMs drop (like a transmission slipping at the start). The main concern is the lack of movement from a dead stop. This got us in a bit of a jam crossing traffic one day. The dealership says this is normal turbo lag and it has to build boost before it accelerates. I understand turbo-lag and lack of instantaneous acceleration, but not lack of total movement. Also note that this model has that fake shifting to simulate a non CVT. I have had a suspicion that it is the fake shifting that is the issue (like a simulated passing gear...but they should not be simulating one from a dead stop). Do you have any ideas?
Barry in North Alabama.
Yeah I think it’s that Jatco CVT which is the primary cause of the laziness, which is exacerbated by the turbo lag. Does it still have a delay if driven with a light foot from a standing stop (partial throttle)?
Another way to check is, drive the test drive vehicle at your dealership & check if it exhibits the same behaviour. If that car doesn’t, then you know something is amiss in your car.
This is why Scotty recommends not buying any new Nissan vehicles with the Jatco CVT.
Your first question is a great question and one I thought of today also when I was writing my post. I will see what happens with a light foot. I suspect there will not be as great a delay but will need to prove it. I am prone to jack rabbit starts and a heavy foot.
Thanks for your post.
Well that makes the two of us. Merry Christmas!
Ha. I guess great minds think alike. I had also thought about test driving another car like mine, but did not know how to get away with it at my dealership (seems kind of sneaky). I thought about driving over to another dealer in a different car to test the theory. The next closest dealer does not have any. Actually my dealer does not either at this time. So, I may have trouble testing that out. I had read from a guy that test drove one and posted his review on youtube. I posted to his video and he responded that they all do that. The delay does seem excessive though and I would like an explanation as to why the RPMs jump up (spike) like they do during that period of no movement. Is that just how the CVTs work?
Oh...here is the write-up from the dealer after I took it in: Test drove vehicle - this is normal operation of vehicle - vehicle is equipped with turbo and what customer is feelin is lag - must build boost before vehicle accelerates.
I think this is wrong. I am talking from a dead stop, no movement, but RPMs spike when I stomp the accelerator, 2 seconds later I get movement after the RPMs drop (like the transmission finally catches). Boost is boost and creates a lag, sure, but an acceleration lag whereby you feel the acceleration increase as the boost increases...not total lack of acceleration for 2 seconds. I am talking about wheels turning from a dead stop. What I believe I experience is no power to the wheels while engine revs until the transmission finally applies power to the wheels.
What you’re describing sounds like typical Jatco CVT operation to me. Does the car move forward at all while the rpms jump up when you first stomp on the pedal? Or is the car not creeping forward at all & just standing stationary during the slipping?
possibly combination of junky Nissan CVT w/ a turbocharger? I didn't know the new Altima had an optional turbo engine so they are new at it. Considering they have been making CVTs for upwards of 20 years and they are still having problems, I don't think they could do any better with a 2.0 + Turbo + CVT mix.
Well, I went back and experimented some with my car. My original statement of no movement at all was incorrect. It does move some, but pretty darn slow. I can't see a difference in how it moves whether I give it a light foot or a heavy foot (to the floor). After watching a recent Scotty video about the new Toyota CVTs, where they use a start gear to solve the delayed acceleration problem. That in itself implies delayed acceleration is a symptom of the older style CVTs. I think now that nissan is putting a smaller engine but with a turbo in the Altima has likely made off the line acceleration slower than if it had the somewhat larger engine but no turbo. I will say that once it spools up it goes pretty darn fast. Zero to 60 times are good, but as Scotty said in the video I mentioned, zero to 30 times are not very good due to the very slow off the line performance. It is funny but sad to read the brochure that Nissan has out about the VC Turbo engine and how they tout off the line performance like a v6 engine. I mean they really go all out selling that line! Nothing to do I guess but adapt to how the car works or get rid of it. I got it because of the pro-pilot feature, so I guess I got what I wanted most, even if it does not scoot off the line or out of the way like I would want it to. I does get fabulous gas mileage, and if you don't mind a little lag, does really go once you get going. Ride is pretty harsh I guess due to those very low profile tires, but boy will it hug a corner with no tire squeal. I think if Nissan could do what Toyota has done with their CVT that CVTs might not get such a bad rap. I have not driven one of the Toyota CVTs, but I think I would be happy with them if they were reliable and did not suffer acceleration delay (especially from a stop). According to his video, Toyota is able to reduce the size of the CVT components due to having the start gear, and he is assuming that they will have better reliability due to the start gear. I really appreciate the comments that have been made above.