I'm strictly talking about compact SUV's and comparing the dual clutch transmissions of Hyundai and Mazda in particular. I have read a lot of negative reviews from owners of the Hyundai Tucson. Some saying there is a low speed shudder. Also, I have read that driving in stop and go traffic and starting on hills is especially hard on these transmissions due to constantly applying and releasing the brake, which constantly engages and disengages the clutch plates resulting in premature wear of said plates. I also read that when the clutch plates wear out, they are not covered by the powertrain warranty. These are things that I really don't want to deal with. Now, Wikipedia describes Mazda's Skyactive Drive transmission as follows:

"The Skyactiv-Drive is a family of automatic transmissions, named SKY-Drive. Mazda rejected dual-clutch technology in automatic transmissions, because the dual-clutch behavior in certain situations was sub-optimal. Instead, Mazda chose to re-design the conventional automatic transmission, making the torque converter take less duty while a multi-plate clutch disengages the torque converter most of the time. The new Skyactiv automatic transmission is designed to have six or eight gears forward, one reverse gear, a short torque converter, and a clutch integrated with the torque converter."

So, what I am trying to find out is whether Mazda's "hybrid" DCT removes those negative aspects or do they have the same issues.

Also, I stand corrected. I am now learning that non-hybrid Toyota Corolla and Sienna models use CVT's.

- The Corolla Cross is an excellent compact SUV, it's equipped with either a launch gear CVT or an eCVT, both excellent. The smallest Toyota SUV that had a torque convertor automatic is the not-so-compact RAV4.
- No such thing as a Mazda dual clutch so far as I'm aware, if you know of a model required with a dual clutch transmission, please mention it and provide a source for that claim.
- What Hyundai Tucson generation and trim are we talking about? The latest generation has a durable and decent 8 speed torque convertor planetary gearbox on most trims, the previous generation Kona and Tucson can also be found with better 6 speed torque conveter planetary gearboxes as well as both electronically and hydraulically actuated dual clutches - it all depends on the year, trim, and the powertrain selected.
- Yes, Traffic and hilly conditions do wear out the clutch material faster due to the transmission having to slip the odd gear clutch more frequently / under more load, as you would on a manual.
- Unlike manuals, wether the clutch material is covered under powertrain warranty depends solely on the specific warranty fine print, I've had my automated transmission's clutch replaced both on a Toyota automated tranny and on a Ford.
- The source you provided clearly states that SkyDrive is not a DCT as Mazda have rejected those.
- Lastly the team hybrid DCT can mean either Honda's torque convertor DCT or Tri clutch automated transmissions on Hybrid - neither is applicable to Mazdas very conventional AT.

Maybe I owe an apology to everyone responding in this thread. I'm getting more and more confused as I read more information online about DCT's. I originally understood some articles mentioning recalls for Hyundai DCT's on 2021 and 2022 models of Hyundai as including Tucson's and assumed all Hyundai automatics were DCT's but now it seems there were only certain models of Hyundai like the Elantra N, Veloster N, Kona N, Santa Fe, Santa Cruz, and Sonata and also Kia K5 and Sorento that were included in the recalls.

I try asking a simple question on the internet and I would think I could get a simple answer but noooooooo! All I get is vague, long winded answers that don't really give me a direct, simple answer.

So, now I'm assuming that it is safe to get a regular, 2.5L naturally aspirated 187hp Tucson with a normal 8 speed transmission and not a DCT. Is that correct?

Also, you state "- The source you provided clearly states that SkyDrive is not a DCT as Mazda have rejected those."

With all due respect, if you read the statement again, you will see....

"Instead, Mazda chose to re-design the conventional automatic transmission, making the torque converter take less duty while a

"multi-plate clutch"         disengages the torque converter most of the time".

"The new Skyactiv automatic transmission is designed to have six or eight gears forward, one reverse gear, a short torque converter,

and a           "clutch integrated with the torque converter."

I think the statement says Mazda rejected the typical DCT like Hyundai's because it was too problematic and decided to produce a hybrid type DCT that incorporated all the good aspects of DCT's, CVT's and conventional AT's.

I got what's your misconception here.
You mixed up a torque convertor lockup clutch with a dual clutch.
The "multi-plate clutch" in question is a boring conventional automatic lock up clutch - a feature on every conventional torque convertor automatic made in the past decade.
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So no, what's described there by Mazda is a CONVENTIONAL AUTO.
Nothing new about it, their previous automatics also had a multi-plate TCC clutch.
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Now that I got what you're confused about, to the rest of your response should be addressed.
Excuse me? people are trying to help you and you're being disrespectful.
Do you owe an apology to everyone here, yes, you do owe an apology to everyone here.
Forum rules are pretty clear on being respectful.

@scorpio1154 I think Dan feels (perhaps incorrectly) slighted by your comment. Did you mean that that we gave you vague, long-winded answers? I got the impression you were talking about your experiences elsewhere on the web. But if you meant us, then that certainly wasn't our intention. Communicating on the internet can be a bit "hit-or-miss", so perhaps all that would be needed is a little clarification.

Ok, then I apologize however it was not my intention to be disrespectful. I was simply discussing the subject matter and just disagreed with a few people. What I'm apologizing about is the fact that I was wrong on some things that other people were correct on.

I now have a much clearer understanding of the various vehicles and their transmissions and I have a better idea on what to buy and I thank everyone for their input.

Things are rarely as simple as they seem on the surface. Often when you don't get a black & white answer, it's because the answer is more grey (nuanced).

To MountainManJoe - You're correct, I wasn't talking about the people responding to this thread. Dan misunderstood me. I was talking about searching the internet asking simple, straight forward questions and then getting results with long articles and videos that don't give me simple, and as you call it, black and white answers. That's why I decided to join this forum to see if I could get more direct answers and sort out my confusion and I did just that thanks to all of you.

I don't believe it's as easy as that from the research I've done. I've learned that you have to "learn" how to drive a DCT. If you watch the YouTube videos on things not to do when driving a DCT, you will see that if you have been used to driving a regular automatic transmission, there are certain things you have to stop doing when driving a DCT like not creeping along in stop and go traffic, which will wear out the clutch plates faster than normal. I have been driving for over 50 years and I know I will find myself not thinking about that and will tend to treat the DCT as I would a normal tranny.

I used to drive a car with a DCT, and it wasn't that big of a big deal. It was not "destroyed".

Sorry, I was being a little over dramatic. However, if you drive a DCT like a normal automatic, the clutch plates will wear prematurely.

That wasn't my experience. Did not witness any worn out clutch plates, despite driving it absolutely the same as usual.
Conventional automatics however ... I think we've all driven one that has started to slip, failed.
There were other aspects of the DCT that I didn't like, but nothing as you describe. It would not "creep" at all , in fact. It would either not move, or start rolling backwards unless I gave it some throttle. So I would always be either on the brake or throttle. Mind you there are probably many different flavors of DCT and they won't all behave the same.

Hmmm. Of course, I've never driven a DCT but my understanding on how a DCT works is when you apply the brake, the clutch plates will disengage and will re-engage as soon as you let off of the brake (before you press the accelerator).

Yes, I agree that perhaps different makes have different designs that work differently.

Yes, I'm aware that Toyota uses CVT's but only for their hybrid vehicles.

I'm 69 years old and the way I have always driven an automatic transmission is basically etched in my brain and if I start driving any transmission that has any type of clutch plates, whether a direct type like what Hyundai uses or a hybrid type as used by Mazda, I will certainly destroy it in a relatively short period of time. Unless I can drive Mazda's Skyactiv Drive transmission like a normal auto transmission, I guess I don't see myself getting a Mazda. Too bad because I really like the CX-5.

The main thing I wondering about the Mazda DCT is if they have eliminated the issue of driving in stop and go traffic. I do a lot of in-town driving now and there is a lot of stop and go traffic I have to deal with and I just want to know if I can still "creep" along the way I do now and not have to worry about if I am prematurely aging those clutch plates.