AMT vs CVT — Which Automatic Is Better for Indian Roads?

The quick answer

If you drive mostly in city traffic, go with CVT. It is smoother, more relaxed, and better suited to the constant stop-and-go of Indian cities.

If budget and fuel efficiency matter more, go with AMT. It is cheaper to buy, slightly better on mileage, and cheaper to repair.

Now let's look at exactly why.

How they actually work

AMT is a modified manual gearbox. It has the same gears as a regular manual — but a small motor and a computer handle the clutch and shifting for you. This is why AMT cars are so affordable. Maruti Suzuki, Tata, and Hyundai all use this approach in their budget range.

CVT has no fixed gears at all. It uses two cone-shaped pulleys connected by a steel belt. The pulleys adjust their diameter continuously, which means the engine always stays in its sweet spot. No gear shifts, no jerking — just smooth, continuous power delivery.

Smoothness

This is where CVT wins clearly. In bumper-to-bumper traffic — which is most driving in Indian cities — a CVT feels almost effortless. You barely notice any change in engine behaviour when you accelerate or brake.

AMT has improved significantly in the last two years. Maruti's latest AMT in the Wagon R and Baleno is noticeably better than the versions from 2019–2020. But it still has a small, momentary pause during gear shifts that a CVT simply does not have.

Fuel efficiency

AMT has the edge here. Because it is mechanically closer to a manual gearbox, it loses less energy in the transmission. In real-world Indian driving, you can expect AMT to return around 0.5–1 km/l more than a CVT in the same car.

That said, the difference is small. Over a year of typical driving, it might save you ₹2,000–3,000 on fuel — noticeable, but not a dealbreaker.

Highway driving

Neither AMT nor CVT is ideal on long highway stretches. AMT can feel jerky at higher speeds if the software is not well-tuned. CVT can feel floaty and the engine noise becomes more noticeable above 90 km/h.

If highway driving is a significant part of your routine, a torque-converter automatic or a DCT would be a better fit. But for primarily city use, this is a non-issue.

Cost

AMT cars are cheaper upfront. A Maruti Wagon R AMT costs roughly ₹30,000–50,000 less than an equivalent CVT option from Honda or Toyota. Maintenance and repair costs are also lower with AMT, since the parts are essentially the same as a manual gearbox.

CVT repairs — particularly belt replacement — can be expensive if the transmission fails. Regular servicing keeps this risk low, but it is worth knowing.

The verdict

	AMT	CVT
Smoothness	Good (improved in 2023+)	Excellent
Fuel efficiency	Slightly better	Slightly lower
Upfront cost	Lower	Higher
Maintenance cost	Lower	Higher
Best for	Budget buyers, mixed driving	City-heavy driving

If you are buying a car under ₹7 lakhs and drive mostly in the city, CVT is the better experience. If you want the most affordable automatic with decent fuel efficiency, AMT is the smarter buy.