09 January 2020 Lada.Online 14 406 4
Autoreview magazine decided to find out which gearbox is better? For tests with a full cycle of measurements, they chose the following two-pedal cars: Lada Granta Cross 1.6 station wagon (106 hp) with AMT-2 “robot”, Skoda Rapid 1.4 TSI liftback (125 hp) with DSG preselective, Hyundai sedans Solaris 1.6 (123 hp) with automatic transmission and Renault Logan 1.6 (113 hp) with CVT. The latest transmission has recently begun to be installed on LADA Vesta and XRAY Cross.
Existing versions of DSG boxes
For the first few years, starting in 2003, the DSG-6 gearbox, which received the factory designation DQ250, was only available in conjunction with a transversely mounted engine under the hood, and the cars were equipped with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive with a Haldex clutch, double wet » clutch (Wet Clutch).
DQ250
This transmission from the Volkswagen concern could be considered the only version that has six gears, but there is also a DQ400e model used in hybrid cars, for example, on the Skoda Superb Mk4 and Volkswagen Golf GTE.
Since the end of 2007, the Volkswagen automaker began equipping its cars with a preselective 7-speed DQ200 robot with a “dry” clutch (Dry Clutch).
The unit is designed to work with engines with a volume of 1.0 to 1.9 liters, mounted transversely, with a maximum torque of up to 250 Newton meters (models VW Polo/Golf/Caddy/Touran/Passat, Skoda Fabia/Octavia/Jetta). There is also a DSG-7 version (DQ200e) with the same type of clutch used on the Jetta Hybrid with the 1.4 TSI power unit.
All other robotic gearboxes produced by VW today come only with Wet Clutch, and all are seven-speed, but can be of different types depending on the engine location.
What other manual transmission models are there from Volkswagen (seven stages, “wet” clutch, for transversely mounted internal combustion engines):
- DQ500 - produced since 2009, mainly found on the Volkswagen Transporter, but can also be installed on Passat B8 (BiTDI), Multivan T5/T6, Tiguan, Audi TT RS and RS3;
- DQ380 - produced since 2014, used on Audi S3 and VW Golf-7 cars, widely distributed in China, in fact, it is a smaller version of DQ500 (VW Golf-7 GTI, Skoda Octavia-3, Octavia RS, Skoda Superb -3, Audi S3);
- DQ381 - exists since 2021, is an improved version of the DQ380, used on many cars built on the MQB platform. The DQ381-7A modification has been developed for all-wheel drive vehicles, and DQ381-7F for front-wheel drive vehicles.
Also, at the moment, there are three types of 7-speed “pre-selective” DSGs, designed to work with engines with a longitudinal arrangement:
- DL382 – start of production: 2015, found on Volkswagen Phideon, as well as on Audi A4 / A5 / A6 / Q5. At first, the gearbox was designed for a torque of up to 400 N*m, and from 2021 it began to be installed on the Audi A6/A7 in the 4K body with a torque rating of up to 500 N*m. There are two modifications: for 4WD – DL382-7Q, for 2WD – DL382-7F;
- DL800 – produced since 2015, used infrequently, the transmission can be found on the second generation Audi R8;
- DL501 (Audi S-tronic) – produced since 2008, installed on Audi Q5-Q7, RS5-RS6, A6-A7, A4 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, designed for torque up to 600 N*m.
In the line of Volkswagen robotic gearboxes there is one not quite typical model - this is the 10-speed “robot” DQ511, which is similar in its mechanics to the DQ511.
VW Group Director Martin Winterkorn first announced the plan to release this transmission in 2013; according to the calculations of the German automaker, the transmissions were supposed to help reduce fuel consumption by up to 15%. But the gearbox never appeared in the production version; its use was abandoned in 2021.
Main problems of DSG7 - video
Weak points of mechatronics
The weakest points are the mechatronics and clutch.
DSG 7 - disadvantages
There are car enthusiasts who are not 100% satisfied with the performance of this transmission. What could they not like and what problems arise in the DSG ?
Is the DSG7 gearbox that good?
— The appearance of jerks and vibrations in the DSG when changing gears. This drawback is caused by the fact that DSG clutch begins to wear out. The result is the same effect if you do not depress the clutch pedal when changing gear in a car with a manual transmission. In a word, the vibration spreads throughout the entire body, depending on the state of the clutch, and progresses until the gearbox completely fails.
— Extraneous noises under the hood. Mainly metal parts when driving over speed bumps.
— Reduced traction when accelerating the car. This problem is known to the developers and they promise to fix it soon.
Disadvantages of preselective transmission
As you know, nothing is perfect. Robotic gearboxes with two clutch discs were no exception. The disadvantages of DSG include:
- cars equipped with these “robots” are more expensive than modifications in which their installation is not provided;
- Changing transmission oil is expensive (special oil in a volume of 6.5 liters must be changed every 60 thousand kilometers);
- expensive and labor-intensive repairs, which can only be carried out efficiently at specialized service stations;
In addition to all of the above, and despite the fast gear shifting mentioned above, there may be delays when operating the DSG. Most often this happens when you sharply press the gas pedal for more intense acceleration. Also, over time, shocks appear when switching, accompanied by the so-called jerking of the car. The reason for this is the sudden closing of the clutch discs. Another fairly common problem associated with the operation of the described robots is vibration when starting to move.
Compliance with the operating rules of the unit will allow you to avoid most malfunctions and problems. As practice shows, the undeniable advantages of the DSG, compared to classic automatic transmissions, completely compensate for the listed disadvantages.
How to determine which gearbox is installed on a car
It is relatively simple to determine how different types of gearboxes differ in appearance - the six-speed gearbox has an oblong shape. At the same time, the seven-speed gearbox is elongated vertically. It is worth noting that in the absence of experience it is difficult to visually determine the type of transmission. In addition, it is not always convenient to look under the bottom of the car.
The easiest way is to get acquainted with the information of the official dealer and send a request to the manufacturer. Another good solution is to contact a certified car service center. Pre-check will avoid problems.
Konstantin, Moscow, 25 years old: Purchased a 2021 Nissan Qashqai with an automatic transmission. The impressions are positive, there are no problems. I constantly drive at speeds over 150 km/h outside the city. Many people blame the fragility of the transmission. I am completely satisfied with the purchase. Perhaps it's a matter of low mileage.
Victor, St. Petersburg, 29 years old: I bought a Nissan Teana with a CVT – 2015. After just a few thousand kilometers, a major overhaul was required. The cost of the chain was 30 thousand rubles. Work, other parts - another 35 thousand rubles. I operated the car carefully and did not drive it when it was cold. Perhaps the previous owner lied about the mileage and screwed it up. At the time of purchase, the speedometer showed only 120 thousand km.
Vitaly, Voronezh, 27 years old: Acquired a Skoda Octavia 2 with a DSG robotic gearbox in 2021. Very smooth ride, soft acceleration. I covered 100 thousand km in a year. Work on the chassis and transmission is only routine. There are no problems. Very pleased with the purchase!
