Automatic transmissions have changed dramatically over the past few decades. Not too long ago, four-speed and five-speed automatics were perfectly normal, but modern cars increasingly feature eight-, nine-, and even 10-speed gearboxes. While having more gears might sound like an obvious advantage, not every automatic transmission needs a long list of ratios to get the job done.
So why do some cars have considerably more gears than others? The answer involves much more than acceleration. Fuel economy, engine characteristics, driving comfort, manufacturing costs, and vehicle purpose all influence how many gears an automaker decides to put into an automatic transmission. And surprisingly, more gears don't always mean a better driving experience.
