A power-branched, continuously variable vehicle transmission includes a CVT variable speed drive that is connected to an input shaft through a planetary gear train and to an output shaft through a multistage gearbox. In an alternative embodiment, one variable speed drive shaft of the variable speed drive is connected to an input shaft, and the variable speed drive shafts are connected to an output shaft through a planetary gear train module. The power-branched transmission is compactly constructed, but permits a high start-up torque and enables a wide transmission ratio spread.