[Bronson]

I've been on numerous Subaru sites for years and I've never heard of CVT problems in these cars. The CVT found in the 3.6r is the same one found in the 2015 WRX, a car of which is designed to be raced, to some extent.

Subaru designed the CVT to tow and if it wasn't, Subaru would have flat out said no towing. CVTs of today are nothing like those from even 5 years ago. They are reliable, and are really quite simple. Yes, they aren't really shop serviceable, but I don't know of many late model transmissions that can be serviced in the shop except for fluid changes. Almost all under warranty transmission work is a tranny swap, not a bench repair. Todays transmissions are quite complex and simply too difficult to trouble shoot internally when time is of the essence to repair as many cars as possible.

 

[Seajay]

I suspect that most of the Subie CVTs will last the life of the car, and that at sometime in the future most automobiles from all manufacturers will have the CVT as the one and only transmission option.

 

[LWoodard]

http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/104-gen-4-2010-2014/217802-any-high-mileage-cvt.html

How many (max) miles does anyone already have on 3.6 with CVT? I presume not too many. If I knew the CVT can last at least 150k miles I would not worry much and I'd go for it.

 

[Dino Palangic]

One of the best Subaru features is the sealed CVT.

To me that is the worst feature. Any sealed automatic transmission is a marketing gimmick. What is next? Sealed engines? >

 

[Dino Palangic]

Not defending the Subaru CVT at all given I think its as good if not better than many of the alternatives DSG 6-9 speed AT's have a pretty dismal reputation for durability today, not to mention their complexity make the CVT look like childs play.

I am not aware, other than Nissan Murano (or Infiniti models), any other V6 that uses CVT. Toyota, Honda, Lexus, Acura are not using them and there is a reason for that. You will never see a single CVT in a truck and as I pointed out to another poster, Murano's tow rating went from 3000 pounds to 1500 pounds only because they switched to CVT.

 

[Dino Palangic]

I've been on numerous Subaru sites for years and I've never heard of CVT problems in these cars. The CVT found in the 3.6r is the same one found in the 2015 WRX, a car of which is designed to be raced, to some extent.

I hope you are right but we really wont know until years from now.

 

[Dino Palangic]

I suspect that most of the Subie CVTs will last the life of the car, and that at sometime in the future most automobiles from all manufacturers will have the CVT as the one and only transmission option.

I don't think CVTs have major future. I think they are transitional solution to EPA miles per gallon problem.

 

[Looby]

I don't think CVTs have major future.

"It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future."
- Yogi Berra

 

[Bronson]

To me that is the worst feature. Any sealed automatic transmission is a marketing gimmick. What is next? Sealed engines? >

This isn't a Subaru thing. Most all automakers do the same thing. If there is an internal transmission problem, then the tranny is removed, and a new or rebuilt tranny is installed.

Transmissions aren't "sealed" in the sense that they can't be serviced, but rather the automaker doesn't want the dealership rebuilding them. That work is saved for either the third party company that built the tranny or a specific group of factory techs that can rebuild them.

You can easily pull a part a Subaru CVT if you wanted to. It's just held together with nuts, bolts, and sealant. Just like any other transmission built in the past 100 years.

 

[Bronson]

I don't think CVTs have major future. I think they are transitional solution to EPA miles per gallon problem.

Uhhhhh hybrids are here to stay and almost all of them are CVTs.

Decades ago F1 outlawed the use of CVTs in the sport because they proved to be too effective and teams that couldn't afford them couldn't be competitive. Now, would I want a CVT in a performance car? Nope. But they can be effective, efficient, and reliable. It's all dependent on the application.

 

[Dino Palangic]

"It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future."
- Yogi Berra

True but with some analysis good predictions can be made. :laugh:

This isn't a Subaru thing. Most all automakers do the same thing. If there is an internal transmission problem, then the tranny is removed, and a new or rebuilt tranny is installed.

And therein is the problem. Why should I have to pay thousands of dollars to rebuild or replace a transmission that failed prematurely or within "prescribed planned obsolescence period"? Why not allow for fluid maintenance? Burned out fluids and metal shavings floating around inside the "sealed / no maintenance required" transmission is what kills them.

Fluids are there to lubricate and to cool/dissipate heat. With time/mileage fluids lose both lubricating and cooling properties.

My Hondas allow for fluid changes, so did my Toyotas. I will never buy a sealed transmission which does not allow for fluid changes.

Uhhhhh hybrids are here to stay and almost all of them are CVTs.

Hybrids are still far few and between and time will tell what applications will be used.

And here we are not talking about low torque hybrid but CVT paired to a V6 or Boxer 6 engines. Besides Murano (subject to class action law suite for massive CVT failures) noone else is pairing 6 cyl engines to CVT. Not Honda, not Toyota, nor Acura or Lexus. Not even Ford. There is a reason for that.

In any event it will take years before something so complex as CVT proves to be reliable - if ever. :hide:

 

[subiesailor]

Looks like someone has selective reading deficiency. The Subaru CVT is 100% servicable. It even has a drain plug right where any transmission would have a drain plug. LOL The owners manual even states that fluid change may be needed under specific types of heavy use. Even suggests servicing the CVT when used to tow.

So you need to update your perception regarding the CVT.

As for hybrids you clearly do not live in CA which is also the largest Auto market in the Country. The Hybrid is no doubt the vehicle of choice for people who commute to work. Just purchased a plugin hybrid a few weeks ago for my wife. The tax write offs along with the HOV lane sticker makes it a no brainer. $1500 state tax write off and $4025 GOV tax write off. Also working on installing a solar power system on the house which by the way is a 30% of the installed system tax write off till December 31st 2016. Yes some of us pay enough in taxes to take all of those write offs in a single year.

Our 2016 Ford Fusion Energi hybrid is averaging 58miles to the gallon on my wifes commute. It costs $1.15 to charge at work which is good for 30 miles. At home once we add our solar which is looking like a 5-6yr pay off and pure free power given our utility costs its just money in our pocket and added value to our home. People today in CA buying homes are starting to expect homes to have solar power when they are paying over 1 million for the home to start with.

 

[ammcinnis]

I will never buy a sealed transmission which does not allow for fluid changes.

Both generations of Subaru Lineartronic CVTs currently being manufactured "allow for fluid changes." There is a drain plug and a fill plug, and the proper procedure is documented in the Factory Service Manual. Periodic fluid change is even recommended for severe-duty service ... e.g. frequent towing. If you want to be really fanatical about it, you can periodically remove the CVT bottom pan, replace the "strainer" (i.e. primary filter), and clean the magnet ... just like in a conventional automatic transmission.

... it will take years before something so complex as CVT proves to be reliable - if ever.

Let's see some data to back up that assertion. The current Subaru Lineartronic CVT designs have been in service since MY 2010 in the Legacy/Outback and Impreza/Forester platforms, without exhibiting a history of chronic problems. And remember, Subaru has been fitting CVTs of various kinds to their vehicles since 1989.

 

[gds]

Why not allow for fluid maintenance?....
My Hondas allow for fluid changes, so did my Toyotas. I will never buy a sealed transmission which does not allow for fluid changes. :hide:

As has already been noted earlier, sealed transmissions do allow for fluid change and Subaru does specify a ~50,000 mile CVT fluid change. Sealed does not mean impregnable, as noted earlier.


In my opinion, CVT's are here to stay which makes me happy. I think most manufacturers have not gone with CVT's simply because most people do not like them. There are many misguided people that don't understand CVT's and they want that feeling of an AT that continually shifts in and out of it's powerband, reducing real performance. I don't know why MotorWeek hates CVT's, they bash them any chance they get.

 

[ammcinnis]

I don't know why MotorWeek hates CVT's, they bash them any chance they get.

This is just my opinion, but I think Motor Week ... like Car & Driver ... simply doesn't consider CVTs to be "sporty" enough. When I was younger I used to think the same thing about all automatics ... and back in the 2-speed Dynaflow (a.k.a. Dynaflush) days that was certainly true.

 

[gds]

@ammcinnis,


About Motor Weeks perception of non sportiness, that's what I thought also.
In my opinion it's not the type of transmission (i.e AT, CVT) but the programming of the transmission that makes it sporty or dull. Instead of making blanket statements of how bad CVT's are and that they are glad that a particular car does not have a CVT, they could note how boring a particular CVT is, and how it could be improved upon.

 

[availableusername]

I too have strong opinions about CVTs and even some facts!!

Lexus makes two V6 and a V8 model with a CVT, hybrids, which I would not describe as "low torque".
The GS 450h has a V6, the RX450h also has a V6. Both of these have CVTs.
Lexus also makes the LS600h, not with a V6 but with a 5.0 liter V8. And a CVT. Not a "low torque" combo by any means.

Nissan makes the Altima and Maxima with a V6 and CVT. The Maxima is now up to 300bhp and 261 lb/ft. Neither "low" in my book.

Subaru has used CVTs since the 1987.

CVTs have been used for many decades not just in cars.

 

[availableusername]

Posts on the internet and has doubts about transmission longevity.
Cites Honda automatics as baseline.

That´s gold Jerry. Gold!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mtbjay]

RE: CVT PERFORMANCE-

Before I bought an OB, I drove a '15 Accord Sport w/ my first CVT. it was AWESOME. It was Super Smooth, very quickly -and seamlessly- responded to accelerator input, keeping the engine RPM's in the sweet-spot 99% of the time. In short, it was a joy to drive.

The Accord "Sport" has paddle shifters and 189hp, dual exhaust, stiffer roll bars & suspension, larger wheel-tire combo. On serveral occaisions, I torn it up on twisty country roads and was COMPLETELY IMPRESSED with the whole package. The car was super fun to drive like that. CVT GOOD.

Trading the Accord for the OB, I have been dissapointed with the response of my 2015 2.5 OB's CVT/drivetrain combo. By comparison it's clunky and not as smooth or as responsive. Hopefully the Subaru engineers can improve this. It's would really add a sense of quality to the feel of the drivetrain if they could.

 

[Rico]

I don't think CVTs have major future. I think they are transitional solution to EPA miles per gallon problem.

Well Massey Ferguson tractors use CVT. I don't think they have anything to do with EPA