I sure wish it was! I think it would be great if all that was needed was firmware update to allow for various CVT performance programs.

 

What is X-mode? First I've heard of it.

The Outback is expecting it's next major redesign in 2015, so if it was going to be offered I highly doubt we would see anything until then.

 

What is X-mode?(...)

THIS
And THIS

 

The actual Outback does not have X-mode.

 

What about the Virtual Outback?

 

it's used at low speed off-road use. you activate it under 12mph, it's disabled above 25mph. It seems to be associated with better hill descent too.

I only know what little i read about it. There's a video or 2 that demo it. Frankly, it just seems to be a little more aggressive awd function.

maybe some one knows more.

 

Too funny. My '05 Nismo Frontier has VDC, Hill Descent and Low which I can understand. I take that thing places Foresters only dream but to put that kind of functionality in a Forester seems silly. Perhaps needed for snow and sand. :/

 

Do not underestimate the offroadability of a Subaru, my friend.

 

Ottertail County

 

You guys are missing the obvious.

Subaru has the XV which is pretty **** sharp looking
Subaru has the roomy comfy Outback which is selling nearly as fast as they can make em

Subaru has the Forester. Uhhh OK give it X drive and people will buy it over the XV and the OB.

It's called marketing folks. Given the Forester has the same running gear and engine as all the other vehicles its simply just some fancy computer code to offer up an added performance feature to an otherwise nothing special offering.

 

You guys are missing the obvious.

Subaru has the XV which is pretty **** sharp looking
Subaru has the roomy comfy Outback which is selling nearly as fast as they can make em

Subaru has the Forester. Uhhh OK give it X drive and people will buy it over the XV and the OB.

It's called marketing folks. Given the Forester has the same running gear and engine as all the other vehicles its simply just some fancy computer code to offer up an added performance feature to an otherwise nothing special offering.

Add to that the 2.0L Turbo in the Forester. The XV is really cool looking but underpowered.

 

Skip to 7:20

 

I agree mostly with your X- Mode marketing theory , but after watching Subaru's testing of this feature on a Forester test mule I think it has a benefit for the typical everyday point a to b driver in bad weather, I also think at some point this will be a standard feature with all Subarus.

 

It is just the following step evolving the awd-systems.

Pretty funny to see people arguing against, just because their car does not have that feature. In 5 years they will have a car including it and suddenly they will see the advantage.

The same people are complaining when competitors show better performance and they did run xy versa the not-top-of-the-line-subaru-awd, but now that feature is just "marketing bullshit"....

 

I am going toss a wild guess , but " X - MODE " seems like the computer is helping you
by doing auto throttle control so you don't spin, and it also puts the car into a lower
gear for better engine breaking in down hill plus more torque in a climb.

I guess since my 2013 Outback does NOT have " X - mode " ...
I'll just to have make sure traction control is OFF ( watch my own throttle control )
and put the CVT into Manual mode at Gear ratio 1 .

_ Z _ I could be wrong on this tho.

 

I'm still waiting for someone to test the X-Mode vs non X-mode Subaru head to head up a hill on rollers whatever. Subaru probably won't because they know it'll perform pretty much identical except for the hill descent.

I was pretty excited after reading the title of this video then disappointed after watching.

 

I'm still waiting for someone to test the X-Mode vs non X-mode Subaru head to head up a hill on rollers whatever. Subaru probably won't because they know it'll perform pretty much identical except for the hill descent.

I was pretty excited after reading the title of this video then disappointed after watching.


Subaru 2014 Forester Takes on the Competition - YouTube

main question, as always in these tests, are they all equipped with the same tires?

 

Well the X-mode is already an improvement just for the hill descent function but everything else about the system is honestly sorta questionable. Based on what I've seen it appears to respond quicker in slippery conditions but thats about it.

I doubt Subaru will ever compare old vs new so it'll be up to us or some car review ppl to perform the tests. I hope soon because I'm a big fan.

2012 vs 2013 Forester on rollers with a stopwatch.

 

(...) but everything else about the system is honestly sorta questionable.

I would not say such. German car magazines test cars in winter condition almost every winter and for example BMW cars use DSC and DTC which can be descrived as an ESP-setting for stability (dynamic stability control/DSC) and an ESP-setting for traction with less stability (dynamic traction control/DTC) and the differences are always quite remarkable when it comes to how far it can get in deep snow. Other manufacturers also use different settings of ESP, in which ESP can be switched partially off or to another setting for slippery conditions. That often makes remarkable differences, even in FWD and RWD cars and for AWD the effect is even greater.

The difference between no electronics, bad electronics and good electronics can be greater than the difference between different brands of tyres.

Based on what I've seen it appears to respond quicker in slippery conditions but thats about it.

That is the key.

I doubt Subaru will ever compare old vs new (...)

They did in the video in this thread above...