Here Is Why CVTs Are HORRIBLE | Subaru Legacy Review
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- Опубліковано 10 жов 2018
- Instagram: @eddiex616
The Subaru Legacy is a very competent vehicle. It checks many boxes ranging from an advanced AWD system, to a quality interior to lots of safety and comfort technology. But its biggest downside is the horrible CVT transmission. That has the worst responses, fake gear shifts programmed in, weird behaviour. Its a nightmare. This review was amusing since this car is owned by my friend Mike, who used to have an Audi RS7, stay tuned for the ownership video which is going to be hilarious! - Авто та транспорт
the only concern i have at all with CVT is reliability. now i dont know if they are reliable or not but that is what you hear. could care less about if they are fun to drive or whatever. reliability is all that matters .... who cares how much more efficient they are if all your saved gas money is going to repairs and maintenance.
Its all you reviewers complaining about CVT's for the last 10 years that made them add fake gear changes
Matt YUP!!! I blame auto journalists like MotorTrend for CVT’s being programmed with these fake shifts and stupid flappy paddles.
Exactly. CVTs are perfectly fine when they are properly stepless. Putting in fake shift points is trying to bring around the irrational CVT-haters and actually you're never going to be able to do that, and it just makes it worse for people like me who *do* like CVTs.
I'm convinced that the people who hate CVTs simply haven't driven one enough, or are butchers. As well as better economy, CVTs accelerate better for everything except the initial launch. And they give you exactly what your right foot asks for. Don't want the engine to sit screaming at RPM for maximum power? Then don't push your foot all the way to the floor! Try using a bit of subtlety in your driving. Get into properly a hilly or mountainous area and CVT totally rules over conventional automatics that often can't find a gear that works -- there's not enough power in 3rd to go up the hill, so it downshifts to 2nd, but then it has too much and wants to accelerate past the speed limit unless you lift your foot a bit .. in which case it shifts to 3rd, which hasn't got enough power... The only answer is to lock it into 2nd manually. The CVT avoids all that and just settles on the perfect ratio. I've owned manual cars all my life (hate hate hate conventional automatics) but having toured New Zealand for 6000 km in a CVT Legacy in January my next car will be CVT and I'll never look back.
@@BruceHoult until the belt snaps and sends over 400 little pieces of metal flying through the transmission
DronZizzle that only seems to be Jatco, and even then they last 200000 km if you don’t abuse them. Subaru ones seem much better and I’d happily buy one, except the 2019 RAV4 hybrid looks good enough for mild AWD, has amazing fuel economy and good acceleration for a very reasonable price increment, and the XLE already has all the goodies I want while I’d have to go higher in the Subaru range. And Toyota’ hybrids’ “CVT” doesn’t use any form of belt or chain.
Fake gear shifts or not they all suck. We own a 2014 outback and I hate the transmission.
I don’t know why all the whining about the CVT transmission. I have a 2012 Subaru Outback with 192,000 miles. Do you know how many it’s been on the dealer for ANY kind of repairs??? 0000. Did you read this right?? ZZERO REPAIRS including the CVT. If you don’t like it then buy something else, like an Audi?.. well my neighbor have an Audi S4. His car is always at the repair shop and every time he gets hit with thousand dollar bills.
Congrats , buy lottery ticket you have better chances to win the lottery than getting more than 150,000 miles from a CVT transmission.
@@alonsogomez1108 you certainly have no clue of what you are talking about. Read the CVT overall performance from Subaru. Why KBB have Subaru the most reliable auto brand for 6 years in a row? One thing is you not liking the Subaru( it’s your choice) another is talking just for talking. I am on my third Subaru after 20 year buying Toyota’s. By the way great cars.
@@alonsogomez1108 my friend has a 2016 legacy at 215k miles no problems ...
you didnt explain why CVT are horrible, the only thing you complained about was fake gears. btw the CVT transmission isnt just a little bit smoother, its a lot smoother than your traditional automatic transmissions. In the end if its just fake gears and a too smooth of a transmission for you then saying its horrible is an overstatement, its a low budget luxury sedan after all so cant expect much.
Alpha Omega DCT is cheaper and lighter.
Too much blabber with no facts. This was more of a personal sentiments video than a fact based review.
I drive lots of cvt cars at work, the Nissan cvt is by far the worst, revs to high and doesn’t make the best use of the power. Subaru’s new cvt is by far the smoothest and easiest to get used too.
I like it so much we bought a 2014 Impreza, it’s gets amazing fuel economy and has plenty of passing power. I drive an automatic five speed lexus with a manual mode and it is far less responsive. The Impreza will sit at 2k rpm at 80mph.
MT Outside Subaru’s CVTs suck. Bad mpg and stuttering, just because of the tcu.
NO3- I’ve driven multiple Subaru’s with early cvts over 100k miles and they don’t stutter and easily get 35 mpg in a awd car.
CVT is great. I think you might be missing the point. Who cares what it does in automatic mode. The paddle shifters are great for when I want to keep it at high revs for either fun or torque. A great solution for a slightly sporty general vehicle.
Agree, and if you know how to shift, you can make 0-100 in manual mode much faster than the number from automatic mode.
How do you like your cvt trans? Still good. What year, make, model, and miles?
My cvt is dying they're junk. 2014 legacy
"I guess you could consider Subaru as known for their AWD" he says while they literally only make AWD cars
I had a 2 wheel drive subaru!
BRZ
own this exact 3.6. THe CVT acts like a cvt under low and medium acceleration, holding the revs at a certain point. Then when you do close to full throttle, it simulates shifts to prevent it from droning. It gets the job done and I never feel like its sluggish. Plus I average 27 mpg in an AWD sporty sedan.
From an Audi S8 (V10) owner: Update just leased 2019 Legacy 3.6R.
Got another 3.6R because of 2016 experience and no 3.6 Boxer 6 available on 2020 upcoming model...
2019 much more refined suspension and idle over 2016.
What we love about this car :
>3.6L Boxer 6 cylinder = Porsche 911. The 911 had this same engine 3.6L from 1990-2012. Only Subaru and Porsche do Boxer engines. This engine is made in Japan (high quality), Regular Gas and NON TURBO.....90-94 this same engine had same HP and Torque ratings.
>This is Subaru's "HIGH TORQUE" Lineartronic CVT and this thing pulls like a champ all the way up a monster hill. FYI: CVTs have been banned by Formula 1 racing....
>On Driving Experience: This 2019 Subaru is wonderful when dealing with potholes. Steering and braking are tuned very well. Engine, transmission, steering and braking all in harmony.
>No carbon build up on valves with Port Fuel Injection..
>AWD and Regular Gas. Fully loaded ~ $35K.
> A hidden Gem if you are coming from experience with much more expensive high horsepower European Cars.
So let me try to understand.......you hate CVT’s because they don’t feel like they are shifting because the engine just revs at a high RPM and stays there until you lift off. You also hate that Subaru put in paddle shifters to help the CVT feel like a DSG by giving you the feel of shifting. So you hate CVTs lack of shifting and you also hate that they made them feel like shifting. I guess you didn't notice that when accelerating hard the transmission also pretends to shift 6 times but I guess that's something a professional car reviewer would be expected to pick up on. If you were really taking this seriously you would have noticed that the car gives a very comfortable ride. The only Audi I've ridden in that's even close is the A8. I love how biased your review was right from the start. You own an Audi and you can’t understand your friends reasons for getting a reliable practical car.....really WTF is wrong with getting something that’s not going to spend all it’s time in the shop? The Legacy and Outback is also designed to get though deep snow and go off road, can your Audi do that?
You think Subaru cvt is reliable? If you are going to complain, do some research.
@@carlosoliveira-rc2xt but you see I have.....I don't listen to youtube car reviews. When I research reliability I look at things like Consumer Reports and they recommend Subarus. Also there are a number of other ratings I look at like JD Power (although I don't take them as seriously). So ya I have done some research but thanks for playing.
Jesse James Subaru got in some hot water because cvt was failing at 50000, 100000. They are 7000 to replace as well
@@porsche558 I agree with you're first statement. But yea I used to think he power was good. Then I learned it's just a ivertisment ferm. They litterly get paid to put these awards out. Pretty much goes to the highest bidder.also consumer reviews is even more of a joke. Because a lot of them disregard a lot of the negative reviews. But also they pick and choose who they ask. In my opinion tho Subaru has proven to be a reliable brand it's up there close with Honda and Toyota. But this guy is a joke. I like the part were he says I've got it floored but it obviously wasn't lol!.
Jesse James cvts are not reliable from Subaru. Just do some research before you go on crybaby tirades. Personally going through a fucked up torque converter on a cvt outback. They aren’t very good. You can cry biased, but it would be biased to not consider.
My beef with cvt went away after driving one. I hated the feel in the beginning because the car felt like it was stuck in first and revved at 3500 all the to 70mph but now It kind of grew on me
Yea I have a 2016 Impreza now and it's not that bad. It's a decent car. I don't love it but I don't hate it either. It's a lot cheaper than a Mazda 3 and the older imprezzas have better interiors than the older Mazdas.
FYI- I have a 2015 Subaru. I love my car but I feel like everyone should know that the 2011-2015 CVTs are covered with an extended 10 year/100,000 mile warranty because they have a ton of problems 😬 But Subaru fixed it very quickly with no argument 💕
I’m assuming that he bought a car that he couldn’t afford, instead of letting the bank taking it back
He came back to his senses and traded it in for a car he could actually afford lol
There is a theory for everything
Exactly
We have two Subarus with CVTs. We love them. Great gas mileage and smooth acceleration. We don't don't need to feel every shift point. It is a car not a amusement park ride. But, i understand that some people need to get there jollies from their car.
EXACTLY !!!
I mentioned this on the Regular Car Reviews video recently, but I have a coworker who *swears* by his Outback 3.6R. And he is a BMW enthusiast - used to have a ZHP 330ci. He's trying to save up for an M240i or M235i supposedly... But anyway he says the steering is pretty good and the engine sounds good. Which, I agree, flat sixes do sound awesome. And the Outback is huge inside. I totally get why he got it for the family, seeing as how the Legacy and Outback are based on the same platform.
I put 36000 miles on a 2009 6 speed 370z. Then I had kids and got a 2010 civic si that now has 179000 miles on it. Then I had another kid and they got big. Now I have a 2017 outback with 40000 miles on it. The CVT is great to daily drive with. My sports cars are way more fun to drive. My outback get 35mpg on a good day 28 on a bad one. The CVT is way better than any regular auto I test drove in the 5 months it took me to decide on a car.
I went from an Acura TL (3.2 auto) to an Outback (2.5 cvt). Down on power substantially, and the cvt is a different experience for sure.. But the Outback gets 31mpg avg, and has pushed 10+ inches of snow over a 9000ft pass many times without a wimper.
Weird. I went from Audi S7 to homely Toyota Highlander AWD limited. Similar move to practicality. It was nice to trade in a car and get money back though. Anyhow... there is something pleasing about driving in a car that nobody notices but is supremely practical. I never worry about my vehicle now... so it's liberating in a way.
Jonathan Tasler Bingo.
You also went from a money pit to a solid reliable car. The liberating feeling of practicality and dependability.
nice
Probably your friend ran out of money and had to purchase something that's cheaper in the long term 🤔
That's the only legit reason I can think of on why you would compromise on something that cheap.
I think Eddie mentioned the reason, downgrade the daily driver to put the money into a supercar.
Audi is also a bad car lol
Maybe he was scare about the DSG gearbox fails like me..
I have a 2016 2.5 Limited and like it overall. Acceleration from a stop sucks if you gun it, get it rolling to about 30 at 1/2 throttle then floor it. I personally like the simulated shifts just the feeling of 'Normalcy' imo. Of the CVTs out there some are better than others, and Subarus kicks the crap out of Nissans by not feeling as rubbery. Overall quality is nice, and it is very spacious compared to the Fusion. Speaking for the 2016 model with the 18 inch rims, the ride can be a little harsh compared to the Fusion (Using that as a benchmark, they ride very nicely), Personally I preferred the handling of my 2015 Fusion 1.5 over my Legacy, infotainment in the 18 Legacys and up are on par with Sync 3, but Sync 2 has the old Starlink infotainment system beat imo (I like having the home screen with the mix of info). Brakes on both the Fusion and Legacy need some help. I like the Fusions firm pedal, but smooth stops are near impossible, the Legacy is very spongy, but easy to stop smoothly. Eyesight in stop and go traffic is a godsend. As for mileage, I get better mileage out of my legacy (26-27 average) versus my Front drive 1.5 Fusion (19-21 average) ever got. I am a spirited driver, but most of my drive is stop and go, bumper to bumper BS so having a Turbo is more of a hindrance. I suspect the 2.0 Ecoboost would have gotten better mileage with my daily drive just because it would have more non turbo power to use from go. I wont go into looks, since they're subjective.. but both look good(not offensive) to me .
Brah! They are not kind of related to their awd, Subaru's ARE their AWD. Look who is buying them. It is mostly people who have to get to their job (emergency personnel) no matter what the weather is. Also they are extremely well known for their safety (soccer moms). Also for the overall package, the buyer gets some good value. Yeah they are boring, but so is toyota, and they sell hella lot of great cars.
A 4 runner and LC, the best off road vehicles on the planet, are hardly as boring as this grandpa and dykemobile
One of the most non-impactful reviews I've ever seen. I really hope people don't get misled by watching this video. CVTs are proven to be a great option for power transfer as long as you understand what it is. This review is like saying "This banana sucks because it doesn't taste like an apple. And I like apples. So bananas must be horrible."
People do get misled, this is how those retarded ignominious hate trains start. You get tons of dumbasses hating on CVT's for all the wrong reason nor do any of them ever actually driven one for a duration to even understand. The common aspect of these dumbasses is the fact they are not traditional automatics and they are slower which is not even in the slightest truth.
Ok cvt suckers.
So I'm supposed to just accept that it's OK the CVT in my 2016 outback actually kills linear acceleration because it has the "rubber band" effect that completely saps power at certain points when I'm accelerating? Or that I don't know what I'm talking about because this is the first CVT I've ever owned? It's a HORRIBLE feeling transmission that acts like it doesn't know what it wants to do half the time.
@@441meatloaf Has nothing to do with being "slower." I hate the FEEL. The FEEL! THE FEEL!!! That's what this reviewer i trying to convey. It completely takes away the feeling of a linear powerband, since it's constantly hunting for the exact perfect ratio. Accelerating in my CVT 2016 outback feels like someone snapping a rubber band. It's an AWFUL feel, and if you say it's not then you are not a driving enthusiast.
@@sblagg527 slower is relative dumbass. There are cars with cvt that are just as responsive as a manual. I had standard auto that are worse than a cvt when it comes to acceleration. A self-proclaimed car enthusiast like you is the reason why auto community is full of toxic shit bags. You complain regardless of what manufactures do. Instead of understanding the engineering and technology developments you turn a blind eye to it when the industry is evolving. It's also you people that refused to accept DCT then later saying it was better.....Car enthusiasts? More like hypocratic ignorant enthusiasts
Pretty much everyone, whether we are auto enthusiasts or just Jane or John Does trying to choose from the bewildering options we face when shopping for a new vehicle, is faced with compromises. If you have pots of money, you can stop reading now and just look in your six car garage and decide which of your half dozen vehicles is the least compromising for what you want to do today.
I've reached the golden age of 80 without having to to sell my winter home in Mexico to add five garage/parking spaces - and cars - to my home in the frozen north. A neighbour in our condo building up north owns somewhere between six and eight cars at any time, and rents spaces in or out of the building so he can decide whether he drives the Aston Martin DB something or other today, or if the snow outside requires another choice to get to Costco for the wine and groceries. My compromises have been that to keep the home in Mexico, I choose one vehicle that does most of what I want at a high level 95% of the time. And that's no different to any of the rest of you who make choices like having to finance and operate two cars so you and you partner can commute to work, get the kids to daycare and school, dance classes, and hockey, all the while feeling safe and not going broke at the same time. Since 2010, in my case, that's meant driving a not so horrible Subaru CVT, two in fact - a 2010 Legacy Sport and then a 2013 Outback and soon a virtually new 2018 Legacy which I pick up when I get home from Mexico. Before 2010 we drove other Subarus too, but but with standard transmissions and sometimes even without AWD.
In all those vehicles, the compromise has never been the reliability and safety that came with Subaru engineering, their reliability and warranties, and their dealer network. AWD when it became standard only added to that reliability and safety, and the Boxer engine improved too over time. Then along came CVT's - in my experience with the 2010 Legacy - which I found uninspiring at first. Subaru improved that on the go with software changes to the CVT and I got used to its quirks. A couple of years later, because I needed more cargo space, I moved into the 2013 Outback which had the same 2.5L engine as the Legacy but a newer better CVT - which was also tweaked with software improvements on the go as the years went by. And while reliability and safety in the Outback were also improved, so to my surprise was performance - gas mileage stayed the same. I've long forgotten by now that I'm driving a CVT (don't confuse that with dementia, it's not) I drive differently with the CVT and don't experience difficulty merging and passing. I drive a lot and in often very challenging conditions - weather (snow and heavy rain), traffic (LAX and narrow Baja roads) - and when I move into a rental car in similar conditions, I find driving a non CVT, neither as smooth, predictable, or comfortable as the CVT.
If there is a compromise with Subaru, it's engine power - the lack thereof, in the 2.5's and the smaller 2.0 Subaru engines I've driven. I do like the Boxer engines and wish Subaru had come up earlier with a smaller turbo for use on all it's platforms. So this time, I'm leaving the Outback for use only in Mexico, but will drive the newer Legacy up north, I'm opting for the 3.5R, which of course comes with an even bigger CVT, and overcoming some of the power deficit at the expense of some gas mileage. But I am keeping everything else that Subaru offers and adding a whole lot of Safety features that are important at my age to help me avoid those of you over stressed on CVT folks who aren't paying attention to what really matters!
Thank you for this information, i’m buying a 2018 impreza sport and was wondering how it is like to drive with the CVT. I got my answer! I wish you the best in life and thanks again :)
I own honda accord with CVT it's so much better than regular Transmission the car now has 186k mile and it's still going better than any car I have ever own even manual cars
Guess you dont like driving.
Tony chau, stupid reply, you don’t need to feel a shift to enjoy driving a car dumbass. No shifting better efficiency, faster speed, no lag.
skyhawk311 your an idiot who the hell likes a cvt that’s makes lawn mower noises come on now if you and the other guy like it that’s on your guys we actually love feeling gears like normal cars and automatic transmission or more reliable and stronger then weak ass cvt’s
@@tonychau1983 must be an andoird user and thinks able to customize everything is considered "using a phone". you must also hand wash clothes coz its fun to actually hand wash clothes
@@skyhawk21 🤣🤣🤣🤣 cvt has no lag?
I have the 2016 subaru legacy and live in the pocono mountains and I love it. Smooth driving up and down hills and 30 mpg. In the summer. This car only does the fake shifting when you want to use the paddles which I almost never do.
Cvts are awesome if you like a smooth ride.
What the reviewer doesn't understand is the legacy CVT is one of the best in its class for a cvt. You may not like the feel, but it does a good job and subaru should be commended for tuning it well. If you don't like the CVT paddle shifters, don't use it. And while it's not a speed demon, it's still hold its own as a 0-60 mid 6sec car (youtube legacy 3.6 vs lexus is200t.
I own an AP2 S2000 with one of the best manual transmissions ever made (according to journalists and the Internet anyway), and my 18 Subaru with CVT feels just fine to me, it's quite a stretch that they're a "nightmare". I would like to see a defeatable fake shift program, but at lower revs the controller does make it work like a pure CVT. The paddles are useful for forcing higher revs in anticipation of a tricky merge, just like they are on a conventional automatic.
Relax....the 2018 Subaru CVT's are good. The Legacy CVT is not a sport car. The car is to get place to place for the average driver.
Had a 2014 Crosstrek (P Zev Junk) and will never buy a CVT ever again.
@@vs8580 Right....because things NEVER improve over time. Riiiiight.
@@vs8580 Ok and why? Seems like everything is going to CVT by the way.
@@kartboarder22g17 yes, this is true. Even Audi is using them.
@@carepatrolofgreatermerrima5762 Really? Wow. I hear that Toyota is using a new one with a single solid starup gear in the Lexus vehicle of course, for implementation. I think this is a very smart idea as I think the hardest stress to the CVT is probably at start up. The other would be if you kick it down to pass someone, which obviously doesn't happen as often as stop and go. I notice that Honda hasn't done it with their Pilot yet and Toyota I don't has done it with any of their SUVs. There new RAV4 almost gets the MPG as the new Forester, but they are doing AWD disconnect to get those numbers, which Subaru hasn't added to their vehicle. Subaru did change the programming for the new 2019 Forester so it doesn't engage the rear as much until you put it in X-mode. I'm guessing this was mainly done to gain MPG help.
Ive driven a Toyota and Mitsubishi CVT and both were really good to drive. Both were quick enough and I like the fact you dont have gears so there is no constant sudden shifting up and down of gears which I find uncomfortable in some traditional auto boxes, and often found autos to be slow to respond to quick changes of speed or inclines, so have preferred manual transmissions most of my life so far. Im in the UK, and apart from the BRZ, all Subarus are CVT only. Not a problem. Great sounding, nice and relaxing, plenty enough power for normal daily use. Ive seen a number of Subaru CVT POV videos and even the 1.6 new shape Impreza picks up speed easily enough without any fuss. If people need tons of power to enjoy a car, they obviously don’t understand what Subaru is all about these days.
I have a 2016 3.6R and it's not that bad. If it had a stepped automatic, that would win from 0-30mph, but the CVT version would win 30-60mph I bet. Of course it seems awful if you're used to driving Audi S class.
i own a 2015 legacy 3.6 and its on its 3rd version of tuning the motor along with the cvt and also the after market exhaust . The car does 0 to 60 in 6.1 seconds down from the factory 7.3 seconds and getting better with every tune update .
I have a '12 Sentra with a CVT and it's pretty slow and when I drive my truck it's so weird because the CVT doesnt shift like my truck lol. The CVT is okay if you dont care about having a normal trans, but I do.
I feel like going back and forth between the two would magnify how weird the CVT is haha
My wife had a Versa Note with a CVT for a while. Yeah the CVT is only good if you are basically crawling. Anything above that and it does these sluggish imitations of shifting gears. Even at like 30% throttle.
Can't deny the fuel economy benefits though. That thing would get 35 or so MPG no matter how we drove it.
Same here. The big advantage of CVT's is that they are always in the right gear(ratio) and you can get better fuel milage with them while at the same time driving a heavier vehicle. Putting in the shift points defeats the purpose of the CVT really and the flappy petals under the steering wheel are a waste.
Subaru CVTs are one of the best around. You buy a Subaru because of the need to daily drive without the hassle of babying the car. It is somewhat rugged, durable, low and ease of maintenance and overall gives a lot of value. Safety wise Subaru is one of the best around. With the boxer slung low and having lesser vibration due to the horizontal piston movement coupled with the symmetrical AWD, I can't find any other brand that offers so much technology at that price range.
Sure, the CVTs aren't to be better than a ZF 8 speed auto, but they get the job done. Whereas the high torque CVT variants in the WRX, Forester XT, Ascent and the new Legacy is quite a unique CVT, being able to handle much higher power output from turbo charged engines, giving the driver a lot of torque when he wants them.
I have the Forester XT, and her speed and acceleration is really quite good. It blows away even entry level Mercs, BMWs, Audis easily....what more the NA engine Japanese brands like Toyota or Lexus......
Are you on crack ? The CVTs used by subaru are the same junk trash garbage ones that Nissan uses and actually manufactures themselves (they own Jatco which manufactures the worst CVTs in the world. ) The boxer engine designed by Subaru is very weak compared to Porsche made ones...It suffers from many issues such as oil burning, blowing headgaskets, and throwing rods. Anyone buying a Subaru should stay away from the automatic ones and get a 6 speed manual if possible or avoid subaru altogether
Harbinger i think your the one smoking crack. subaru now makes their own CVT and no longer use the same CVT as Nissab
Mitsubishi evo
I have 2020 ascent and taking it to dealer to look at similar issues. The can shifts to 2nd gear very early and looses power, unless I step on it more, or wait it out to reach RPM. Then at higher speed 30 or so, it also does not have power and i need to add more gas , then it downshift and then upshifts, its very jumpy . Is this normal for the CVT?
This guy has no idea on suby CVT. I've had one for years and no problems. And paddle shifts on CVT have their use such as gearing down when going down a hill like you would in a standard auto or manual.
" i haven't had any problems that means that its perfect and anyone that DOES have problems are just idiots who have " no idea".
It kind of seems like you answered your own question about why they put a "manual" mode on a CVT. You mentioned how you floor it and the rpm's hover weirdly and what not, so the manual mode I would think would give you more control over that.
I did test drive a crosstrek with the CVT recently, and I appreciated the "manual" mode for times that I might want to drive a little silly and also for situations when I would like to get a little more acceleration, since the transmission is no longer operating for peak efficiency.
I just think this guy does not have the lifestyle of a subaru owner. Most of the owners live in the northern us where there is harsh weather and mountains. Or they live in areas where they may go camping, fishing, you know outdoor stuff. Personally I got mine cause my wife works in healthcare and needs awd or 4wd to get to her job and I am the number 2 guy at my work so I have to be at my job. #2 It is huge and comfortable. Took a 12 hour trip with my fiance and best friend to nashville and really our only reason to stop was for gas. #3 it was a H6 that had enough power but was not too terribly harsh on gas for the size of engine. #4 the limited version I have is really really nice place to be for the money. Got it for 15k when it was 4 years old and It was the 3.6r limited. #5 I hate trucks and wanted snow capabilities since I live in the mid atlantic and we get snow a bit.
My only regret with it is the sheer amount of fluids I have to change in it being I drive 15-20k miles a year now and It takes a ton of fluids for a midsized sedan. BTW never had a head gasket issue. Some abnormal tire wear but thats cause they have poor rated tires that were slapped on by the dealer. Getting new wheels and tires for the summer here soon.
I’ve got a 2009 Subaru with a CVT. I prefer the CVT for pretty much all driving except initial acceleration from a complete stop. I find regular autos are significantly better at accelerating from a dead stop. Maybe newer CVT’s are better or perhaps mine needs a service, but I can feel the ECU limiting the throttle until your going about 25km/h and then there’s a sudden surge of power, but it’s quite annoying if your at a busy intersection. If it wasn’t for that I’d say the CVT is way better for drivability, but the initial acceleration thing makes it only slightly preferable to a standard auto, all things considered.
You didn't really seem to talk much about the failures in CVT's which is what I was looking for... I just bought myself a 2015 legacy and I do really love it though. wish I could have afforded The 3.6 l
I have a 2013 Forester with the 5-speed manual transmission. I hate automatic transmissions regardless of whether they're conventional, CVT, or automated manual.
When my starter went out (over 170,000 miles), I kept driving it daily while I shopped for and ordered a new starter. A clutch-pedal manual is both more engaging to drive and more reliable when you start getting up in mileage.
It's a Subaru, just relax and enjoy, or buy another choice
I've driven CVTs in USA when i rent the car there. At home in EU i drive stick obviously. Driving around, it's mostly ok, but the one thing at wich CVT (and auto transmissions in general) suck, is that you can't really decide when to decelerate. you always have to use your brakes. That's why i would like to have paddle shifters on an automatic, at least i can decide to engine brake like i do with manual.
I have a legacy is a pretty good car... very smooth.. a beast in the snow...
My mom has a nearly identical Legacy, which I have driven a bit. It's a bit quiet and boring, but I actually kinda like it. Would put it in between Fusion/Impala and Camry/Accord
Good review. Thanks!
so please tell me if cvt sucks what other car or suv transmission please that we can rely on specially in Canada & winter situation, thanks
at first i thought this dude was wrong but after 2 years with a C V T legacy, i finally got fed up and traded it in for a 9 speed acura TLX. feels good for gears to shift again lol... the legacy did me good in the snow, but i’m in california so it doesn’t even matter. i’m happy to no longer drive a subaru legacy C V T. peace out
Where was this video shot? Like which city?
Check out the CVT on the WRX. The drive modes make it a ton more responsive than what’s in the Legacy. It’s 2/10th of a second slower than its manual counterpart, but you can’t tell in normal spirited driving.
Who buys a wrx with a cvt?
Someone who wants a sport car with Eyesight? I can drive a manual just fine, but I really don’t enjoy it in traffic. My Si was a pain in the ass and that’s why I got rid of it for an auto car.
@@OneWheelFloater if everybody dont want to drive anymore why dont they just ride the bus?
Just like some people enjoy driving manuals, some don’t enjoy it but still like driving. I’ve got a CVT WRX with Eyesight and I love it. I’m not tracking or drag racing, so the 2/10th of a second I lose to a manual makes no difference. Not to mention I’m under 30 and have pretty significant knee pain. A long drive in traffic would cause me pain for weeks.
@@OneWheelFloater I thought the cvt are faster? I just dont know they drop a cvt instead of a dct or something
I think it is time for you to grown up. You are spewing your dislike of the CVT, I take it because you like standards. Then buy a standard and leave the CVT's alone. I have been driving for 60 years and when I was your age I would only drive a standard. But believe me as you get a little older, you will migrate to an automatic which by then will only be a CVT. A CVT has the widest gear ratio spread of any transmission. From a 2.65 Low speed ratio to a .4 high speed ratio. I have a 2013 Subaru Outback and I get 39 MPG on the highway at 70MPH with the A/C on and in a AWD vehicle. BTW I don't think I am that far off base, as it you look at the ratings for this post its just about even 329 verses 279, probably split between the under 40 and over 40.
I agreed. I installed pedal box ( sprint booster) it made my crossteck take off really torque but cvt cannot compensate with the cvt. But I get good mileage with cvt. I guess it has ups and down.
Many words, little to nothing said!
That really isn't a fake gear shift it is literally changing the gear ratio between the pulleys it's not fake at all no dought those cvts are pretty weak
This S4 and Ford Fusion review is cool, how's the Legacy?
All I heard is was
"CVT's suck because I don't like them".
I didn't hear a single viable reason outside of your feelings and opinions.
Wasted my time and gave your video an extra view for that?
Most people who hate CVT's only do because it's different or they were told to by someone else, and that person probably hates them for the same reason.
Did they have issues at first? Yeah maybe. But today, they're every bit as reliable (if not more so) than most regular automatics. I've driven manuals, on the floor and 3 on the tree.
I'll drive a Subaru over that other car your friend had (can't remember how to spell it) any day.
But I also live in the Midwest. Snow is a constant every winter. And you don't get anywhere in the snow with other vehicles as well as you do with a Subaru.
Thought this was the Scotty Kilmer channel as I clicked on it... he really hates them too, hahaha.
I agree with him wholeheartedly lol
What kind of advice is crappy that he gives? I'm not a mechanic myself but he seems to know quite a bit about a lot of things. Pretty sure when he says the mid/late 90s Toyota's are the best is in the context of total cost to own over time and reliability; if you have money, get whatever you want. I get why people wouldn't like his delivery but he's entertaining to me.
@TheOfficer118 90s Toyotas ARE INDEED the best vehicles in terms of reliability, cost of maintenance and quality. Definitely not money pits when they age. If you have money to throw away and switch cars every 3 years then most cars will be fine during that time but for long term 15+ years nothing beats a Toyota or Lexus.
@@hampstershat123 you are the kind of person that scotty is counting on for views. He is a hack.
@@mikewest712 scotty is a hack? Just keeping it real
Cvt is only as good as it programming/setup. With twin scroll turbo it's way more responsive no matter what rpm your at. Intelligent mode is for fuel economy. Sport raises the idle rpm of the engine. Less delays when going on off the throttle. Paddle shift are to prepare the cvt for and impulsive driving style. Without it can't be sporty and economical at the same time. Cvt's for racing keeps the revs high at all times. Not optimal on a road car.
Manufacturers are forcing CVT onto the consurmer for one reason only. They are cheaper to produce. However, don't wait for the price to come down. The manufacturer pockets the savings.
Tim
Dont foreget the EPA standards now.... Got to love the government's testicles outreaching into everything. Bloated government.
It's like the wide screen 16:9 monitors versus the prior 4:3 or 16:12 monitors--the former is cheaper to make, and because monitor size is measured diagonally, can claim same size monitor while providing less real estate. Force this on the consumer and make more money.
This guy sounds like a very anaylictical chap that should be ASE Certified. I admire his thoughts as my own. Quickstat from Maui.
I don't think I would want to go back to a normal automatic transmission after having my Subaru XV CrossTrek CVT. I prefer the way they drive. If not the CVT I would be just as happy with a standard transmission VA traditional Automatic.
That G80 early in the video would make more sense to get for a former Audi owner. I’m a BMW guy but that G80 is very very nice.
A friend of mine has this exact same car...
I will agree with the CVT rant to an extent. Overall; would be a much better experience with a different transmission with typical shift points.
When he said “cvts are in theory better...” it triggered my “hey Siri” 😂😂😂
I got a Subaru legacy 2.5l and boy i can drive from san francisco down to LA and back without having to stopping at any gas stations off a $60 fill up ... i normally drive 80-100 mph , you wont get the fastest launch with this car and will lose races lol , not made to race but once ur pushing u can happily go 140 150mph no wobbles and great gas saver!
The reality of Subaru is that their cars are not sports cars, they run forever and get you there and back. You want a sports car buy something else. CVT is a trade off for performance to get better mileage.
Eddie. How about when compared to the Ford fusion sport? Thanks as always - mike
Eddie bro we need an update on the M3 from ur ig sll
Did you experience blinding glare from the top of the infotainment unit?
How much rotational noise is normal? Mine , something is making noise. Road noise balance tires a loose cover something. I hate driving it. Subaru said my noises are normal.
Progress is scary we should still be using 2 or 3 speed manuals with no syncros. Quick swap out your computer for an abacus then the car will really run properly. When cvt came out people wanted a traditional feel despite it being slower and less efficient. Then they do that and people then complain now there's artificial shifts. Not everyone wants an automated or manual shifting vehicle deal with it. Due to avg mpg requirements cvt is going to become more common it just is. Yeah a manual transmission can if designed right and properly maintained last a long time. However so can an automated transmission, dsg, cvt whatever it may be if the same is done.
I have a '16 legacy 3.6r and I have zero complaints with the cvt
I have a 2011 Legacy 3.6R and it has a 5 speed automatic with paddle shifters. I wouldn’t have bought it if it had a CVT. The newer ones all have CVT’s tho I think.
CVT and efficiency, drive mode seems to shift to 5 or even 6 in town when it's not needed showing less efficiency, and strain at 2000rpm or less, seems once your at 2500rpm it's less strain and more efficient with Manual paddle shifters where you can select 3 and 4 in town, its definitely got a mind of its own, maybe Amsoil or Redline fluid in CVT anyone have any suggestions on fluid brands that are CVT rated? And you can bet your bottom dollar seniors and soccer moms are using D mode 99% of the time instead of M, if ever.
Legacy’s are more safe and I’m pretty sure the rs7 doesn’t have adaptive cruise or lane keep assist. Legacy’s are more car for the price why spend so much on a Audi when you can get more features for half the price with a legacy. Unless performance is your number one reason for buying a car. 3.6 legacy with awd and a cvt I’ll take that anyday!
How many miles before the CVT belt fails?
Subaru uses a chain....
@@AnhYeuEmMaiMai69 Ok then, how many miles before the CVT "chain" fails?
136,000
Dave Reid
Seriously? I really need to know. Toyota WS normal auto transmission doesn’t even need servicing. Why even consider buying these Subarus if it has inferior CVT transmissions.
AnhYeuEmMaiMai69 since what year?
CVTs might suck if poorly driven, ie flooring the throttle at every opportunity, but when driven as they should be the Subaru one is about 200% better than their previous 4 speed auto. A stepped auto may be in the right gear most of the time, but a CVT is in the right gear all the time. The paddles are a gimmick but can be used at any time to pick up a lower gear for some engine braking downhill without shifting to manual mode.
I want reliability,older CVT's were not.Are these??
Really yes they are but if you drive hard then it will not be
I have a 2019 Legacy and over all, i love it. I agree with the CVT thing. Im not wild about it but i get great gas mileage. I have the 2.5 so its not fast, but i was well aware of that going in.
wasn't cvt introduced for formula one and they banned it, cause when built right, it actually is better for acceleration ? subaru tunes them for fuel economy, but if they wanted too, they can be tuned for racing and the torque being at max peak for the whole curve, better ? maybe complain to stop tuning them this way and re-build the design to have bit more acceleration characteristics. as others have said, it's the consumer and reviewers that caused the to put fake gears, but don't the ratios in the fake gears, also play a role of somekind ? As long as using them to downshift for engine breaking to assist when needed, works, then I'm good with the fake gears.
Being able to down'shift' is nice on my CVT, especially in the winter.
looks like another person on YT fails to understand what a CVT is and why they are being used. (hint fuel efficiency, smoothness, emissions, etc). Your friend grew up....that's what happened... as for the steering there is no weight to it, it is electric....
But the fuel savings isn’t even that much better than regular automatics. In fact 8 speed transmissions get the same fuel economy as comparable CVTs. There redundant that’s all there is to it.
@@tails300 Buy a Tesla. Those gas engines still need a high temp, and what happens? You burn the gas, some of the energy goes to the riding, and an AWFUL lot goes out through the exhaust and the radiator and all the rest of the heat that vanishes. THAT efficiency percentage is very very sad. But there is not much hope it can be much better. ActiveX will help some.
Another practical point, do you know how many plastics and other systhetical materials are made of oil?
Why the fook do we simply BURN that oil? Then it's gone. You never see that emptied tank of gasoline again. But plastics can be recycled. What you recycle, does not disappear.
So, buy solar panels, a charger and a Tesla (or comparable brand). Or a hydrogen car. You'll never say milage again. Miles a gallon? What gallon? A "gall on" drugs? Go to the museum.
And if everybody keeps sponsoring the multi multi multi billion billion billionairs selling oil, they won't even say thank you. So, stop burning things for energy. Or burn the hydrogen to get your water back. It's that simpel.
Good night.
AnhYeuEmMaiMai69 we understand that they are putting these crappy CVT transmissions in cars to satisfy the environmentalist. They ruin everything.....
@@fastdude2002 That is utter nonsense. Real environmentalists drive electric cars, running on solar power. The CVT is a very smart transmission, and you should NEVER confuse politics and engineering. Please don't refuse CVT for the wrong reasons. That's called ignorance.
You may dislike the way the system keeps adjusting the gear ratio. You may fear driving belt problems. You may not like those fake fixed gears and flippers systems.
There has been a Formula 1 car with a CVT years ago. It was faster than the manuals. That ideal gear ratio system was paying off. But there were weight problems.
And don't forget, that pushing belt system was designed for heavy freight trucks. It was designed for big horsepower and torque. It was designed to save money on fuel. Cash. Income. Profit.
And don't blame the environmentalists. You'd end up being called names like oily baron or birdy baron, gas head or captain Slow, side valve or carbon footprint, douchebag and filthy moron or mister and misses Windturbine. That does not help nobody. But more important, the modern CVT simply does not deserve that reputation.
@@tails300 You can say the same for 8 gear automatic. Now that's redundant too. You can get a system without a clutch. Without a DCT, that uses two clutches all the time. And you love that crap. What happened to manual? Why did you kill it? Why is it the exception? Why can't the majority not drive a proper car? That's sad. And then an even better transmission enters the market and it is bang bang bang, shot to pieces. Killed before you know what you just killed. There are Americans and lots of Moronicans. Moronica is an American state, with a 60 billion dollar wall around it. All bad ideas are stored there. The right to own fireants, glow in the dark neuks, fatty precedents, unpaid goffermental employees, it's all there. And more. All because you love to be a Moronican. Sleep tight.
Worst thing about mine is mpg not the best. But for a car in this segment it will go anywhere.
And comfy to drive.
But I do want to go back to a suv or truck again. I like to sit up higher.
Not the fastest car. But I like mine.
If the CVT piss off you that much, just say it once, no more please. There are some reasons why Honda, Nissan, Subaru among others, choose this transmissions, and a lot of owners buy this cars. To talk about a real experience driving, try manual gear box, as the most of the population out of US and Canada used to. Not cool a video with so many complains, it’s so subjetive and boring.
So you tell him not to complain multiple times while at the same time you complain multiple times in one comment. 🤣
Things to think about with a cvt transmission
The cost of the fluid change every 60 k
If you're cvt transmission breaks the cost alone will make you want to abandon your car on the side of the road, can you get 200k out of a cvt ? So all that money in gas you save a whole 4 miles to the gallon more than a manual transmission . These transmissions are good for a low mile lease or someone with the money to buy a new car every five years. Just my 2 cents. I'm Leary about getting a car with one .
Wouldn't the paddle shifters allow you to hold the max torque for longer? The CVT at max revs will provide max horsepower not max torque for acceleration.
or downshifting in mountains being subaru focuses on the awd they expect people use it in harsh conditions.
I believe his point is Cvt's are a boring experience when driving. Putting a cvt in a compact/sub-compact is fine for a daily driver but to have a cvt in a car with a 3.6 v6, well you aren't getting the full driving experience because the cvt hampers it.
nice video eddie
RS7 for a Legacy? I thought April Fools Day already passed
Transmission slip is overcome with CVTs. That translates to a more efficient process. Reliability is not the best though.
A CVT changing actual, preset ratios (with or without paddle shifters) is not "fake shifting." There may not be a bunch of small gears inside the transmission - just two large pulleys connected by a metal belt - but the shifting between preset, physical ratios is real.
I'd trade an RS7 for a Subaru Legacy any day!!!!!! I also love CVTs they are amazing.
Lol
skbuoy LMAO, I'm the Mike that Eddie refers to in this video. I owned an RS7 for quite a while!
Do you use your eyesight system, I love it in my Legacy
Eh, I was never a fan of CVTs. If anything breaks on it, it's going to be a costly repair compared to a regular automatic transmission. Hell, a manual transmission cost less to repair because all that you need to repair is the clutch half the time.
Clutches can still be $1,000s to repair. People have this misconception that manual transmissions are cheap.
@@dieseldouche7735 that is true. Depends on if you're doing it yourself or having a shop do it.
CVT's are used in an attempt to improve drive-train efficiency. In theory, they do however those gains are easily erased when coupled with a relatively obsolete motor, fuel management system, and refrigerator-like aerodynamics. Add the questionable reliability and horrible driveability, and it begs the question - why? Fake shift points come from non-car people in marketing who surveyed their non-car customers who said " somethin' feels funny??"
I got a 2010 legacy 2.5i cvt i love its way better than my hhr 08 I had I the future I'm not looking for the newest thing but id like to get a upgrade car between 2015 and 2017 like a charger or legacy 3.6R or a WRX cvt I'm not a racer but I would love to get a WRX especially since they have automatic now even though it's cvt but I heard they made them way better than before
I really like using my Subaru Outback's paddle shifters to slow down in icy conditions. By down-shifting with the paddles and using brakes, instead of using just brakes, it reduces skidding because the engine and drive train slow the vehicle down with all 4 tires gently. Whereas using only brakes on icy roads tend to cause the front tires to skid and loose steering control. And the paddles allow the driver to keep their hands on the wheel and not have to look down to down-shift on the center console. The paddle shifters give more driving options--kinda like having individual gears in a regular automatic transmission, even though they don't represent an individual set of gears. However, most other aspects of the CVT I am not a big fan of.
not to mention the early year of the legacys with the first crack at the cvt are all garbage and should of been recalled but subaru refuses to do so. almost all of their cvt's that were put in the 2010 models of the legacy have to be replaced before 100k miles not to mention about 5 grand to replace. sounds a lot like a money making scheme for subaru to me.
Here's another side to the CVT, as a tech, we actually have a bay at our shop dedicated (let me repeat that... DEDICATED) to swapping CVT transmissions only because they are such i problem and go out so often, Nissan is by far number one with the most failures on average, followed by Subaru and Honda.
I could fill a dump truck up with as many reasons not to buy a CVT, but i leave you with this, the new Ascent gets 21C and 27H MPG, the new Highlander with a 6speed auto gets 21C and 27H MPG... where's the advantage of the CVT there???? the Pilot with a 6speed auto gets 20C and 27H MPG, But the 10speed gets better then that, the Explorer gets 19C and 27H MPG. All with around the same power and weight.
The one that gets me (Yes the CVT gets better MPG here all around with the hybrids) but with the new Accords, the 1.5T with a manual gets 3MPG-C and 1MPG-H better then the CVT, I just don't get the reason for it "cough cough its cheaper to make cough cough"
I know auto makers are trying to make them better (took like 12 years, but hey, better late then never right, i'd taken never though) and they are all doing it now, but i'm holding on to my autos, any MPG you gain on the road, you'll lose when the band breaks, pressure unit fails, cones start.... hold that thought, another Nissan just got towed in....
Josh Austerlitz The New Highlander has an 8-speed Direct Shift Aisin Transmission, not a 6-speed. I noticed you didn’t mention Toyota’s as having problems with their CVTs...
@@brodiwheeler7583 We do get Toyota's from time to time, just not as often as the others. And the highlander does still come with a 6Spd, it comes with the 2.7, the 3.5 comes with the 8spd, I used the 6spd to better compare against the CVT, the 8, 9 and 10 speeds are suppose to be a direct competitor to the CVT, but if a 6spd can still keep up with it in MPG/power, that makes it look even worse.
Proving that it's all about money, and its just cheaper to buy a CVT than a regular automatic.
The sad part is, I want the CVT to do well, I like how it drives, and I hope the new Toyota, Nissan high torque and Kia IVTs do well, i just can't pull the trigger on ever getting one while CVT after CVT car keeps coming in here with failures.
Josh Austerlitz I got ya! I just never see the Highlanders with anything but the 3.5 & AWD where I’m at, I see where you got the 6-speed Powertrain comparison.
I really like CVTs when they’re done right. It’s cool new technology and it’s fair to say that it’s going through growing pains in it’s infancy. It will get better reliability as it develops further. I can’t help but wonder how many of the failures are from people shifting them directionally while the vehicle is still rolling (or light neutral drops)... I see so many people shift their traditional autos from reverse to drive while the vehicle is still moving backwards (and vice versa) which isn’t great for regular autos, but it’s really damaging to CVTs in particular, and I have a strong suspicion that many (not all) of them are getting heavy wear & tear/abused in this way. I’ve driven the piss out of mine in a ‘15 WRX and so far @ 55k miles... no issues (knock, knock)
Josh Austerlitz how about the 2018 legacy or 2019... any issues with transmissions?
@@jayflowz714 To new to till, since where not a dealer, we don't see the new new ones, right after the warranty is up is when we start seeing them come in (cough cough we have 9 nissan's, 4 honda's 3 subaru's and a mitsubishi with CVT issues right now on the lot) as the dealer charges way to much. They are still using the same transmission design though.
If i was in the market for a AWD car, and don't want the worry of a CVT leaving me on the side of the road, i'd check out the new mazda3 AWD with a 6 speed auto.
There is nothing different between subarus AWD system and everyone else's, just a different layout using the same traction/ABS system braking the wheel thats spinning and transferring that force to one thats not.
cvt's are in cars cause they are cheaper to make and car makers are tired of their cars lasting too long....great review, subscribed..
Yep. Should have kept it like the 60's. Blown engine and tranny at 80k.
Audi sucks! Not one can go to 25,000 without major repairs! My 2001 Subaru WRX has 182,000 and has never broke down!
Trying to say Subaru is more reliable than Audi is laughable. Yes I think Subarus are cool, as well as Audi's. But if I wanted maximum reliability I would choose Toyota or Honda.
@@joes.7536 Subaru kills Audi for reliability.
I have a 2011 legacy with a cvt and yes their terrible the only thing that a cvt does well is fuel efficiency but sucks for performance
I have had several cars with CVT's. The Subaru's ability to manually change the shift points make it provide all the power a normal driver needs, especially when merging onto a highway. Leaving the shifting to the CVT when merging onto highways, causes the car to have a very slow pickup because the CVT is already running in what would be considered 5th or 6th gear. Simply by pressing the downshift paddle on the left of the steering wheel will provide all the torque you need to safely merge into the highway. I find it acceptable for my normal driving. If you want a sports car feel then a different manufacturer should be considered.
However, if you want one of the best all wheel drive systems for winter driving then you Can't beat the Subaru. It outperforms almost all other all wheel or 4 wheel drive systems available today.
I feel so sad you don't like the CVT. I absolutely love them. I love the smooth power. But we do agree - the fake gears are stupid!