Description of the Subaru Crosstrek buyer: Nailed it! My oldest son and his GF to a "T", big furry Labradoodle included. Just add "camping in the Crosstrek during -29C Canadian winter" and it's perfect.
@@volvo09 No craft brewery stickers but he has his "Gorilla Dojo" sticker back there. He's a soccer and Jiu Jitsu nut and his GF is a figure skater and works at a pot farm. She kicks ass at the Dojo also.
After having one for 100k miles since 2014, it’s been a perfect little car! Tows dirt bikes, goes off road, gets about 30mpg and has never been in the shop. Everyone that drives it hates the CVT to which I laugh. Unlike other car manufacturers, Subaru builds its own CVT’s . I’d buy one again in a heartbeat!
I’ve had 9 Subarus from crosstrek to 3 foresters to 1 Outback and 1 ascent and just ordered my wife another Forster hope we keep this one tired of trades only car I ever regretted traded was that 18 light color blue crosstrek that was a fun a machine I’m driving way more now so I’m thinking soon I’m gonna have to get one for myself filling up my z71 2x a week is killing me what I would save in gas would pay the payment almost for me to get another I can’t say enough good things about them my wife has looked at all the other brands she loves Subaru for the money they are well equipped
@@badgerpa9 Maybe you should check your intelligence. RGB colour rendition on a UA-cam video filmed on who knows what camera uploaded and transcoded and then rendered on the user's RGB monito that is never calibrated and in any case is RGB, and the colour of the car is likely 20 shades off reality.
Read the manual. It says to put it in manual, lock it in first with the paddle shifters, remove traction control and vdc, give it gas and get unstuck. Subaru is up there with Audi Quattro and their Jtekt differentials. And stop comparing a Crostrek to a Santa Fe, Edge, Bronco, Cherokee, Rav4, etc.... Completely different class of vehichles. Crosdtrek is a subcompact crossover like a Honda hrv.
It shouldn't take doing all that, the programming should be smart enough (especially in x-mode) to do that automatically when it senses wheels are slipping continuously.
@@theinfoone was just looking at Mazda 3 Hatch roller test and it’s all automatic and sense quickly. All those different drive modes seem like a gimmick lol. I still love Subaru tho. Might get me a Forester one day.
I feel like they can put it on rollers all day and test it. But they can't seem to figure out real world conditions with them. I have a 2020 Forester Sport. No issues at all day to day with traction. And the "delayed" throttle response they complain about, I actually find it helpful when getting into the snow, dirt, washed out dirt roads, and even a bit of mud. My 2015 Forester would have struggled tbh, just because the throttle was so touchy right at the start of the progression, almost like having SiDrive on Sport# all the time with my 2020 Forester. It drove right through a muddy patch after someone else had to rock a 4x4 F-150 out of it and take a different route. Of course, it could be because I do turn off traction control when I get into conditions like that.
@@DilanGilluly The rollers are an excellent illustration of how the drive train functions. Particularly with these various systems like torque vectoring through brake engagement, clutch plates, viscous fluid couplers, or hydraulic systems compared to various combinations of locking differentials. More tests are always better, but this test is one of the best I’ve seen on UA-cam.
I just bought one of these two weeks ago, with the 2 liter and 6 speed manual. I love it, and having grown up with the 90s Subarus, I think the interior is pretty sharp.
@@theturtle2121 There absolutely is a difference. Subaru has 4 different AWD systems. Most CVT and automatic AWD Subaru vehicles will struggle to do donuts on gravel. A manual transmission is significantly easier to do donuts with on gravel.
@@AWDfreak RIght, but this isn't testing how well the transmission hooks up, its just testing the AWD and the diff's- on how well they lock-- or how well the traction control is applying the brakes.. If its just cvt vs manual... there won't be any difference. But if the "manual" actually has a completely different AWD setup all together, then sure-- Test it.
I live in ND and have a 2011 Legacy and a 2019 Forester. In the real world their AWD system has been phenomenal. Driving on icy roads or even with thick slush the system works great. I don’t do a lot of roads with rollers on them.
@@greensamurai5805 Hmmm they're not bad, repairs are usually easier jobs besides the head gasket and I would say that a Subaru is reliable if you take care of it, they don't like to be neglected. I've owned... 2001 Subaru Impreza, did headgasket, alternator, O2 Sensor, knock sensor, got her up to 230k miles, then sold. 2006 Forester, did alternator, (headgasket was done by previous owner), knock sensor, O2 sensor, still driving at 160k. I also currently have a 2021 Outback as well but too new to really say anything otherwise. On the side note, I used to have a 93 Celica that I absolutely neglected and it was still running great at 360k miles then sold, currently own a 2004 Tacoma with 135k miles and just did routine scheduled maintenance and a 2004 Highlander at 150k miles and just routine maintenance as well.
This is extremely disappointing performance from Subaru. As a previous owner of an outback XT pre-CVT and knowing the AWD performance of that car, I feel that whatever they changed was a big step backwards. Please do a Subaru vs Subaru video to compare AWD from earlier model years to the newest
One of the other remarks posed the same question I was thinking. Which vehicles did best? You might consider making a list. Rate them based on how quickly they get off the rollers. Just a thought.
Agree 100%. But TBH, I've never found TFL to be good at actual comparisons. Basically what you get is, varying degrees of, "Yeah, it does the job" for every review.
I mean, even if it's "too late" to do a leaderboard, overlaying some video in the editing phase of, I don't know, a RAV4 doing the same test, so we can get at least a rough visual appreciation of the performance differences. But I'm being picky. Still a lot of great free content from TFL.
Cool, I'll remember this next time my car finds itself on rollers. Couple weeks ago, I watched three 4WD F-150s slip backward down a steep icy slope leaving a store. I crawled right up no drama in my Outback.
Yes you're right not only the CVT transmission but the traction control being super weak when you have 1999 Land Rover Discovery with traction control that grab almost immediately
I have a 2017 Impreza in manual and it is very responsive as far as steering, acceleration, traction control. I appreciate that they are still using mechanical climate controls and have an actual parking brake/hand brake
Having 2018 one with EyeSight and everything. Great car! Everything looks muffled in everyday short drives and perfect city roads. You need to go beyond to find this car perfect edges. Perfect suspension for region ways. Perfect steering for long region ways. CVT for long rides. I have driven about 1000 miles in a day few times for last years. Perfect marathon car.
That'd be a useless test. ATRAC is designed to shove that 3 ton monster through boulders fields. A roller test is a joke for a land cruiser and its too heavy for the roller bearings.
My stock '95 Wrangler would have probably failed the roller test, even with anti-swaybar and trackbars disconnected, and even with Revolver shackles...until I feathered the parking brake. Technique can make a big difference.
People always forget that Subaru has been doing this for a long time, not only with the 90's Outback Sport, which was also a lifted, clad Impreza, but even their smaller hatches and wagons from the 80s. The Crosstrek is just a continuation of that legacy. Pun intended.
I always find it ridiculous to worry about how long it takes to get the car to move with only one wheel having traction. Unlike many other brands of cars, the Subaru always gets it done, whereas a lot of other cars wouldn't be able to get out of the situation. My experience is that the car will get there, you just need to let the system work it's magic.
Actually it took way too long my 2000 Land Rover Discovery grabs immediately in high or low range and moves me. The traction control is way more aggressive. There's no point for it to be so weak on one of these there's no scenario where you want it to sit and spin forever. If the adjustment of X mode or whatever just slightly increases the aggressiveness of the grabbing or how soon it grabs then that stupid it should just automatically work its best right away. So basically you're rolling along and you have an issue and the car is going to let you lose control or not have traction and then when you put it into the better setting it's going to barely get better whereas virtually any Land Rover since the late 90s up the current or even Toyotas with the A-track system over the last 15 years actually grab the spinning wheel very quick and immediate. Subaru is such a gimmick I know people who have them and all it does is lead them down trails that eventually make them have to turn around because they can't continue going and they wish they could and I'm like well then just don't drive that drive something better LOL a tiny bit of ground clearance and a very moderate all wheel drive system just limits you to dirt roads that normal cars can just go on. The slight Advantage they have is so slight but nature Isn't So slight nature is usually a lot more extreme terrain that doesn't just very perfectly to fit the Subaru it just leads you to places you can't drive and you have to turn around constantly
The 2.5 engine doesn’t make it quick, it makes it “drivable”. - Just took delivery of a 2021 limited model, after 2 weeks of ownership, I concluded this
It seems like the AWD just waits a second before really clamping down on the brakes. I’d argue that would be somewhat useful in marginal situations on snow. A little wheel spin can be useful
Never heard any issues from my grandmas 2020 crosstrek my family owns 2 Subaru legacy’s and a forester and we have no issue getting to where we need to go.
Great idea Subaru had.... in 1994! The Crosstrek is a continuation of the old Outback Sport. Also, in the 70's we called that color Baby Poop Green. It's not new either. This car fills a need for two groups. The first you mention. Young people with dogs and/or outdoorsy lifestyles. My niece and her fiance are a perfect example. She drives an old Forester, but its the same concept. It hauls their outdoor toys to the places they use them. The other group are gray-hairs. Like the Forester, I see a lot of gray-hairs in Subaru Crosstreks. And why not? Its got AWD in case the weather starts getting rough, its slightly taller than a car but still easier than a crossover to get into, and its simple to use. Just what grandma needs! Again, no Crosstreks, bt my Boomer parents own 2 Foresters!
I was also under the impression that subarus have open diffs and use the braking system for abs, traction control, and stability control? Maybe turn off traction control ?
Traction control is what supplies the braking, I think they did have it off, and that is why it failed. Turning off the traction control works best in deep snow, where the tires can spin, and dig down to bare ground, where the traction is. Ice or rollers in this case turning off the traction control is not the best option.
I’m not sure about the cross trek but I have a 2017 Forester that has never had any problems and you can see the same model do the same slip tests easily in this video. Includes even more testing arrangements. ua-cam.com/video/hq2VAzlKfNg/v-deo.html
@12:15 as always in these tests, the car got off the 3 ramps when it slipped sideways and the tire grabbed the frame. In any case, I think it’s normal these kind of brake-actuated slip systems need a fair amount of one-wheel-spin before they’ll grab a brake and send power to the other wheel.
It's a shame when the steering wheel sensors, and all of the other sensors should know the car is attempting to go straight. It should be faster acting and smarter than it is.
Hey TFL! It’s Nate, the former Subaru Ambassador with the lifted Red Forester XT that was on your Dude I Love My Ride a few years ago... Subaru has lost its way, trying to appeal to the masses. I went 4Runner, as I was tired of all the quality issues and warranty repairs. I was at the dealership so often, that I became friends with the service department. The current chassis is the best thing about their cars right now, but the engines and transmissions aren’t good anymore. It’s a bummer.
Good choice. I was debating buying a used Outback. Talked to my mechanic. He flat out told me don't buy one unless you still want to come see me. Head gasket issues especially on the larger engine. Instead I went with a 4runner. Super happy with it.
Same here. I went from a 2004 Forester to a new 4Runner. I hate the new Forester. It's more like a minivan. The Subaru CVTs are awful and their recent AWD systems are not very good.
I don't think Subaru is what it used to be, nowadays they have a team of accountants building the cars. When is the last time they brought something new to the table?
I somewhat I agree. its 2021 and blind spot monitoring isn't even standard in Subaru Crosstrek .. and neither is LED headlights lmao. they still use the old ugly yellow bulbs. thats just ... ouch. embarrassing.
@@jeepercreepers54 Im not a millenial, built a Golden Eagle edition CJ(1983) on Rockwells with a 427 under the hood as well as a few other off road vehicles over the years and love Subies. Great vehicles if you maintain them and no their limitations/intended purposes. Please, by all means proceed. These guys at TFL are a joke and probably don't possess the collective skillset to change a serpentine belt.
Yeah because the person in the Subaru was just going fast and gaining momentum and they have bigger tires LOL all the Subaru does is have weak traction control and it leads you to places you can't really go
I live in Alabama and it’s rare we get snow storms but a few years ago it we did. It started melting some and then really fast got in the 20’s. So all the roads froze over and were basically ice. There were cars abandoned everywhere. I had a 2009 forester with automatic trans. I was driving for Uber and I made a killing that day because nobody else was out there. I did see some other subarus. One of them was pulling another car with a rope going up a hill on a solid iced road. 😂. These new ones look like junk. You couldn’t pay me to have a CVT trans car.
I enjoy watching these tests. I am shocked to see the slow response from the AWD system. I have a 2020 Crosstrek and only ever had a delay once. Key is you've got to keep your foot mashed into it and the system figures it out. Patience is a virtue in most every right of this vehicle. It is plenty capable right out of the box though.
Dude barely hit the throttle. This channel has a clear bias against Subaru. Every other channel has zero issue while this one struggles. They have had to redo videos before because they did it so incorrectly. Their outback offroad test comes to mind.
I've just recently upgraded from an '02 forester with a manual transmission to a 2018 2.5 Forester with the CVT. Haven't had much opportunity driving the 2018 in adverse conditions yet; Is mashing the gas the key to working the AWD?
@@jamespostle6894how would turning off traction control help the traction control is what grabs the spinning wheel and then makes torque transfer to the wheel that's not spinning and has grip? Turning traction control off would make it never get off the rollers it would just sit there
I still want to see how the older generations do. My '97 Outback felt more stable in snow than my current '08, and I've heard the newer you get the more disconnected they feel.
@@tolpacourt 36 MPG in my 2016 Subaru Impreza typically on my 40 mile drive through hilly roads to get to work. Get typically 29-30 on my 2019 WRX on the same roads with a bit more aggressive driving. To me that's fairly good.
BMW dropped manuals too because you must certify every different iteration of a car separately. If they offer a manual, it was estimated to cost $1 million in that certification. There weren’t enough buyers to justify that cost.
I bought a 2021 Crosstrek and It's super. It's fast enough, and great in heavy rain and snow. The only thing Subaru should change are the tires. The car should come standard with all weather tires.
totally agree we have a 2018 and it handled snowy hills with ease best all wheel drive out there just watch driving sports TV vedios on suburu in actual snow hills .
Ya what gives... Subi loves to talk about there great AWD system but my 2012 Impreza new came with traction B rated tires!!! Why. My buddy bought a new focus about the same time and it had traction AA rated tires. The athlete is only as good as the shoes it wears!!!!!!🤣🤣
Exciting and boring at the same time. We got a nice snow after some melt, leaving it slippery. With covid, big open empty parking lot. People driving around in circles, sliding around. We decided to take out the Crosstrek and try it out. Turned off traction control and gunned it in a circle. Very uneventful, quite boring. Perfect.
I’ve seen a 2021 going through 3 ft snow, mud, and sand like nothing. Maybe these guys didn’t turn traction control off. This is not a real life test. The guy is whining when it takes 2-3 seconds to get unstuck, that is what happens in real life situations.
As a former Subaru owner I can say a 2003 WRX with a stick is a snow beast. My 2007 Outback XT with a standard was not quite as good in the snow as the WRX. The new Subaru's with CVT transmissions are sad. CVT is not the transmission you put in a car that is AWD, turbocharged and reaches up into the mid 40K range. Also my 2007 Outback had lots of problems like 3 wheel bearings, 4 front CV joints from the boots melting because it was too close to the Catalytic Converter. 3 sets of brakes because they rusted to death even though the car was always washed and driven. Even the backing plates in the rear rusted through and fell off. Wife's Honda Crosstour has 113K miles and only thing it needed was rear brake pads and the AWD with a V6 goes great in the snow. My 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate 2.0 AWD is great in the snow and has been flawless so far with 25k miles. I absolutely love it and it has everything you could ever want as far as features go and they all work great. Subaru is getting by on it's past and those CVT transmissions are going to be a huge issue going forward.
Hey Tommy, your slip test is nice but you add too much chitchat in the middle and it gets too long. I find myself skipping most of your talking just to see the actual test going on. Maybe something to change there
Slip tests on flat & leveled surfaces are one way to test the traction. However in most mountainous states, inclines are the normal. Off roading also presents obstacles, such as large rocks sticking out of the ground on mountain trails. You need a inclining metal ramp with rollers for the front of a vehicle. And a separate independent set of roller pads for the rear. I’ve seen a mechanic shop testing a old CRV & a old Subaru. It turns out that AWD’s are only capable of 20 to 30 percent of torque on each wheel for AWD’s. That is why the incline test is necessary. Can one wheel pull your vehicle out of the mud, snow, etc... in a mountain trail? I truly believe that AWD manufacturers can design a 50 percent power torque for each wheel. I believe that that 50 percent in each wheel will be the norm in 10 years.
Reached out to Subaru on this as I was surprised at the result. They believe there is driver error in this review. Throttle application was light and inconsistent (on/off-on/off). For X-mode to work you need consistent and strong throttle application. Also in the video as soon as the awd clutches appears to start locking and redistribute power, the tester would lift the throttle, completely negating the X-Mode system. This sounds more in line with what I've seen in other videos like duszaniespokojna
Honestly, it's normal how stuck the car was on 3 roller. A - The only wheel with traction was practically off the ground with the height of those rollers. B - front and back are both open differentials and C - Let the wheels spin a bit more without letting off the throttle so the TCS can finish realizing with no interruption where it has zero traction and brake the spinning wheels so the differential can work. Great review as usual!
I have had a 2023 Premium 6-speed for the past six months. It's comfortable and gets phenomenal mileage, better than the EPA ratings. I like the look and my big furry elkhound loves the interior. He has learned to turn the heated seats on.
I have always been a huge fan of Subarus and been an owner of one, but you guys at ‘The Fast Lane Car’ have to check out the new Suzuki Jimny 2021. It has now arrived here in Mexico 🇲🇽 and the first batch of 1000 units sold out in 72 hours and the second batch of 1000 units sold out in 3 hours!!! People are loving it and there is a huge supply and demand. I’m sure your viewers will have a blast 💥 watching the video and really want it. It’s a small 4x4 and the vehicle is super customizable. Love the show guys.
ID love to see this done with one that is broken in and not brand new. Might do better, might do worse but I dont think a brand new car, that has not been driven and broken in or allowed to complete its learning cycles, is indicative of average performance.
Weird how CarQuestion managed to get the car to do the diagonal tests really well, but he was playing with variations of the X-mode and traction control off/on. Seemed that X-mode with traction control off was the best combination. Did you guys try that on the 3 wheel roller test? cheers.
Well that AWD system doesn't seems that good as Subaru claims it to be. I thought I saw the car slide and got traction from the side of the roller, not by the wheel on the ground. As for the color I do like that color. I prefer the same 2.4T engine as Ascent vs the base engine. But CVT is killing Subaru sales. No one likes CVT, except for those who just buy a car and have no clue what engine and transmission they have.
Subaru has increased both market share and raw sales every year except last year during pandemic. They had about 1% of the marketshare between 2000 to 2007. In contrast, in 2014 when the Outbacks and Foresters switched over to CVTs, their marketshare was around 3.5%. 2020 it sits at 4.2%, with 611,938 vehicles sold. 2019 saw them sell 700,000+ vehicles. In 2011, certainly a NON CVT year, they sold 267,000 vehicles. So I would argue that the CVT is not killing sales. I can't say if they would have sold EVEN MORE vehicles if they stuck with a traditional automatic. I have no way of knowing. But if we're honest, I think the majority of car sales are driven by other things. Sure, on these threads in these communities, we dig a little deeper than most and love to debate transmissions, differentials, etc. But the majority of consumers? I doubt it. And if you look at Mazda which a lot of folks like because of it's more sophisticated styling, and, on this tread, because of its standard geared/stepped automatic transmissions, their high-water sales mark was 319,000 vehicles in 2015. Since then they suffered and have only sold 279,000 in 2020. I'm not a CVT lover or hater actually, but with numbers like these, I don't see Subaru or any other manufacturer going back to traditional automatic transmissions.
As a Winter driver in Canada, what i like best of the Subaru AWD is the fact that it tracks straight because of equal length drive shafts, does not do the typical pull to the right on acceleration. in my 25 plus car we have owned that inspires a lot of confidence in Winter driving versus all other, and I have had 2 wranglers and about to get my new 4XE Wrangler and still say the Subaru is the better highway winter storm car to drive, even if it has over 180k.
I feel like they're biting their tongue when talking about Subaru, I LOVE my new Outback. But it seems to me they're really biting down on what they really want to say. You can also tell they're laughing on the inside especially when they talk about why the extra money for this specific vehicle.
Got a 2019 Crosstrek Sport pros: Excellent highway mileage (5,7L/100Km on cruise control at 110 Km/hr for a distance of 590 Kms, only used half a tank. Excellent AWD in Canadian (Province of Quebec) winters and a bit of off-roading to camping sites, lakes and the majestic St. Lawrence river. Cons: Noise levels inside cabin are unbearable after 30 minutes, Lada levels kind of. Back seat passengers keep asking if the windows are open and to raise the radio volume because they REALLY can’t hear it in the back. Inside ventilation: very good for one passenger, 2+ in winter you’ll get fogged windows most of the time as there are no real passengers vents. Not designed for Canadian winters. Torque and compression: none/nada/zilch/rien. Uphill had a Yugo flashing me the headlights to move over as the Subie revved at 4000 RPM and chugging 40L/100km on the way up. Once on top, oh boy, no compression at all as if you let go with the cruise control set at 90 Km/h the car will hit 116 Km/h till I hit the breaks. Kid you not, had to stick to right lane so I could let people pass me uphill. Seats are uncomfortable front and back and forget it if you have back problems. Summary after 42,000 Kms, will swap it for a Dodge Durango GT AWD 2021 as soon as one is available at my local dealer and once they are allowed to open once again due to the COVID-19 lockdowns. I still got 2 years on my Subbie lease but will get rid of it ASAP. First and last Subbie. tried the Outlook XT and Forrester Sports 2020 models but niet, still too noisy and they don’t provide the same levels of comfort as a Dodge Durango.
Just bought a 2021 crosstrek base with the 6 speed manual. Like Tommy said, why not save some $$$, plus the manual is way more fun and engaging than the CVT.
Best AWD cars is pretty subjective. Some people seek more sportiness in driving AWD cars, in which case Mazda SUVs might be better choice. Some people seek the reliability of AWD system, for example how long it can function without overheating. In this case, Mazda SUVs are not the better choice. Speaking of which, how about a new test? Put the cars on rollers, on an incline, with 3 wheels on rollers in a way the car will not move during a test (for example do not press Xmode or any similar buttons on Mazda and other cars) and put some weight on throttle pedal so the wheels will get power and spin but without moving the car, and see how long it takes for transmission and AWD system to overheat for each car. The AWD system or transmission will definitely overheat after few minutes in each of those AWD cars, it would be interesting to see which one of them will last longer before overheating and engaging safe mode with warning message.
That overheating test would be a little tricky. The reason is that some systems are calculating the overheat and shutting the system before it really overheats. Mazda is great example - it uses the same clutch-pack as Renault/Dacia Duster. It is easy to overheat Mazda and hard to overheat the Duster.
@@pingpongballz5998 I wouldn't say it's any more or less reliable than previous types of transmissions subaru has used. The CVT seems to be happy to crank out 150k miles. I can tell you it is ALOT more expensive to replace when it fails though.
@@dakotamorgan6594 I got a 2016 Crosstrek. I'd be happy if it got 150k. Nobody keeps a car that long these days anyways. Just don't want payments for awhile. I'm at 53k so far.
If memory serves Ryan Douthet (not sure if I spelled the name right or not) over on driving Sports TV tested both the regular outback and the Onyx outback (onx has a turbo) and the Onx if memory serves done better on his hill climb test. It seemed to do good in the snow to. He bought the Onx long term and tested it in the snow with and without snowtires. I thought it done pretty good.Not a Rockcrawler or what I would call hardcore offroader. But still I thought it did better than some crossovers.
You should try the manual for comparison's sake. Also, perhaps purchase some older Subaru vehicles from the mid to late '90s to see how much better the system was back then. I owned a '92 and a '97 Subaru. One manual and one automatic. Never got stuck once and took it on the beach and down many ski trails where larger trucks would get stuck.
No point if you can't put down the power. I just got a 2021 Kona Luxury and love the interior. Feels premium without being busy. Kona's 2.0L engine has real gearing and nice low end grunt...feels like a bigger engine for city cruising.. For next winter, I'm planning on putting bigger off-road biased winter tires, but current stock Hankook is easily handling the snow and cold.
Do a 2.0 manual transmission test please! I understand the MTs do not come equipped with X mode, and the power isn't 60/40 (like the CVT) it's a 50/50 split. I'm considering getting a manual version of this vehicle and would really love to see these same tests.
Putting the vehicles on rollers is a good way to test how one vehicle’s AWD system will respond and compare with other vehicles. It’s a good test. However, it is not the whole story. The test presumes the vehicle is already in a tricky situation, being stopped and with tires in slippery surfaces. But a vehicle’s ability to avoid that sticky situation in the first place is overlooked. And that’s why the roller test shortchanges Subaru. Subaru’s AWD system is better in real world driving than other AWD systems. It’s closer to a fulltime 4WD system except for the transfer case. In real world driving, in snow, gravel, or sand it is one of the best AWD crossovers.
I see no reason at the moment to change from my 2012 Suzuki SX4 DDIS. Its got some poke with its 2 litre turbo diesel whilst still getting 45mpg and has a fantastic 4wd system, especially in the snow. Its such a underrated car here in the UK.
It takes longer to engage than It should because you hesitated on the gas paddle It’s a CVT car, turn xmode on, turn off traction control, floor the gas and get the job done! The CVT will try to figure out what speed you want when you gas it, in your case you just teasing the gas not firmly step it, that’s why it delayed the kick in, it’s your hesitation being magnified by the system
Also the adaptive cruise control is actually really really good. You are getting alot of bang for your buck seriously. The 2018 subaru legacy is by far the best in the form of functionality the controls and the info you need is in all the right places. P.s. get the remote start.
While the test is good. There are two major things to remember. 1.) the awd system is catered to pair with the boxer engine, which low center of gravity and smoothness aids tremendously in traction and handling while the car is in motion. That benefit is almost eliminated with a standstill traction test. 2.) also Subaru doesn’t build for off-road. They’ve just come out with the wilderness editions which are more suitable for these tests. And I believe there will eventually be a wilderness crosstrek, unless Subaru decides to pull the plug.
It is interesting that the 2018 Outback that you tested did well in all of these tests. You would think Subaru would be making progress with their AWD, especially on a car with Dual X Mode.
@@wootwoot5032 the levelness of the ground shouldn't matter, most roads and hardly any ground offroad aren't level and thats where this car is designed to drive. The new CVT Subarus just plain suck compared to the AWD system in the manual or to a true 4WD system.
@@wootwoot5032 too timid on the go pedal. To give the computer enough info to trigger the power transfer (antilock brake clamping) you need to spin those tires faster so the computer realizes you aren't moving. If he'd have floored it, it would have taken off like a shot.
@@mandingo9471 absolutely not true. Once the abs sensor senses enough difference in speed it will trigger the brakes on the spinning wheels to transfer the torque to the non spinning wheels. Same with the outback and forester but not the wrx, and sti.
I own a 2016 crosstrek and while I certainly agree that the car will never win a drag race, the AWD system onboard gives me GREAT confidence when driving in significant snow. To the point where I start looking for unplowed roads kind of confidence. It’s fast enough to keep up well on the interstate and off the line it’s actually spritely. The car has been utterly reliable, reminding me strongly of my ownership experience in years past with Toyota trucks, which, in a sense IS what the crosstrek is for me since I keep the backseats down all the time. When Toyota builds a truck that gets reasonable mpg’s, then I’ll trade the crosstrek in. Given the long history of TFL actually testing in off road situations I cringed when I saw you guys pull out the old roller test. My own experiences with my own crosstrek in snow were no where near as bad as what this car did on rollers.
My experience with the same model year Crosstrek was represented well by the roller test. I was stuck in my driveway all the time. A 2 wheel drive Mazda 3 was able to get out easier. I suspect there is 2 reasons for this. 1. My driveway is steep and off camber leaving one of the rear wheels off the ground, so with 2 open diffs, too much power is lost to the rear and the fronts can't pull it up. 2. Wheel articulation is minimal on the Crosstrek, some any undulation causes the wheels to leave the ground. My 2005 Forester was far superior, but has the McPherson strut suspension in the rear with much more articulation. I still love Subaru but traded in the Crosstrek for a Tribeca (needed more space as well)
Well new subaru are crap, but older models like I have will pass any test no problems. New models have no LSD and crappy cvt designed for fuel efficiency and nothing else.
I bought this for my commute to work. 45 min at 4 am. Can handle all the weather New England has. I would like it to feel better over 85. I am waiting for after market coil overs to come out.
I never understood why "symmetrical" AWD would make any difference. When you have open diffs and a slow-witted traction control, it's just a marketing gimmick.
“Symmetrical” refers to the fact that the engine is mounted longitudinally instead of transversely like on a front wheel drive powertrain or on all wheel drive systems based on front wheel drive powertrains. This means that in for instance a RAV4, power must first pass through the front axle assembly before being sent to the rear axle if slip is detected, whereas in a Subaru, the power is first sent to a center coupling which will then under normal circumstances send most of the power to the front wheels unless it detects slip. Whether this makes any difference in performance is up for debate.
I like the car, but I would pass on the CVT for the manual and also pass on the hole in the roof. Probably lean towards the basic model with as few options as possible.
The disdain for Subaru is always present. I enjoy the channel but couldn’t count on it when trying to get a Forester. I got a Gladiator and a Forester, if is raining and slippery we grab the Subaru less to think about and safer on the highway. No furry dogs here I’m sure if it had a Land Rover badge there would be excuses made for all the issues
Eh, the reason Subaru switched CVT was to improve mpg. An old 2.5l Outback manual with low transfer typically gets 30--35mpg. Less electronics, no rubber bands, and more space for bike/dog, and a proper spare wheel.
It's a shame . Subaru is of the past head optional LSDs even in the lower end models. The reputation is based on the now very old GC and GD models of the past.
English must be your 2nd language. Subarus in the past had optional LSDs, even with the lower end models. Even the lower end Subarus in the past had optional LSDs.
the legacy does have a smaller spare tire, but the cutout for the wheel itself its full sized, so if u wanted to get a full sized tire in there, u can. its a welcome change to how allot of car companies just remove it all together to save a little on weight and get better gas mileage
I see this channel almost has a million subs and it's about time this channel gets the respect it deserves, because I think this channel and all of your channels are the best car, truck and everything else review channels on youtube today! Keep up the great work.
@@DLF-do1gj Go to an independent shop. The Subaru specialist I go to rebuilt my EJ255 with a new short block for $7k including labor...and that was with extra things like a full head and valve job. Dealerships are a rip off unless it's warranty work.
@@DLF-do1gj I mean if it's going to keep an existing car on the road or keep the resell value up then it's worth it imo. But that's entirely your call to make if you're already half way out the door and want something else. I love my Baja Turbo but I occasionally see a nice 4Runner and find myself wanting one hah. Tho I will say that there is no "silver bullet" brand...
@@DLF-do1gj Then someone is lying to you. The big tell is that a head gasket change does not cost $7000 or even $3500 as your friend quoted. The most I've ever seen is $1500 and that included changing a timing belt (in older models) because they already had the engine apart. If it is in fact $3500 why wouldn't that be worth it? Your car is worth more much more than that.
I think that will be the last vehicle Valley Subaru are going to lend you guys after this review, lol. Seriously, though; thanks for your honesty and telling it as it is; that's why I'm a big fan!
For 3 years my wife and I had a 2017 Jeep Renegade and a 2018 Subaru crosstrek. Driving both in multiple winters it was very noticeable the Jeep Renegade (in snow mode) was better to drive in slippery and heavy snow conditions. It would never allow you to get into a dangerous slide. The Subaru worked well but it felt like a older vehicle with less computer help.
Subaru: why can’t we get a Sport Crosstrek (with sunroof) with a manual transmission? Drivers like manual transmission and they also like premium options like sunroofs and leather.
Here in the US we don’t like manuals. Despite them being sooo much better, 95% of the drivers here Dont know how to drive a stick and they don’t care to learn. They would rather have the car drive them. Stick it In D and go. As much as I love manual the majority of our market does not and we are extremely lucky subaru even offers a manual transmission in 2021 on a few models
@@joshuachristiansen2626 I agree that manual cars maybe more fun, but are they really better nowadays? I thought modern CVTs get better fuel economy, and is Porsche not going for double clutch PDK in its fastest cars, because it can accelerate their cars faster than a manual could? And here in the USA it is also unfortunate, that Subaru does not sell the Crosstrek with its 2.0 flat-four boxer diesel. I used to own one of these in that bright Plasma Green, and with its torque you could have a fun drive and it would get very good mileage, although its 0-60 time was just a tiny bit under 10 seconds.
@@ronaldderra4332 You know what's most efficient and faster 0-60 at the same time? Electric power, no point in talking about ICE and it's complicated transmissions.
Description of the Subaru Crosstrek buyer: Nailed it! My oldest son and his GF to a "T", big furry Labradoodle included. Just add "camping in the Crosstrek during -29C Canadian winter" and it's perfect.
Yup! Maybe a few craft brewery stickers on the back too, haha
@@volvo09 No craft brewery stickers but he has his "Gorilla Dojo" sticker back there. He's a soccer and Jiu Jitsu nut and his GF is a figure skater and works at a pot farm. She kicks ass at the Dojo also.
They own Berkenstock's too?!
Maybe Granola munching tree huggers from BC
29c wth is that in degrees.
“Not my favorite color but it is different” - Tommy *while wearing Plasma Yellow head-to-toe*
My wife dresses me in Plasma Yellow to warn-off the competition.
🤣🤣🤣
@@hereigoagain5050 😆😆😆
I thought his outfit was more "orange," but yeah. :)
"Babyshit Orange" > "Plasma Yellow"
After having one for 100k miles since 2014, it’s been a perfect little car! Tows dirt bikes, goes off road, gets about 30mpg and has never been in the shop. Everyone that drives it hates the CVT to which I laugh. Unlike other car manufacturers, Subaru builds its own CVT’s . I’d buy one again in a heartbeat!
I got a Mazda CX-5 to avoid the cvt potential issues, it’s nice to hear they aren’t causing you grief though,
ua-cam.com/video/902oV1rCscU/v-deo.html
@@Grassroots_Hegemon love my CX-5 Signature. Amazing AWD with great power on the turbo engine.
I’ve had 9 Subarus from crosstrek to 3 foresters to 1 Outback and 1 ascent and just ordered my wife another Forster hope we keep this one tired of trades only car I ever regretted traded was that 18 light color blue crosstrek that was a fun a machine I’m driving way more now so I’m thinking soon I’m gonna have to get one for myself filling up my z71 2x a week is killing me what I would save in gas would pay the payment almost for me to get another I can’t say enough good things about them my wife has looked at all the other brands she loves Subaru for the money they are well equipped
Yes, it was Jatco CVT's in Nissans that gave CVT's a bad name.
Tommy- "Its not my favorite color" referring to the plasma yellow of subaru while hes wearing plasma orange everything
Kinda looked like a onesie jumpsuit.
I thought the same thing.
He's just salty the orange that was one of the Crosstrek's signature colors was discontinued for 2021.
@@badgerpa9 Maybe you should check your intelligence. RGB colour rendition on a UA-cam video filmed on who knows what camera uploaded and transcoded and then rendered on the user's RGB monito that is never calibrated and in any case is RGB, and the colour of the car is likely 20 shades off reality.
Good point!
Read the manual. It says to put it in manual, lock it in first with the paddle shifters, remove traction control and vdc, give it gas and get unstuck. Subaru is up there with Audi Quattro and their Jtekt differentials. And stop comparing a Crostrek to a Santa Fe, Edge, Bronco, Cherokee, Rav4, etc.... Completely different class of vehichles. Crosdtrek is a subcompact crossover like a Honda hrv.
ua-cam.com/video/902oV1rCscU/v-deo.html
It shouldn't take doing all that, the programming should be smart enough (especially in x-mode) to do that automatically when it senses wheels are slipping continuously.
@@theinfoone was just looking at Mazda 3 Hatch roller test and it’s all automatic and sense quickly. All those different drive modes seem like a gimmick lol. I still love Subaru tho. Might get me a Forester one day.
Same test for Camry AWD didn’t require any fancy procedure to get unstuck
Alot of people mad when being told to read. Skill issue sounds like
Loved my crosstrek. Never had an issue. Traction control off when doing your test will have better results. FYI.
"This is the way"
@@bodokeXD The. Best. Comment. 🤣👏🏻🙌🏻
I feel like they can put it on rollers all day and test it. But they can't seem to figure out real world conditions with them. I have a 2020 Forester Sport. No issues at all day to day with traction. And the "delayed" throttle response they complain about, I actually find it helpful when getting into the snow, dirt, washed out dirt roads, and even a bit of mud. My 2015 Forester would have struggled tbh, just because the throttle was so touchy right at the start of the progression, almost like having SiDrive on Sport# all the time with my 2020 Forester. It drove right through a muddy patch after someone else had to rock a 4x4 F-150 out of it and take a different route. Of course, it could be because I do turn off traction control when I get into conditions like that.
@@DilanGilluly The rollers are an excellent illustration of how the drive train functions. Particularly with these various systems like torque vectoring through brake engagement, clutch plates, viscous fluid couplers, or hydraulic systems compared to various combinations of locking differentials.
More tests are always better, but this test is one of the best I’ve seen on UA-cam.
Can't like this comment enough.
I just bought one of these two weeks ago, with the 2 liter and 6 speed manual. I love it, and having grown up with the 90s Subarus, I think the interior is pretty sharp.
Would love to see if there’s a difference on the wheel slip test using a manual transmission
The answer is no.
It shouldn’t make a difference.
@@flight2k5 Why not? The manual has a 50/50 power split and the CVT is a 60/40 power split 🤷🏻♂️. There could be a difference
@@theturtle2121 There absolutely is a difference. Subaru has 4 different AWD systems. Most CVT and automatic AWD Subaru vehicles will struggle to do donuts on gravel. A manual transmission is significantly easier to do donuts with on gravel.
@@AWDfreak RIght, but this isn't testing how well the transmission hooks up, its just testing the AWD and the diff's- on how well they lock-- or how well the traction control is applying the brakes.. If its just cvt vs manual... there won't be any difference. But if the "manual" actually has a completely different AWD setup all together, then sure-- Test it.
I live in ND and have a 2011 Legacy and a 2019 Forester. In the real world their AWD system has been phenomenal. Driving on icy roads or even with thick slush the system works great. I don’t do a lot of roads with rollers on them.
My '18 Forester does great on water, snow, or ice. You should have seen how easily it handled the trails at Great Sand Dunes!
Hahahaha Subie Fam! 💖
My 2022 Crosstrek Limited is just fine. He really should've not put X-Mode on and used S-I drive.
We've had two Legacies, two Foresters, and an STI. All of them blasted through snow like it wasn't there.
Can you talk a little bit about the reliability of the engines on your cars how many miles on the clock and all that ; thanks !
@@greensamurai5805 Hmmm they're not bad, repairs are usually easier jobs besides the head gasket and I would say that a Subaru is reliable if you take care of it, they don't like to be neglected. I've owned... 2001 Subaru Impreza, did headgasket, alternator, O2 Sensor, knock sensor, got her up to 230k miles, then sold. 2006 Forester, did alternator, (headgasket was done by previous owner), knock sensor, O2 sensor, still driving at 160k. I also currently have a 2021 Outback as well but too new to really say anything otherwise. On the side note, I used to have a 93 Celica that I absolutely neglected and it was still running great at 360k miles then sold, currently own a 2004 Tacoma with 135k miles and just did routine scheduled maintenance and a 2004 Highlander at 150k miles and just routine maintenance as well.
This is extremely disappointing performance from Subaru. As a previous owner of an outback XT pre-CVT and knowing the AWD performance of that car, I feel that whatever they changed was a big step backwards. Please do a Subaru vs Subaru video to compare AWD from earlier model years to the newest
They didnt change much, but these guys are testing on a roller on concrete.SMH
CVT*
Compare subaru awd from the late 90s vs now
the awd now is leagues better than early models
ua-cam.com/video/902oV1rCscU/v-deo.html
One of the other remarks posed the same question I was thinking. Which vehicles did best? You might consider making a list. Rate them based on how quickly they get off the rollers. Just a thought.
Yes! We need a "Slip Test Leaderboard," similar to the Lap Time Leaderboard. :)
Agree 100%. But TBH, I've never found TFL to be good at actual comparisons. Basically what you get is, varying degrees of, "Yeah, it does the job" for every review.
I mean, even if it's "too late" to do a leaderboard, overlaying some video in the editing phase of, I don't know, a RAV4 doing the same test, so we can get at least a rough visual appreciation of the performance differences. But I'm being picky. Still a lot of great free content from TFL.
@@ragweedmakesmesneeze They are not good with responses either.
@@ragweedmakesmesneeze the rav4 was horrible I believe.
Cool, I'll remember this next time my car finds itself on rollers. Couple weeks ago, I watched three 4WD F-150s slip backward down a steep icy slope leaving a store. I crawled right up no drama in my Outback.
Subaru is one of the only AWD focus companies that is going backwards with their progress in their systems
Not true, a lot of companies r favoring economy over engagement. Look at Acura, Audi and Nissan off the top of my head.
Yes you're right not only the CVT transmission but the traction control being super weak when you have 1999 Land Rover Discovery with traction control that grab almost immediately
I have a 2017 Impreza in manual and it is very responsive as far as steering, acceleration, traction control. I appreciate that they are still using mechanical climate controls and have an actual parking brake/hand brake
Impreza run on smaller wheels and low profile tiers that make acceleration faster.
9:38 "at least chrome them" NO GOD NO, NOOOO!!!
Thank God! I HATE chrome.
i have a 2018 outback. i want to plastidip every part of "chrome" inside because it it looks bad and somehow always reflects light into my face.
F chrome
The best part about a dark colored dash is you don't see its reflection in the windshield.
its car design 101
Having 2018 one with EyeSight and everything. Great car! Everything looks muffled in everyday short drives and perfect city roads. You need to go beyond to find this car perfect edges. Perfect suspension for region ways. Perfect steering for long region ways. CVT for long rides. I have driven about 1000 miles in a day few times for last years. Perfect marathon car.
It's funny they never do the slip test of the Land Cruiser. Would like to see they do it.
That'd be a useless test. ATRAC is designed to shove that 3 ton monster through boulders fields. A roller test is a joke for a land cruiser and its too heavy for the roller bearings.
My stock '95 Wrangler would have probably failed the roller test, even with anti-swaybar and trackbars disconnected, and even with Revolver shackles...until I feathered the parking brake.
Technique can make a big difference.
People always forget that Subaru has been doing this for a long time, not only with the 90's Outback Sport, which was also a lifted, clad Impreza, but even their smaller hatches and wagons from the 80s. The Crosstrek is just a continuation of that legacy. Pun intended.
I always find it ridiculous to worry about how long it takes to get the car to move with only one wheel having traction. Unlike many other brands of cars, the Subaru always gets it done, whereas a lot of other cars wouldn't be able to get out of the situation. My experience is that the car will get there, you just need to let the system work it's magic.
Actually it took way too long my 2000 Land Rover Discovery grabs immediately in high or low range and moves me. The traction control is way more aggressive. There's no point for it to be so weak on one of these there's no scenario where you want it to sit and spin forever. If the adjustment of X mode or whatever just slightly increases the aggressiveness of the grabbing or how soon it grabs then that stupid it should just automatically work its best right away. So basically you're rolling along and you have an issue and the car is going to let you lose control or not have traction and then when you put it into the better setting it's going to barely get better whereas virtually any Land Rover since the late 90s up the current or even Toyotas with the A-track system over the last 15 years actually grab the spinning wheel very quick and immediate. Subaru is such a gimmick I know people who have them and all it does is lead them down trails that eventually make them have to turn around because they can't continue going and they wish they could and I'm like well then just don't drive that drive something better LOL a tiny bit of ground clearance and a very moderate all wheel drive system just limits you to dirt roads that normal cars can just go on. The slight Advantage they have is so slight but nature Isn't So slight nature is usually a lot more extreme terrain that doesn't just very perfectly to fit the Subaru it just leads you to places you can't drive and you have to turn around constantly
weird, it is almost as if you did everything juuuuust right to set this up to fail.
Which they did
Other vehicles don’t have this same problem.
@@Widdox lol, k nigga
check my different vids. ua-cam.com/video/Gq63I7fD77Q/v-deo.html
They have been hating on subaru ever since they banned them from testing their vehicles.
The 2.5 engine doesn’t make it quick, it makes it “drivable”. - Just took delivery of a 2021 limited model, after 2 weeks of ownership, I concluded this
Cross track?
no one says this anymore, not since subi moved to the rubber band transmission...
Is this guy complaining about the look whilst wearing a camel outfit? haha, amazing
It seems like the AWD just waits a second before really clamping down on the brakes. I’d argue that would be somewhat useful in marginal situations on snow. A little wheel spin can be useful
It would be interesting to see how the manual crosstrek handles this compared the cvt version since the awd systems are different.
Never heard any issues from my grandmas 2020 crosstrek my family owns 2 Subaru legacy’s and a forester and we have no issue getting to where we need to go.
Did the check engine light come on like it did on your amazing 3rd defender?
Last time saying this...”IF SUBARU WOULD GO BACK TO MECHANICAL REAR LSD, IT WOULD NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES!”
Great idea Subaru had.... in 1994! The Crosstrek is a continuation of the old Outback Sport. Also, in the 70's we called that color Baby Poop Green. It's not new either.
This car fills a need for two groups. The first you mention. Young people with dogs and/or outdoorsy lifestyles. My niece and her fiance are a perfect example. She drives an old Forester, but its the same concept. It hauls their outdoor toys to the places they use them. The other group are gray-hairs. Like the Forester, I see a lot of gray-hairs in Subaru Crosstreks. And why not? Its got AWD in case the weather starts getting rough, its slightly taller than a car but still easier than a crossover to get into, and its simple to use. Just what grandma needs! Again, no Crosstreks, bt my Boomer parents own 2 Foresters!
I was also under the impression that subarus have open diffs and use the braking system for abs, traction control, and stability control? Maybe turn off traction control ?
Traction control is what supplies the braking, I think they did have it off, and that is why it failed. Turning off the traction control works best in deep snow, where the tires can spin, and dig down to bare ground, where the traction is. Ice or rollers in this case turning off the traction control is not the best option.
I’m not sure about the cross trek but I have a 2017 Forester that has never had any problems and you can see the same model do the same slip tests easily in this video. Includes even more testing arrangements.
ua-cam.com/video/hq2VAzlKfNg/v-deo.html
@12:15 as always in these tests, the car got off the 3 ramps when it slipped sideways and the tire grabbed the frame.
In any case, I think it’s normal these kind of brake-actuated slip systems need a fair amount of one-wheel-spin before they’ll grab a brake and send power to the other wheel.
It's a shame when the steering wheel sensors, and all of the other sensors should know the car is attempting to go straight. It should be faster acting and smarter than it is.
Hey TFL! It’s Nate, the former Subaru Ambassador with the lifted Red Forester XT that was on your Dude I Love My Ride a few years ago... Subaru has lost its way, trying to appeal to the masses. I went 4Runner, as I was tired of all the quality issues and warranty repairs. I was at the dealership so often, that I became friends with the service department. The current chassis is the best thing about their cars right now, but the engines and transmissions aren’t good anymore. It’s a bummer.
Good choice. I was debating buying a used Outback. Talked to my mechanic. He flat out told me don't buy one unless you still want to come see me. Head gasket issues especially on the larger engine. Instead I went with a 4runner. Super happy with it.
Ya if you buy a Subaru I think it’s probably best to buy a brand new one, a virgin!, cause maintenance is definitely key on these cars now🤦♂️
Same here. I went from a 2004 Forester to a new 4Runner. I hate the new Forester. It's more like a minivan. The Subaru CVTs are awful and their recent AWD systems are not very good.
I don't think Subaru is what it used to be, nowadays they have a team of accountants building the cars. When is the last time they brought something new to the table?
Buy another car then and go away
new subes are the best ones yet
It's all about LOVE....the love of attracting google loving millennials with gender friendly advertisements and gobs of REI bucks.
I somewhat I agree. its 2021 and blind spot monitoring isn't even standard in Subaru Crosstrek .. and neither is LED headlights lmao. they still use the old ugly yellow bulbs. thats just ... ouch. embarrassing.
@@jeepercreepers54 Im not a millenial, built a Golden Eagle edition CJ(1983) on Rockwells with a 427 under the hood as well as a few other off road vehicles over the years and love Subies.
Great vehicles if you maintain them and no their limitations/intended purposes.
Please, by all means proceed.
These guys at TFL are a joke and probably don't possess the collective skillset to change a serpentine belt.
plenty of real off road videos on youtube where the subie does great
And many that have to recovered from minor sand, snow and mud.
The “subie” shouldn’t even be allowed to take up space on the road. Such a trash car
@@amazoidal Just like Jeeps and trucks. I have owned 3 wranglers and seen my fair share of wranglers getting stuck when they should not be.
Yeah because the person in the Subaru was just going fast and gaining momentum and they have bigger tires LOL all the Subaru does is have weak traction control and it leads you to places you can't really go
Before CVT then yes Subaru had a great system. Any older automatic or manual is a night/day difference over these test results.
CVT ruins everything. Just ask Nissan.
I live in Alabama and it’s rare we get snow storms but a few years ago it we did. It started melting some and then really fast got in the 20’s. So all the roads froze over and were basically ice. There were cars abandoned everywhere. I had a 2009 forester with automatic trans. I was driving for Uber and I made a killing that day because nobody else was out there. I did see some other subarus. One of them was pulling another car with a rope going up a hill on a solid iced road. 😂. These new ones look like junk. You couldn’t pay me to have a CVT trans car.
What does a CVT have to do with cutting power from the wheels that don't have traction and giving it to the one that does?
@@JonBecker81 I'm sorry to hear that you live in Alabama.
@@tim3172 why are you sorry to hear that?
I enjoy watching these tests. I am shocked to see the slow response from the AWD system. I have a 2020 Crosstrek and only ever had a delay once. Key is you've got to keep your foot mashed into it and the system figures it out. Patience is a virtue in most every right of this vehicle. It is plenty capable right out of the box though.
Problem is they barely pressed the throttle, you can tell.
Dude barely hit the throttle. This channel has a clear bias against Subaru. Every other channel has zero issue while this one struggles. They have had to redo videos before because they did it so incorrectly. Their outback offroad test comes to mind.
I've just recently upgraded from an '02 forester with a manual transmission to a 2018 2.5 Forester with the CVT. Haven't had much opportunity driving the 2018 in adverse conditions yet; Is mashing the gas the key to working the AWD?
@@coolguylstan didn't turn off traction control either
@@jamespostle6894how would turning off traction control help the traction control is what grabs the spinning wheel and then makes torque transfer to the wheel that's not spinning and has grip? Turning traction control off would make it never get off the rollers it would just sit there
"Legendary." in other words, at one time they made a good all wheel drive system, and forgot in modern vehicles to get better fuel economy.
I still want to see how the older generations do. My '97 Outback felt more stable in snow than my current '08, and I've heard the newer you get the more disconnected they feel.
AWD vehicles can't get good milage. It's not a thing.
@@tolpacourt 36 MPG in my 2016 Subaru Impreza typically on my 40 mile drive through hilly roads to get to work. Get typically 29-30 on my 2019 WRX on the same roads with a bit more aggressive driving. To me that's fairly good.
Literally eating sugar free granola in my yogurt as I'm watching this
That made me laugh thanks
They should offer the manual with both engines.
They would if people bought them
@@theBatmanGoeth2 People certainly buy the manual with the base engine.
BMW dropped manuals too because you must certify every different iteration of a car separately. If they offer a manual, it was estimated to cost $1 million in that certification. There weren’t enough buyers to justify that cost.
@@rightlanehog3151 just because 100 people nationwide buys manual doesn't mean it's worth it to design the manual for other engines
You misspelled 'neither' engine.
On the three wheel slip test you can see it knows which tire has traction but not enough power to make it go! Common Subaru Minimum 200hp is necessary
It's all good. Watch this ua-cam.com/video/902oV1rCscU/v-deo.html Never floored it.
@@OutdoorFun01 Insannne!! The car was on ice too! + snow
@@LucaFidanzaLucaFidanzaVlogs 😉
I bought a 2021 Crosstrek and It's super. It's fast enough, and great in heavy rain and snow. The only thing Subaru should change are the tires. The car should come standard with all weather tires.
totally agree we have a 2018 and it handled snowy hills with ease best all wheel drive out there just watch driving sports TV vedios on suburu in actual snow hills .
I live in Canada and I put snow tires on. Gives me great confidence. ua-cam.com/video/902oV1rCscU/v-deo.html
Ya what gives... Subi loves to talk about there great AWD system but my 2012 Impreza new came with traction B rated tires!!! Why. My buddy bought a new focus about the same time and it had traction AA rated tires. The athlete is only as good as the shoes it wears!!!!!!🤣🤣
My wife owns a 2021 sport and it’s a beast in the snow.
Exciting and boring at the same time. We got a nice snow after some melt, leaving it slippery. With covid, big open empty parking lot. People driving around in circles, sliding around. We decided to take out the Crosstrek and try it out. Turned off traction control and gunned it in a circle. Very uneventful, quite boring. Perfect.
@@BenjaminCronce I've been doing that with my Charokee Trailhawk very fun to do.
I just got one too. I'm honestly super impressed with how it handles on slick / snowy roads. I love mine. So comfortable haha.
I’ve seen a 2021 going through 3 ft snow, mud, and sand like nothing. Maybe these guys didn’t turn traction control off. This is not a real life test. The guy is whining when it takes 2-3 seconds to get unstuck, that is what happens in real life situations.
As a former Subaru owner I can say a 2003 WRX with a stick is a snow beast. My 2007 Outback XT with a standard was not quite as good in the snow as the WRX. The new Subaru's with CVT transmissions are sad. CVT is not the transmission you put in a car that is AWD, turbocharged and reaches up into the mid 40K range. Also my 2007 Outback had lots of problems like 3 wheel bearings, 4 front CV joints from the boots melting because it was too close to the Catalytic Converter. 3 sets of brakes because they rusted to death even though the car was always washed and driven. Even the backing plates in the rear rusted through and fell off. Wife's Honda Crosstour has 113K miles and only thing it needed was rear brake pads and the AWD with a V6 goes great in the snow. My 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate 2.0 AWD is great in the snow and has been flawless so far with 25k miles. I absolutely love it and it has everything you could ever want as far as features go and they all work great. Subaru is getting by on it's past and those CVT transmissions are going to be a huge issue going forward.
my 2014 with 120k eats brake pads and rotors every 20k miles... going mazda or toyota next time
Hey Tommy, your slip test is nice but you add too much chitchat in the middle and it gets too long. I find myself skipping most of your talking just to see the actual test going on. Maybe something to change there
Haha! Here's one with no talk ;) ua-cam.com/video/902oV1rCscU/v-deo.html
This vs new bronco sport vs compass trailhawk would be a fantastic video
Whoever gets to 60k miles on the original transmission wins. A tough challenge for the three of them.
My son loves his Impreza. He "car camps" in the back. If you don't need the ground clearance, you can save a few K with the Impreza.
Slip tests on flat & leveled surfaces are one way to test the traction. However in most mountainous states, inclines are the normal. Off roading also presents obstacles, such as large rocks sticking out of the ground on mountain trails. You need a inclining metal ramp with rollers for the front of a vehicle. And a separate independent set of roller pads for the rear. I’ve seen a mechanic shop testing a old CRV & a old Subaru. It turns out that AWD’s are only capable of 20 to 30 percent of torque on each wheel for AWD’s. That is why the incline test is necessary. Can one wheel pull your vehicle out of the mud, snow, etc... in a mountain trail? I truly believe that AWD manufacturers can design a 50 percent power torque for each wheel. I believe that that 50 percent in each wheel will be the norm in 10 years.
2.0 with the 6 speed is what I would pick!!
A manual (even on a slow car) is more engaging and more engaging is more fun 🤩
Great work guys!!!
I can verify that. My 2021 with a manual is a lot of fun.
Reached out to Subaru on this as I was surprised at the result. They believe there is driver error in this review. Throttle application was light and inconsistent (on/off-on/off). For X-mode to work you need consistent and strong throttle application. Also in the video as soon as the awd clutches appears to start locking and redistribute power, the tester would lift the throttle, completely negating the X-Mode system. This sounds more in line with what I've seen in other videos like duszaniespokojna
Back from the 1980s, the AMC Eagle could have been a a winner nowadays.
Not really it had open differentials it would have just sat there and spun forever
Honestly, it's normal how stuck the car was on 3 roller. A - The only wheel with traction was practically off the ground with the height of those rollers. B - front and back are both open differentials and C - Let the wheels spin a bit more without letting off the throttle so the TCS can finish realizing with no interruption where it has zero traction and brake the spinning wheels so the differential can work. Great review as usual!
In Australia the trunk floor is raised with a full size spare underneath. NOBODY uses these off-road in Australia.
Just because the trunk floor is raised?
@@angrydinosaur8plus9 Nah. Just because they are considered too small overall.
Subaru started building small 4WD vehicles long before 8 or 9 years ago. They've been the go-to vehicle for that in New England since the 70s/80s.
The first model year for Subaru 4WD in the USA was 1975, I believe. Their first actual AWD was in ~1985.
Love it when Tommy says/uses the term "1980s" when he wasn't even thought of in the 80s lol
If people were only qualified to speak on a time period that they were alive for, history classes would be incredibly dull. And short.
I have had a 2023 Premium 6-speed for the past six months. It's comfortable and gets phenomenal mileage, better than the EPA ratings. I like the look and my big furry elkhound loves the interior.
He has learned to turn the heated seats on.
Tommy, what are the top three vehicles that have performed best in the slip test?
Ford Edge AWD is one of the best. Gets off the rollers with one wheel.
I believe most of the Honda products that use the IVTM-4 system he tested did great
Tesla’s do well in this.
@@westcoast708 true
They used to test on a slope, which is a tougher test, until Tommy tested Tesla model 3.... then came the Tesla body repair mini series.
I have always been a huge fan of Subarus and been an owner of one, but you guys at ‘The Fast Lane Car’ have to check out the new Suzuki Jimny 2021. It has now arrived here in Mexico 🇲🇽 and the first batch of 1000 units sold out in 72 hours and the second batch of 1000 units sold out in 3 hours!!! People are loving it and there is a huge supply and demand. I’m sure your viewers will have a blast 💥 watching the video and really want it. It’s a small 4x4 and the vehicle is super customizable. Love the show guys.
You may visit me and find the roller tests of Jimny, current generation and previous generation.
ID love to see this done with one that is broken in and not brand new. Might do better, might do worse but I dont think a brand new car, that has not been driven and broken in or allowed to complete its learning cycles, is indicative of average performance.
It only learns fuel mapping not awd characteristics.
Weird how CarQuestion managed to get the car to do the diagonal tests really well, but he was playing with variations of the X-mode and traction control off/on. Seemed that X-mode with traction control off was the best combination. Did you guys try that on the 3 wheel roller test? cheers.
Well that AWD system doesn't seems that good as Subaru claims it to be. I thought I saw the car slide and got traction from the side of the roller, not by the wheel on the ground.
As for the color I do like that color.
I prefer the same 2.4T engine as Ascent vs the base engine. But CVT is killing Subaru sales. No one likes CVT, except for those who just buy a car and have no clue what engine and transmission they have.
Subaru has increased both market share and raw sales every year except last year during pandemic. They had about 1% of the marketshare between 2000 to 2007. In contrast, in 2014 when the Outbacks and Foresters switched over to CVTs, their marketshare was around 3.5%. 2020 it sits at 4.2%, with 611,938 vehicles sold. 2019 saw them sell 700,000+ vehicles. In 2011, certainly a NON CVT year, they sold 267,000 vehicles. So I would argue that the CVT is not killing sales. I can't say if they would have sold EVEN MORE vehicles if they stuck with a traditional automatic. I have no way of knowing. But if we're honest, I think the majority of car sales are driven by other things. Sure, on these threads in these communities, we dig a little deeper than most and love to debate transmissions, differentials, etc. But the majority of consumers? I doubt it. And if you look at Mazda which a lot of folks like because of it's more sophisticated styling, and, on this tread, because of its standard geared/stepped automatic transmissions, their high-water sales mark was 319,000 vehicles in 2015. Since then they suffered and have only sold 279,000 in 2020. I'm not a CVT lover or hater actually, but with numbers like these, I don't see Subaru or any other manufacturer going back to traditional automatic transmissions.
As a Winter driver in Canada, what i like best of the Subaru AWD is the fact that it tracks straight because of equal length drive shafts, does not do the typical pull to the right on acceleration. in my 25 plus car we have owned that inspires a lot of confidence in Winter driving versus all other, and I have had 2 wranglers and about to get my new 4XE Wrangler and still say the Subaru is the better highway winter storm car to drive, even if it has over 180k.
I feel like they're biting their tongue when talking about Subaru, I LOVE my new Outback. But it seems to me they're really biting down on what they really want to say. You can also tell they're laughing on the inside especially when they talk about why the extra money for this specific vehicle.
Got a 2019 Crosstrek Sport
pros:
Excellent highway mileage (5,7L/100Km on cruise control at 110 Km/hr for a distance of 590 Kms, only used half a tank.
Excellent AWD in Canadian (Province of Quebec) winters and a bit of off-roading to camping sites, lakes and the majestic St. Lawrence river.
Cons:
Noise levels inside cabin are unbearable after 30 minutes, Lada levels kind of.
Back seat passengers keep asking if the windows are open and to raise the radio volume because they REALLY can’t hear it in the back.
Inside ventilation: very good for one passenger, 2+ in winter you’ll get fogged windows most of the time as there are no real passengers vents. Not designed for Canadian winters.
Torque and compression: none/nada/zilch/rien. Uphill had a Yugo flashing me the headlights to move over as the Subie revved at 4000 RPM and chugging 40L/100km on the way up. Once on top, oh boy, no compression at all as if you let go with the cruise control set at 90 Km/h the car will hit 116 Km/h till I hit the breaks. Kid you not, had to stick to right lane so I could let people pass me uphill.
Seats are uncomfortable front and back and forget it if you have back problems.
Summary after 42,000 Kms, will swap it for a Dodge Durango GT AWD 2021 as soon as one is available at my local dealer and once they are allowed to open once again due to the COVID-19 lockdowns. I still got 2 years on my Subbie lease but will get rid of it ASAP.
First and last Subbie. tried the Outlook XT and Forrester Sports 2020 models but niet, still too noisy and they don’t provide the same levels of comfort as a Dodge Durango.
Would really like to see a review of the Crosstrek with the 6-speed manual.....
ua-cam.com/video/Gq63I7fD77Q/v-deo.html
Just bought a 2021 crosstrek base with the 6 speed manual. Like Tommy said, why not save some $$$, plus the manual is way more fun and engaging than the CVT.
I want manual transmission with the bigger engine!
Yes yes yes!!! 👍👍
Yep. I'd buy one.
Me too, guess I’ll settle for the 6speed 2.0, at least we have that going
We all do..
Buy one and swap it out to get what you want, its pretty simple.
Best AWD cars is pretty subjective. Some people seek more sportiness in driving AWD cars, in which case Mazda SUVs might be better choice. Some people seek the reliability of AWD system, for example how long it can function without overheating. In this case, Mazda SUVs are not the better choice. Speaking of which, how about a new test? Put the cars on rollers, on an incline, with 3 wheels on rollers in a way the car will not move during a test (for example do not press Xmode or any similar buttons on Mazda and other cars) and put some weight on throttle pedal so the wheels will get power and spin but without moving the car, and see how long it takes for transmission and AWD system to overheat for each car. The AWD system or transmission will definitely overheat after few minutes in each of those AWD cars, it would be interesting to see which one of them will last longer before overheating and engaging safe mode with warning message.
That overheating test would be a little tricky. The reason is that some systems are calculating the overheat and shutting the system before it really overheats. Mazda is great example - it uses the same clutch-pack as Renault/Dacia Duster. It is easy to overheat Mazda and hard to overheat the Duster.
You should test the Subaru Outback XT, to see if there’s a difference between the bottom of the lineup to the top.
I work for subaru. The awd systems are identical, but the XT has a more stout transmission.
@@dakotamorgan6594 is the Subaru CVT reliable?
@@pingpongballz5998 I wouldn't say it's any more or less reliable than previous types of transmissions subaru has used. The CVT seems to be happy to crank out 150k miles. I can tell you it is ALOT more expensive to replace when it fails though.
@@dakotamorgan6594 I got a 2016 Crosstrek. I'd be happy if it got 150k. Nobody keeps a car that long these days anyways. Just don't want payments for awhile. I'm at 53k so far.
If memory serves Ryan Douthet (not sure if I spelled the name right or not) over on driving Sports TV tested both the regular outback and the Onyx outback (onx has a turbo) and the Onx if memory serves done better on his hill climb test. It seemed to do good in the snow to. He bought the Onx long term and tested it in the snow with and without snowtires. I thought it done pretty good.Not a Rockcrawler or what I would call hardcore offroader. But still I thought it did better than some crossovers.
You should try the manual for comparison's sake. Also, perhaps purchase some older Subaru vehicles from the mid to late '90s to see how much better the system was back then. I owned a '92 and a '97 Subaru. One manual and one automatic. Never got stuck once and took it on the beach and down many ski trails where larger trucks would get stuck.
Roman: "Subaru was first to the market with a small off-roady crossover"
AMC Eagle: "Am I a joke to you?"
Subaru: “Yes because I was available in the US 5 years before you”
No point if you can't put down the power. I just got a 2021 Kona Luxury and love the interior. Feels premium without being busy. Kona's 2.0L engine has real gearing and nice low end grunt...feels like a bigger engine for city cruising.. For next winter, I'm planning on putting bigger off-road biased winter tires, but current stock Hankook is easily handling the snow and cold.
Can you please do a side by side roller comparison of Audi Quattro vs. Subaru symmetrical AWD systems?
Audi has several quattro systems, so it would depend upon which model they are testing.
Which Quattro and which S-AWD would you like to compare?
@@snowrocket Subaru has 4 different awd systems as well
Do a 2.0 manual transmission test please! I understand the MTs do not come equipped with X mode, and the power isn't 60/40 (like the CVT) it's a 50/50 split. I'm considering getting a manual version of this vehicle and would really love to see these same tests.
Putting the vehicles on rollers is a good way to test how one vehicle’s AWD system will respond and compare with other vehicles. It’s a good test. However, it is not the whole story. The test presumes the vehicle is already in a tricky situation, being stopped and with tires in slippery surfaces. But a vehicle’s ability to avoid that sticky situation in the first place is overlooked. And that’s why the roller test shortchanges Subaru. Subaru’s AWD system is better in real world driving than other AWD systems. It’s closer to a fulltime 4WD system except for the transfer case. In real world driving, in snow, gravel, or sand it is one of the best AWD crossovers.
I see no reason at the moment to change from my 2012 Suzuki SX4 DDIS. Its got some poke with its 2 litre turbo diesel whilst still getting 45mpg and has a fantastic 4wd system, especially in the snow. Its such a underrated car here in the UK.
There is some disadvantage of SX4 i-AWD system - Auto mode is only reactive. Try the newer generation (All Grip Select) - that's a serious player.
Tommy you should start putting 4wd's on the slip test
It takes longer to engage than It should because you hesitated on the gas paddle
It’s a CVT car, turn xmode on, turn off traction control, floor the gas and get the job done!
The CVT will try to figure out what speed you want when you gas it, in your case you just teasing the gas not firmly step it, that’s why it delayed the kick in, it’s your hesitation being magnified by the system
Also the adaptive cruise control is actually really really good. You are getting alot of bang for your buck seriously. The 2018 subaru legacy is by far the best in the form of functionality the controls and the info you need is in all the right places. P.s. get the remote start.
eye sight adaptive CC is the best system I've used- usually I hate it but on my forester its fabulous
While the test is good. There are two major things to remember.
1.) the awd system is catered to pair with the boxer engine, which low center of gravity and smoothness aids tremendously in traction and handling while the car is in motion. That benefit is almost eliminated with a standstill traction test.
2.) also Subaru doesn’t build for off-road. They’ve just come out with the wilderness editions which are more suitable for these tests. And I believe there will eventually be a wilderness crosstrek, unless Subaru decides to pull the plug.
It is interesting that the 2018 Outback that you tested did well in all of these tests. You would think Subaru would be making progress with their AWD, especially on a car with Dual X Mode.
It makes me think that something was off when they administered this test. Maybe the car wasn't sitting level...
@@wootwoot5032 the levelness of the ground shouldn't matter, most roads and hardly any ground offroad aren't level and thats where this car is designed to drive. The new CVT Subarus just plain suck compared to the AWD system in the manual or to a true 4WD system.
@@wootwoot5032 too timid on the go pedal. To give the computer enough info to trigger the power transfer (antilock brake clamping) you need to spin those tires faster so the computer realizes you aren't moving. If he'd have floored it, it would have taken off like a shot.
@@mandingo9471 absolutely not true. Once the abs sensor senses enough difference in speed it will trigger the brakes on the spinning wheels to transfer the torque to the non spinning wheels. Same with the outback and forester but not the wrx, and sti.
I own a 2016 crosstrek and while I certainly agree that the car will never win a drag race, the AWD system onboard gives me GREAT confidence when driving in significant snow. To the point where I start looking for unplowed roads kind of confidence. It’s fast enough to keep up well on the interstate and off the line it’s actually spritely. The car has been utterly reliable, reminding me strongly of my ownership experience in years past with Toyota trucks, which, in a sense IS what the crosstrek is for me since I keep the backseats down all the time. When Toyota builds a truck that gets reasonable mpg’s, then I’ll trade the crosstrek in. Given the long history of TFL actually testing in off road situations I cringed when I saw you guys pull out the old roller test. My own experiences with my own crosstrek in snow were no where near as bad as what this car did on rollers.
My experience with the same model year Crosstrek was represented well by the roller test. I was stuck in my driveway all the time. A 2 wheel drive Mazda 3 was able to get out easier. I suspect there is 2 reasons for this. 1. My driveway is steep and off camber leaving one of the rear wheels off the ground, so with 2 open diffs, too much power is lost to the rear and the fronts can't pull it up. 2. Wheel articulation is minimal on the Crosstrek, some any undulation causes the wheels to leave the ground. My 2005 Forester was far superior, but has the McPherson strut suspension in the rear with much more articulation. I still love Subaru but traded in the Crosstrek for a Tribeca (needed more space as well)
ua-cam.com/video/902oV1rCscU/v-deo.html
“You told us that Subaru has the best awd system...”. Now let’s see if you all are liars.
The answer appears to be NO.
@@mazdaratti89 they were evidently lied to, otherwise it would have aced this test instead of failing it.
Well new subaru are crap, but older models like I have will pass any test no problems. New models have no LSD and crappy cvt designed for fuel efficiency and nothing else.
@@nicholassmith7048 Lol. Agreed. When I said NO it was affirming that Subaru did not have the best AWD system. Not NO, they didn't lie, they did.
@@pauljj5547 lol old subies cannot pass this test because of horizontal slip.
I bought this for my commute to work. 45 min at 4 am. Can handle all the weather New England has. I would like it to feel better over 85. I am waiting for after market coil overs to come out.
I never understood why "symmetrical" AWD would make any difference. When you have open diffs and a slow-witted traction control, it's just a marketing gimmick.
“Symmetrical” refers to the fact that the engine is mounted longitudinally instead of transversely like on a front wheel drive powertrain or on all wheel drive systems based on front wheel drive powertrains. This means that in for instance a RAV4, power must first pass through the front axle assembly before being sent to the rear axle if slip is detected, whereas in a Subaru, the power is first sent to a center coupling which will then under normal circumstances send most of the power to the front wheels unless it detects slip. Whether this makes any difference in performance is up for debate.
I have a 2018, 2.0 liter engine, 56,000 miles. Replaced battery under warranty. Excellent all-purpose road car.
Still think Subaru AWD is the best
Love that it’s standard on all cars too
I like the car, but I would pass on the CVT for the manual and also pass on the hole in the roof. Probably lean towards the basic model with as few options as possible.
The disdain for Subaru is always present. I enjoy the channel but couldn’t count on it when trying to get a Forester. I got a Gladiator and a Forester, if is raining and slippery we grab the Subaru less to think about and safer on the highway. No furry dogs here I’m sure if it had a Land Rover badge there would be excuses made for all the issues
wholeheartedly agree.. Sadly...
I couldn't agree more, every subaru review you can hear a negative bias. Maybe subaru did them dirty in the past??
Eh, the reason Subaru switched CVT was to improve mpg. An old 2.5l Outback manual with low transfer typically gets 30--35mpg. Less electronics, no rubber bands, and more space for bike/dog, and a proper spare wheel.
It's a shame . Subaru is of the past head optional LSDs even in the lower end models. The reputation is based on the now very old GC and GD models of the past.
English must be your 2nd language. Subarus in the past had optional LSDs, even with the lower end models. Even the lower end Subarus in the past had optional LSDs.
the legacy does have a smaller spare tire, but the cutout for the wheel itself its full sized, so if u wanted to get a full sized tire in there, u can. its a welcome change to how allot of car companies just remove it all together to save a little on weight and get better gas mileage
If this came in a manual with the 2.5 and also an LSD rear diff I’d be interested. Add in an LSD front diff too and I’d maybe even be excited.
Where are you driving a Subaru where you need 2 limited slip diffs?
@@firstlast--- 4 wheel drifting is way better with lsd front and rear.
@@tlr-nut7275 If your goal is 4 wheel drifting why would you choose a brand new subaru with a cvt?
@@firstlast--- I mean in snow or wet roads. I do it with my wifes 2011 WRX all the time. Lots of fun.
@@firstlast---
Home. I live in snow county...steep hill followed by a 90 degree turn then up another hill.
I see this channel almost has a million subs and it's about time this channel gets the respect it deserves, because I think this channel and all of your channels are the best car, truck and everything else review channels on youtube today! Keep up the great work.
Great cars and great mileage but CVT is the death of off-road capability.
also the death of the car, Subaru wanted $8000 to replace my cvt.
@@DLF-do1gj Go to an independent shop. The Subaru specialist I go to rebuilt my EJ255 with a new short block for $7k including labor...and that was with extra things like a full head and valve job. Dealerships are a rip off unless it's warranty work.
@@DLF-do1gj I mean if it's going to keep an existing car on the road or keep the resell value up then it's worth it imo. But that's entirely your call to make if you're already half way out the door and want something else. I love my Baja Turbo but I occasionally see a nice 4Runner and find myself wanting one hah. Tho I will say that there is no "silver bullet" brand...
@@DLF-do1gj what year is your car? Needing a head gasket change on a newer Subaru is extremely rare.
@@DLF-do1gj Then someone is lying to you. The big tell is that a head gasket change does not cost $7000 or even $3500 as your friend quoted. The most I've ever seen is $1500 and that included changing a timing belt (in older models) because they already had the engine apart. If it is in fact $3500 why wouldn't that be worth it? Your car is worth more much more than that.
I think that will be the last vehicle Valley Subaru are going to lend you guys after this review, lol. Seriously, though; thanks for your honesty and telling it as it is; that's why I'm a big fan!
Hmm, would like to see test again after its been ran in, after 2000 miles. Just to see if that does make a difference once everything gritted in.
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For 3 years my wife and I had a 2017 Jeep Renegade and a 2018 Subaru crosstrek. Driving both in multiple winters it was very noticeable the Jeep Renegade (in snow mode) was better to drive in slippery and heavy snow conditions. It would never allow you to get into a dangerous slide. The Subaru worked well but it felt like a older vehicle with less computer help.
Tires!!
Subaru: why can’t we get a Sport Crosstrek (with sunroof) with a manual transmission? Drivers like manual transmission and they also like premium options like sunroofs and leather.
Here in the US we don’t like manuals. Despite them being sooo much better, 95% of the drivers here Dont know how to drive a stick and they don’t care to learn. They would rather have the car drive them. Stick it In D and go.
As much as I love manual the majority of our market does not and we are extremely lucky subaru even offers a manual transmission in 2021 on a few models
Sunroofs are pretty useless honestly, I would always prefer not having one.
@@VNCTHE1 I like fresh air driving and windows down is noisy and produced too much forced air. “Useless” is hyperbolic.
@@joshuachristiansen2626 I agree that manual cars maybe more fun, but are they really better nowadays? I thought modern CVTs get better fuel economy, and is Porsche not going for double clutch PDK in its fastest cars, because it can accelerate their cars faster than a manual could?
And here in the USA it is also unfortunate, that Subaru does not sell the Crosstrek with its 2.0 flat-four boxer diesel. I used to own one of these in that bright Plasma Green, and with its torque you could have a fun drive and it would get very good mileage, although its 0-60 time was just a tiny bit under 10 seconds.
@@ronaldderra4332 You know what's most efficient and faster 0-60 at the same time? Electric power, no point in talking about ICE and it's complicated transmissions.