Hey, I have a 2018 Subaru outback, my question is I keep stressing how good and long the cvt will last. I already got 50,000 miles and drive it daily. I had a bad experience with Fiat Chrysler van lol, and see a lot of bad stories of cvt. What's your suggestions and knowledge
https://carkiller.com/scottykilmer/qa/do-i-need-to-worry-abt-2015-outback-2-5i-cvt/#post-94891
The transmissions on those are somewhat weak, and tend to go out not much after 100k miles. To get the most life out of it, drain+fill the transmission fluid (change it) every 30-40k miles. Every CVT is different. This is what we see with 2010-2015 Subaru CVTs going out around 100k miles according to online owner report sites, Scotty's channel, and this forum. Maybe yours is made better. Still take care of it, and be prepared to replace it at that critical 100-120k mile mark.
Also, Subaru is incomparably better than Stellantis products
Change the ATF every 30-40k miles and do not drive it hard.
I have seen a 2017 Outback with little over 150k on it still going. If driven hard yes those CVT’s will fail, but the newer ones if driven responsibly and properly maintined seem to be doing better. Also depends on how it is used. If you live in the city and do a lot of start stop driving that is much harder on a CVT than continuous highway mileage.
Fiat/Chrysler, Stellantis or whoever they are, we all know their vehicles are just awful. When Subaru discontinued their manual transmissions; I won't consider getting another Outback. I, me personally don't like CVT's. I'd rather drive a manual or "normal" automatic. @Kerem mentioned the failure stats; don't drive hard and change fluid it may be ok.
The Toyota and Honda CVT’s with the first gear aren’t to bad. Personally I always prefer a manual myself. Not feeling a transmission shift is weird to me. My subconscious automatically has me scanning the dash for warning lights. 🤣🤣
Would it be wiser to trade in for something else or just keep the outback?
If you keep the car and maintain it things should be fine. If you trade in after just 2 or 3 years you'll take a bloodbath in depreciation.
Trouble is the dealers don't want to change CVT fluid until you hit 100K miles and that's just nuts. (@thumpy, I don't know about the others but Subaru CVTs emulate a normal automatic transmission and you can feel shift points, and also control shifting manually.)
I sold my 08 Highlander, made 800 more than what I paid for it last year. Also my other half traded in 2018 Civic Sport and got more than what we owed. Used cars are getting crazy high trade-in values. you might be surprised what you'd get. Not sayin' to sell it or keep it, only you can make that decision.
@chuck tobias I was talking more about CVT’s in general on that statement not just Subaru’s. I driven a few and to be honest I’m muscle car old school. My 78 TA had the factory slap shifter in it, my 67 mustang also when the shifted, you really felt it. 🤣🤣 I feel lost in a Lexus. Im used to feeling the road, the vibrations of the pedals through my feet into my shins.