Hi Scotty,
Hope all is well. I wanted your thoughts on the Subaru Outback wagon as a used vehicle purchase. I like its looks, its height relative to ground clearance, that its a wagon, AWD, and reputation for being rugged and reliable. I've heard stories about issues with their CVT and you've expressed your own opinions about this type of transmission as well. I'm think of 2015-2017. Any thoughts about it and whether it's a good choice. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Joe
The CVT is the weakest part of the car. Newer is better since they made improvements over the years. It will not last as long as a conventional transmission. Part of the problem is that in the U.S. Subaru says the CVT is "sealed" and not to change fluid. In other markets they do recommend fluid changes.
Also note that around 2013 Subarus experienced oil burning problems due to defective piston rings if you start looking at older models. Head gasket problems were resolved when the engine went to timing chains instead of belts.
I personally know several people who own Subaru Outbacks from 2015-2019 and none have experienced serious problems, but that's not a very large sample.
Outbacks of that age are ok. Cvt isn’t great, but overall reliability compared to similar cars is above average. (PS: no head gasket problems those years, FYI)
