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Subaru to use more CVTs – report

By Matt Brogan |

Subaru may broaden the use of CVTs (continuously variable transmissions) throughout its lineup to boost fuel efficiency after inaugurating the technology in this year’s redesigned Liberty.

Subaru has used belt-type CVTs in mini-cars for the Japanese market since 1987, but the latest version of the Liberty (known as Legacy in other markets) was Subaru’s first big car to get a CVT.

“We are thinking about it, but we don’t have an actual plan about which models,” said Masashi Uemura, Subaru spokesman.

A report published in Japan’s Nikkei Sangyo went one step further with a report today saying Subaru plans to offer CVT versions of all models within two years. Next in line are the Forrester and Impreza, it said.

The technology has also been extended to the Exiga MPV as of September 3 this year, a model currently only on sale in Japan but earmarked for Australia soon.

So far the CVT has been paired only with Subaru’s 2.5-litre petrol engine and is not considered for use with turbocharged or large displacement engines.

CVTs are produced at Subaru’s engine plant in Oizumi, Japan.


 
  • 4:20 All Day

    Booo CVT. Boo.

  • davie

    It surely must be better than the awful 4 speed auto in the current (previous) liberty.

    I drive one of these freqently. Its almost dangerous how slow the thing is in traffic. You put your foot down and… nothing happens!

    Then a few seconds later, the thing drops 2 or 3 gears, slurs and suddently is revving its ears off.

    Then it quickly drops back into 4th at 50km/h and causes the engine to ping and lug again.

  • Will

    I have heard some really bad mid term servicing reports on the CVT.

  • Carfanatic

    DSG, they should run a DSG in it

  • Yanzo

    cvt and automatic are for the people with no car passion

    • Tack

      I am paraplegic.
      And I have lots of friends who is using hand control (because they are wheelchair user).
      So, can you say same thing in front of us?
      You’re Dickhead, Yanzo.

  • davie

    how many of these have been serviced, didnt they just come out?

  • Bob

    CVT has the potential to be great if they had a ratio range low enough to be useful offroad, or offered enough set ratios to make it a 7 (or more) speeder so its useful on road.

    But they don’t. So its useless.

    I think DSG style would suit Subarus better.

    • Carfanatic

      Exactly

      • Colossal Squid

        The Volkswagen Group has countless patents on the DSG, you think any company can just use it? I’m “sure” someone in Subaru will find your expert advice financially sound.

        • Carfanatic

          You don’t think VW wouldn’t sell DSG’s to Subaru for enormous amounts of money whilst still holding onto those patents? If they knew they could secure a profitable contract with them.

  • Robin Graves

    CVT’s are brilliant on paper, but driving one is horrible. They feel like they are slipping, and the motor just drones. I bet they dont last as long as more conventional boxes either.

    • Gilly

      I think the new X-tronic CVT from Nissan in the new Maxima and Murano are probably the best incarnations as far as CVT’s go.
      They are intuitive, smooth and provide better rolling acceleration and fuel efficiency.
      Behind a large V6 there is no need for the CVT to rev its head off and when cruising 1800rpm @ 120km/h is not too shabby either!

  • Paul Doubya

    I drove a Nissan recently with a CVT, what an awful drive, I have heard they aren’t reliable when they get to middle age, let alone old age. I then drove a Honda with a 5 speeder, then a 6 speader, and DSG’s are even better, why do they bother with CVT because once the belt breaks that’s it please hand over a minimum $4000. Subarus have an awful auto at present, they are so baldy let down by this tranny, I reckon the CVT will make them just as awful as modern Nissans. The choice is getting smaller when trying to avoid a CVT, its funny that Toyota and Honda and most of the Euros wont touch CVT’s except for there Hybrids.

    • Gilly

      Paul, please enlighten us about the unreliable Nissan CVT’s? You will find the unreliable ones to be of Euro brand origins, not Japanese. Also modern CVT gearboxes do not use belts anymore. They use a chain/tooth drive instead, and in Nissan’s case a torque converter as well!
      CVT’s are limited by the amount of torque that they can handle over a conventional transmission thats why most of them have been adopted to smaller engines, but as I mentioned with newer variants adopted behind a bigger motor the operation is fluent and refined. It just takes a little getting used to as far as revs not dropping for gear changes etc but having infinite ratios and the bonus of always being in the ideal ratio in regards to throttle input is a big plus.
      How much do you think it would cost to replace premature worn clutches with DSG boxes? I am sure a few Golf owners could tell you, and add in the low speed refinement of some DSG boxes and its a no brainer for normal everday cars like the Subaru, as OSU811 has said CVT’s are now surprisingly good!

      • Carfanatic

        Gilly is correct, the CVT’s in the Prius’ have barely faultered, the Japanese have virtually built a trouble free CVT.

  • Alex

    You know, I love Subaru more and more every day. First they give us such beautiful looking cars and now I hear they are going to give us more of what must be the worlds best sort of transmission! Brilliant!

    In case people can’t tell, I’m being sarcastic.

  • http://www.caradvice.com.au OSU811

    having driven the new cvt liberty and taken an outback over the weekend, I can tell you its surprisingly good!!, I normally hate autos, and have hated every cvt ive driven previously, but this one is very smooth, keeps engine in its torque band for accelarating, and when you put your foot down it gives a nice boxer engine sound!
    at 110km/h on hwy its only doing 1800rpm, and the 6 speed pre selected ratios work well in the man mode with paddles! avg fuel for this size car and engine is very good at 8.4l/100km, Subaru has also developed it as a chain driven cvt instead of the normal belt driven, for noise supression and long term reliability!!

    • Ron

      I wonder if you or others using this column know whether Subaru have made public their own test results on the new CVT transmission.

      I’m also interested in any comments on the noise level of CVTs on the road, as opposed to the standard Subaru auto’ transmission.

  • observer

    CVT is returning better fuel economy and quiker o-100km/h than Subarus Manual…thats impressive.

    DSG are very expensive to mid term service and low speed thumping still an issue.

    Good move Subaru no doubt they will sell well and continue to drive sales.

  • Ron

    I wonder if you or others using this column have knowledge of Subaru’s own test results for their CVT tranmission.

    Also, has anyone comment on the comparative noise levels between CVT and regular Subaru auto’ transmissions?

  • Papyrus Joe

    I bought a used CVT Honda Jazz and it was great to drive and excellent on fuel (how many 4cyl cars can do 100km/h at 2100rpm?) but it had this weird shudder every now and then – apparently a common ailment. Upon hearing, from a Honda dealer no less, about how they can develop serious problems, I sold it. However, my car was an example of:

    a) a car that had not been serviced properly by the previous owners, and
    b) a pre-2005 model, which is when Honda brought out a transmission fluid that is specifically designed for CVTs. Prior to that standard auto fluid was used.

    Also telling is that Honda no longer offers CVT on the new Jazz (at least, in Australia), rather a 5-speed auto.

    Even so, with my brief experience with CVT, I still think that if it were done right it’s a great option for an everyday driving car.