vs
CVT transmission OEM Subaru or OEM Toyota
Reviews
I have a 2017 Impreza Sport CVT 2.0 and was skeptical of the CVT at first. I had test driven an Outback CVT several years earlier and wasn't impressed with that earlier version, but they've really improved the CVT post 2017. I've driven several 4EATs ranging from 1996-2017, including a WRX (with a VTD 4EAT) and they really weren't as fun - which is surprising considering this car only has 140hp and no SI drive. I would love to try a WRX with the SPT and SI drive, I'm sure I'd like that.
I've got 125,000 miles on this car, and I've probably done 20% of that in manual mode. Normal commuting is mostly in "D". Some times I'll slip into manual to accelerate from a stop, when I don't want to deal with the car upshifting as early; around 20mph it really wants to drop the rpms down to ~1200 unless I'm heavy on the accelerator. Same on a long ascent or decent, or stop-and-go traffic, if the car is hunting gears a little too much for my liking. Taking any corners quickly is better when you preselect your gear. Sometimes merging onto the freeway, as the car has no real power.
I'm in manual the most when I'm having fun. Every Saturday morning, I'll pick a fun road or mountain that I can get to within a day. Usually I'll do 200-400 miles, around 6-12 hours depending on my mood. I'm in the California, Bay Area, so there's plenty to choose from. For this I'm only in "D" for the commute out/back and in "M" most of the time I'm somewhere twisty.
The car is much more controllable in manual on windy roads. Uphill the throttle response is more linear, downhill the speed is much more controlled in 1st and 2nd gear and lets me tap the brakes if I'm coming in a little too fast without upsetting the cars balance. 1st and 2nd gear the car is also very neutral, letting me feather the throttle for a bit of power-on oversteer (like a rear wheel drive car). Not nearly as aggressive (well, 1st gear is), but nice when I just want a little extra slip angle on slower corners (e.g. hairpins).
I've done deep snow and soft dirt only once or twice. The Impreza (and BRZ) are definitely better suited to asphalt. The dirt/gravel road definitely made me wish I had the tires and ground clearance of the Crosstrek. But I prefer pavement so the Impreza suits me better.
Honestly, I'd suggest everyone with the paddle shifters to at least practice using manual mode or semi-auto mode (paddle shift in "D") so you're not scared to use it in the situations where if it might be beneficial. Even if you do so only rarely.
Pros: improved CVT, better control downhill, linear throttle
Cons: underwhelming paddle shifters, car upshifts early
Vehicle:
Subaru Impreza
Mileage: 125000 km
And honestly the eCVT that Toyota uses, with the rear motor unit for AWD (no actual driveshaft) seems to be working great. The steady RPM on acceleration is a little weird at first, but you get used to it.
Pros: working great
Cons: steady RPM weird at first
Vehicle:
Toyota
The ecvt transmission in the hybrid is so much better than the 8 speed (cvt). Just a much smoother ride as ya really can’t feel any gear change on the hybrid (other than the combustion engine turning on and off). Also the gas has a bit of a delay of accelerating, hybrid with the electric motors has no delay and feels so much more responsive.
Pros: smoother ride, no gear change feel, responsive acceleration
Vehicle:
Toyota
The eCVT is super smooth to drive. The wife loves how smooth it is.
Pros: super smooth drive
Vehicle:
Toyota Corolla
The eCVT is probably the best transmission in terms of reliability that exist right now.
Pros: best reliability
Vehicle:
Toyota
Last yr I bought my 1st car, a 2012 Toyota Corolla Altis. 2.0v variant, so it has a K111 CVT in it. Thankfully barely used by the 1st owner, only 43k km on the dash when I got it, confirmed legit by mechanics and dealership service history.
Now it's at 51k km, basically my daily and only car. Had a trans fluid change done last December, then planning a 2nd one next month to slowly flush out the old fluid.
Aside from underchassis issues, it's been driving ok honestly. I hope it stays this way for a long time.
Pros: driving ok
Vehicle:
Toyota Corolla
Mileage: 51000 km
Part number: K111
My in laws cvt transmission went out at 45,000 miles and they wanted $10k to replace. Thankfully they ended up replacing the cvt under extended warranty.
Pros: cvt replaced under warranty
Cons: cvt transmission went out
Vehicle:
Subaru Outback
Mileage: 45000 km
the CVT transmissions are fragile and don’t last much over 100k.
Cons: fragile, short lifespan
Vehicle:
Subaru
Mileage: 100000 km
I love the wrx but hate the cvt!
Cons: disliked performance
Vehicle:
Subaru
ever since about 80k miles I have to reset the car\u2019s computer every few months because the CVT transmission starts making rough \u201cshifts.\u201d
Cons: rough shifts
Vehicle:
Subaru Outback
Mileage: 128747 km
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