Subaru Outback 2.0D CVT review

Subaru has spiced up its Outback range – and increased the number of potential buyers – by linking a sporty new CVT transmission to its AWD turbo-charged diesel models.

The addition comes as part of an Outback facelift with external changes kept to a minimum, but a raft of mechanical improvements to enable the CVT-diesel link. This is the first time a Subaru CVT transmission has been hooked up to a high-torque boxer turbo-diesel.

The long-overdue diesel/auto combination could not come at a better time for the Japanese maker. Last year SUVs accounted for 27 percent of all vehicle sales in Australia and this year that figure is running at 30.4 percent meaning that almost one in every three vehicles sold in Australia is SUV, a significant change in Australian buying patterns.

The lack of a diesel boxer engine until 2012 held back Subaru Outback sales and then the lack of a diesel/auto combination meant it was not competing against rivals that had the sought-after pairing. Almost 95 percent of all SUV sales have auto transmissions.

VALUE

The new Subaru Outback 2.0D CVT comes in two equipment grades, with the upper grade being called the Premium. The base model is $42,490, $2500 more than the manual 2.0D and the Premium $45,490. Premium gets an electric sunroof, leather trim, eight-way power driver's seat with memory function and electroluminescent gauges with colour information display.

Both Outback 2.0D CVT models include satellite navigation, reversing camera, dual zone air conditioning and steering wheel mounted gear change paddles.

TECHNOLOGY

Transmission improvements include a larger torque converter with twin dampers, increased case thickness, changed primary reduction rate of 4.111 in the final gear and an added control plate to reduce noise from the oil pump. 

The 2.0D boxer engine has been upgraded from the 2012 model with no less than nine improvements to suit the CVT. These changes include elimination of piston spring bushes, changed valve springs, changed oil seals, changed sound proofing on the engine collector cover, changed starter motor and alternator, changed engine control unit to suit the CVT, addition of an air-cooled air cooler and turbo cover.

The 1998 cc engine produces a modest 110 kW of power at 3600 rpm, but where it counts it has 350 Nm of torque between 1800 and 2400 rpm. 

DESIGN

Changes to Outback styling include a revised grille, front bumper, foglight surrounds and wheel patterns.

DRIVING

The launch was really all about the transmission. It is no ordinary CVT (continuously variable transmission). Kick the right pedal hard and it jumps out of auto mode into one of the seven ‘steps’ that are the equivalent of gears in a traditional gearbox. In auto mode the CVT is seamlessly smooth even under hard acceleration to highway speeds. In manual mode, using the steering wheel paddles the steps have gear-like rapid changes, faster according to Subaru than conventional gearboxes. Not including we presume DSG transmissions.

The real bonus in this new CVT is the lack of engine or transmission noise into the cabin. If you have a driven a CVT before and did not like the noise or sensation of a slipping clutch and/or over-revving engine you were not alone. Subaru engineers have overcome this type of issue with their CVT, a larger version of that used in the Forester XT. No doubt extra sound deadening and continual development of the transmission itself added to the improvement.

Driven at normal speeds the Outback 2.0D CVT is possibly the smoothest and quietest car on the market under $50,000. Even driven hard noise intrusion into the cabin is minimal, even at high speeds on quiet country roads. The CVT has been designed to compensate for the narrow usable band of torque associated with diesel engines.

Subaru Outback Diesel CVT

Price: from $42,490
Warranty: 3 years/unlimited km
Safety: 7 airbags, ABS, ESC, EBD, TC
Crash rating: 5-star
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel, 110kW/350Nm
Transmission: CVT auto; constant 4WD
Thirst: 6.5L/100km; 172g/km CO2
Dimensions: 4.8m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.6m (H)
Weight: 1606-1628kg
Spare: Full-size