I believe that for most people, this type of testing is the most informative. Especially for Canadians, it is important to know how a vehicle will handle on snow covered roads, including at highway speeds. Thank you for this.
I’ve been a Jeep person MY WHOLE LIFE! With that being said… I bought a Subaru Outback Wilderness on a whim, I fell in love with this damn thing and have taken it several times where I usually take my Jeep Rubicon. This Subaru WILL go anywhere I wish for it to go! My wife and I have been blown away by its nimbleness, comfort and reliability. I would NEVER have guessed I would be driving a Subaru… but life is funny that way. It’s TRUE…once you drive a Subaru, you’ll own a Subaru!💪🏼😇
@@benw2578 I bought the Crosstrek in '17 man. Getting to the 100k mark but looking to get something a tad bigger and just as if not more capable. Mainly commuter but I also deal with heavy snow.
@@jonathanbormann5077 I had my forester in the shop overnight and I was given one of the new crosstreks as a rental but dang that’s a tight interior for my tastes
In the Compass you can adjust de speed in Hill Descent Control by pressing soft on the gas pedal or brake pedal. This information is found on the Owner's Manual
These real world videos in snow are awesome keep these going. I have a 2019 Subaru Sport and it amazes me all the time in snowy conditions no issues at all.
I've got a dedicated winters on my Legacy, and only time I get beat off lights is when I don't pay attention on lights change 😂 Subarus = winter tanks!
Thanks for the great reviews. I have had my new Forester wilderness for one week now. You were right, it is plenty fast enough, even when not in sport mode. For those of you wanting a turbo...it doesn't't need one! I love this SUV!
It does need a turbo we have a 21 sport I drive in the city and it struggles merging on the freeway, I love everything else about the car. If it had a turbo it would have been amazing.
@@kirksmith347 The sport doesn’t have the same 4.11:1 gear ratio as the wilderness. The sport has 3.70:1. The wilderness has more low end torque which is why it feels faster. There’s more to the forester wilderness than just the fancy trim. It has a more robust drivetrain.
I know technical reading is not the most enjoyable, but before you do a review you should probably read the Owner's Manual. With the Compass in 4-Wheel Lock and in neutral you press the electronic stability control button located on the dash to disable the stability control, you then press and hold down the stability control button for 5 seconds. You will hear three beeps and a notification will appear on the driver's dash display that all stability and traction control aids have been disabled (basically the Compass' "Lock Out" Mode with equal power to all wheels). If you would have done this the Jeep would have climbed the hill with no problem. 4-wheel low is for rock crawling/climbing when the tires are deflated and traction is good.
This guy literally knows nothing about 4wd systems which is maybe a good test because most people don’t and won’t read the manual. The car companies need to make it stupid easy to understand.
Great video. I have a Outback Wilderness and on snowy and icy Alaska back roads it runs circles around my F250 or any other SUV. In the winter I use Hakkapallita 10 studded tires and in my experience they are unbeatable.
Waiting on my 2022 special ordered Outback Wilderness to come in. Funny how people rag on the CVT but personally I love them. As seen in this test the CVT was actually a big advantage by not having shift points. Our Outbacks have even more aggressive Xmode then the Forester Wilderness because Xmode doesn't shut off at slip over 25mph.
@@HomesteadOnThePreserve the CVT is fantastic for what it’s designed to do. The people who complain about it are off roaring beyond the Subies designed function. If you want a hard core of roader get one it will be great crawling through mud and over rocks but not really enjoyable on a 600 mile highway trip. Nothing beats the Subie for dirt/gravel roads, snow, mud along with regular Hwy driving.
+1 For Subaru.. Even without proper tires.. Although, to be honest, It has more Ground Clearance. Either way, a treat on this 3 day weekend.. Thanks, Ryan.
Subaru had half the incline plowed by another vehicle, but so it seems it does put power back more aggressively allowing less understeer and better climb support which is big plus
@@tallll70 @ 14:25 Even before Ryan reaches his cameraman, you can see it is fresh snow.. Therefore the Subaru did not take the easy route 100% of the time. Meaning, it surpassed the Jeep's tracks.. Plus we all know, Subaru has the Better AWD system. Therefore it would have made the trek even without the Jeep "Plowing part of the way."
@@Kiss__Kiss nahh, if it would have to heat up it's clutches from bottom, who knows what would happen in half or bit passed it, also, i would disagree on "better", Subaru has less features on same system, only slip activated center, can not pre close clutches, has no low dedicated gear, plus cvt does not favor it either, only advantage directly noticeable is more aggressive power to rear wheels as it seems from this test
The Jeep would have gotten up that deep snowy hill no problem in snow mode as I’ve seen other reviews where it went up a lot deeper snow than even that without a issue
(Canadian here) I just got a 22 compass (not a Trailhawk), and had a chance to test it on snow. Full confidence of what it offers. I like to keep my finger on the 4x4 switch, and flip it up from auto when I'm in traffic and starts to fish tail lol.
If you hold the traction control button for a out 10 seconds, it will completely disable the traction control system and you will make that hill. I have a 16 patriot withe same engine, but the 6spd hyaundai Trans. It kicks ass in snow. The over heating is from brakes grabbing constantly. It heats the clutches up quick.
On my 2020 Renegade you can hold down the TSC button for about 30 sec and it will ding and disable the stability control and traction control should let it get a bit more sideways
For the Jeep Compass, if you want you have “fun” all you have to do it is click one button and that’s the off/road button for better drifting experience like the Subaru. Good video!
Disagree. Well, maybe that hill descent. But my TH-cam channel did a trail review on black bear pass and I used hill descent on my Cherokee trailhawk like a Lot on that trail. It's also way better for steep ice. Also we have a video coming out soon on red cone and I used hill descent on the super steep hills at the end and made them no problem. For the most part brakes are just fine, but when the hill is extreme, you will be happy you have it. I know I was
I’m frustrated that on my Subaru Crosstrek that Hill Decent is only active in Xmode at less than 10 miles an hour and doesn’t activate in another other steep hill situations
You guys certainly are one of the best - if not the best - testers for Suv‘s, / reall Offroad consumer cars. This test in the clip is an excellent example.
I see more and more of these compass videos and I really am starting to respect them. It’s like the little engine that could. The Outback has always been a favourite of mine though.
my compass sucks in the snow. Its super cheap. The automatic awd system is constantly making a reving sound I guess its trying to see if it needs to engage awd.
@@nog117Interesting…what year do you have? I have a 2012 4x4 and it has always done amazing in snow/rain. Drove it 7 hours in an ice storm and was one of the few vehicles who made it to my destination without an accident or sliding off the road. Just bought a 2023 Trailhawk. I expect it will perform similarly but time will tell.
For 20 years I was a Toyota fan....... but when I got a Forester ..... I can say it is unbelieveable in water, sand, snow etc .... this car was made just for best and safety conduction.
Ryan, could you do a Crosstrek sport vs Forester Wilderness comparison?! Same engine, same modes, one is lighter... Would love to know how they stack up off-road in real-world conditions!
Forester wilderness has Added CVT cooler, engine oil cooler, and lowered gearing. It should outperform the Crosstrek significantly. At least until the Crosstrek wilderness comes.
@@ZachMauch I agree with you, but would be awesome to see a real-world comparison, wouldn't it? The $8k difference in price, at least here in Canada, it's very tempting!
@@wanglee21 I appreciate that Karl, but those are totally different cars! They are testing the outback wilderness against the base Crosstrek! Outback has a 2.4 turbo engine while the base Crosstrek has a 2.0 NA with only 150hp, the outback has 9.5 inches of ground clearance while the Crosstrek has 8.7 and the base Crosstrek only has the first tier x-mode. The comparison between the Crosstrek sport (which is called "outdoor" in Canada) with the Forester wilderness is much closer! They share the same 2.5l 182hp engine, Crosstrek has 8.7 inches of ground clearance and the Forester wilderness has 9.2, and they both have the same 2 levels X-mode.
@@Guidefer I had a Crosstrek Sport 2016 and since it didn't have the X-mode you would be more like the Jeep, i.e. understeer and can't slide because as soon as the backend slides to a certain angle the system kicks in and brings back the car in a straight line.
That because he was in sand mode for some reason. sand mode allows slipping in the rear diff which will eventually overheat. Should have been in snow mode.
@@justicecenter He did go into snow mode, still didn't work. Would be funny if he re-did the test in snow mode and still over heats. Which is exactly what will happen. While everyone had claimed the CVT was the over heater from the prior Forester video he made. He clearly debunks all the Subaru haters. lol
@@wanglee21 not really. The subaru had over half a trail broke for it. Also I find sport mode traction control off in those jeeps to work best. The snow mode is very restrictive cuts power.
Back in 2010 my company gave us all Subaru Legacy's. I was not too thrilled about it in the beginning, then winter arrived and you know what?? I'll never be without a Subaru ever again. No matter what the road conditions, this car goes where you point it. While all other drivers were sliding all over the place, my Subaru was planted firmly. I'd have to say, Subaru got this all wheel drive thing right.
The heat warning on the Jeep was the AWD system which uses a PTU (power transfer unit), it was not the transmission (and I know you didn't mention it was). Subaru's CVT heat warning happens at 270F, which is beyond damaging temps. I preach to people to spend $130 to purchase a scangauge II for full time transmission temperature monitoring. It would be interesting to see what temps are registering, would you consider putting scan gauge II's in all your long term test vehicles Ryan?
@@xxxarmycop I would expect that. The Ascent and Outback XT / Wilderness have upgraded transcoolers and are less prone to overheating, but everything will overheat when pushed. Especially when the wheels are constantly slipping. Transmission temp monitor > Cooler. It’s better to know what temp you’re really at than having a false sense of security with a transcooler. Case in point, many Subarus with aftermarket transcoolers have reported trans temps at 240-250F driving up our mountain passes here in California on a hot summers day. The Forester wilderness with stronger gear ratio and an oem cooling solution will probably be less prone to overheating, it would just be nice to know where those temps are at. I owned a 2015 FXT, and while driving in wet snow, I never got a trans temp warning, my CVT just melted. Maybe the sensor was covered in snow? Maybe a constant 260F over hours of snow driving did enough damage without triggering the temp warning? 🤷🏻♂️ I dunno.
Two things. Most cars have a manual setting on the shifter, that limits shifting to higher gears. This is useful when you DONT want to lose momentum shifting in snow or sand or mud, and you also don't want or need a different mode.. Also in Hill descent, if the car has no ability to adjust the speed it might be that it will lock to the speed it was engaged in. Or if engaged at a stop, it's minimum speed. I believe this is how some vehicles handle this. You can't adjust it, but you CAN self regulate a good speed and let the car take over at that speed. And I don't know about the Jeep, so maybe not. But it's worth looking into. I sorta doubt it is set that slow and you HAVE to use it like that, so it may work as described.
I'd take the Jeep for sure. It looks like a mini version of the Grand Cherokee. Too bad you guys didn't use the Subaru on that last hill first. It would have been interesting to see how the Jeep would have done if it went up halfway in the Subaru's tracks instead of the other way around.
Overheating the AWD in the jeep. Does it have a cooling system? I've never heard of an AWD system overheating. Curious if that could happen to the Subaru as well (I drive a subaru for over 235k miles now, never had the AWD overheat).
I’ve owned 4 99-03 subarus…and one 2019 VW with 4 motion. Subaru is a different breed in the snow then the rest. I’m curious to see how my maverick is when it gets delivered.
those subarus don't use the same type of drivetrain current CVT subarus use. My similar 13 WRX got stuck in the snow pretty easily. Was not impressed, though my 06 STi with helical front diff, posi rear diff, and electromagnetic clutch preloaded helical center diff (DCCD) was a way different story. Though that's to be expected since it didn't have a single open diff which lends a massive difference to torque delivery.
@@KTMcaptain no for sure. The older ones didn’t have the traction control, stability trac and all that bullshit. My dad had a 17 legacy and hated it for that reason. Can never turn everything off
@@pedlpower my current is a 03 outback with the 3.0. It’s pretty decent for 191k miles. I don’t mind the newer ones but the cvt scare me. They seem pretty reliable but still scary lol
@@KTMcaptain It pretty much is the same. The design and operation is the same as those 99-03 model (talking automatics only in this case) the only things really different are the transmission, programming, and likely gearing. The base is still the same, hydraulically actuated multiplayer clutch integrated into the transmission along with the front differential. Since it was in use pre-traction control days, it was always handling the full power of the engine.
curious to know why you chose the sand/mud option for the trailhawk and not the snow option for the 4x4 and then used the deep snow option for the subaru?
11:45 Traction control is cutting power... You should turn off and let tires to dig in snow... Look how Subi is digging. You should try second try from begining with Jeep.
The manual states, “…when starting off in deep snow, sand, or gravel, it may desirable to allow more wheel spin. This can be accomplished by momentarily pushing the ESC OFF button to enter Partial Off mode”. Wouldn’t this setting have helped in this situation? Retest?
Thanks for another great video. I hope there is still some snow when you are able to test the Pathfinder later this month. I'm in Eastern Washington and there should be places with plenty of snow. Looking forward to your next video.
I have lived in Alaska for the last 15 years and before this Montana and some midwest states. Basically tons of ice and snow experience and with that time spent in the cold, I had the opportunity to drive a lot of newer cars with different modes. Snow mode in any vehicle is absolute garbage. Find the mode that does not limit your wheel spin and modulate the throttle yourself.
Would have been interesting to see them with the same tires equipped. With the Jeep upgraded to notably better tires, this makes the Subaru’s performance look even better than it already did. -A Subaru fanboy.
It wasn't the transmission that overheated, it was the AWD that overheated. Subaru's AWD system has a completely different mechanical design from most others which gives it an advantage here. Also remember, the low range in this Compass is just 1st gear, its not a true low range.
@@niuhuskieguy Some brands have great track records due to superior manufacturing, others don't due to inferior manufacturing. Most Stellantis brands have been inferior for a long time now. They look cool, have all this supposed performance, but don't last 10 years.
Researched this car segment for the last 2 months, my findings, - 5th gen forester rated #1 in safety and readability over all others including RAV, trial hawk, honda and bronco sport. That said, it has been a long road for Subaru from the CVT tranny , oil consumption, head gasket issues of past generation vehicles. At 6'3, CR just announced the Forester is #1 with tall drivers as well, no surprise as the "green house" visibility is very attractive. All the safety dings can be disabled permanently, with the exception of engine on/off at stop. After market solution will solve that as well. So, I will be picking up my Subaru Forester Wilderness / pearl white next week. Comfortable driving on and off road, safety and readability, looks, honest service advisors that I have visited with during this time, all have pushed me this direction. And finally driving my daughters 2017 Forester premium, sold me on being a Subie owner. Suggested maintenance to ensure long life; 30k diff (F/R) service, 40k CVT Transmission service, and oil changes every 4k. Compared to the Outback, Off road analysis/videos show the turbo in the Outback gets totally in the way of performance when climbing, as the Forester's new gearing and software changes bring much more to the equation over the turbo, in my opinion. th-cam.com/video/ZF_JtgJ7aKQ/w-d-xo.html HAPPY TRAILS
I have a Jeep Compass Trailhawk 2019. It does not perform well in snow with factory tires or with traction control on. I put Falken at3w tires, and remove traction control and it drives fine on snowy backcountry roads and trails I drive on in Northern Ontario Canada. Anyone in Canada knows that the tires makes a massive difference in driving in snow. Although I've had success with the Falken At3w tires they are not true winter tires. Regardless that compass in 4x4 with traction control off, should be able to handle everything in this video. 4x4 low is not meant for high RPMs on this vehicle, nor ideal for going through snow uphill that isn't packed. It overheated because he was reving it up in low. Not meant for that. Low is more so for rocks. You need quite a bit of momentum and throttle approaching the ascent and should get up no problem with traction control off.
Had this test been done with the factory supplied tires, the difference in favour of the Subaru would be even larger. But the real reason my wife and I own two Subaru is because when it comes to reliability and durability, Subaru is by far much better than Jeep. BTW I live in Canada
Every mechanic on Earth will disagree with you on Subaru reliability. We have nightmares about Subaru head gaskets, cvt failures, axle issues, valve guide leaks……
@@TheTamrielDrunkard absolutely. FB25 supposedly corrected the head gasket issues, but they still occur. I blew the head gasket on my 2015. Cvt failures are common around 70-80k due to burnt valve bodies. Remedy is to change the cvt fluid every 30k miles. Problem is Subaru disagrees and dealers refuse to change the fluid.
@@TheTamrielDrunkard some Subaru dealers will change the cvt fluid. However, Subaru does not recommend this nor provide any support if it fails due to fluid changes. Immediate denied warranty claim. However, the overwhelming amount of Subaru dealers will inspect it for level, but won’t change it. If your dealer does, you’ve found the needle in the haystack. Love them and treat them well.
I will confirm that its very hard to get the rear to rotate on our Renegade. It never really seems to want to give up on being a FWD biased vehicle regardless of the drive mode setting. Sand or Mud modes are fun, but it never really lets 'go' of the rear end, which is fine for our daughter. For me, I'm just used to 'goosing' the throttle to get the rear to kick around on corners...so it can be annoying with the nannies always running...even with T/C fully off...its never really off as you know.
@@shassabo It helps, and you can get it to slide around...but not as easily as the Forester Wilderness in the cones. Ryan highlights the difference really well...but you can get a nice drift in the Compass/Renegade...you just have to work at it more.
The way the AWD system works in these Jeeps doesn't push enough power to the rear end at all doesn't matter what setting, they're purely a reactionary mall crawler AWD system.
All Jeeps are holding your hand too much now. My mother has a 2018 Grand Cherokee and it is stable and safe but no fun whatsoever. Perfect for my elderly mother. Jeep is the new Oldsmobile!
Why do the driving lights on the Jeep come on individually in relation to which direction the wheels are turned, hmmm? Watch at 5:10, check out the driving lights in relation to the steering.
Steering responsive fog lights. It's for better visibility during slow cornering. Subaru used to have the same system but have recently switched to Steering Responsive Headlights, where the whole headlight swivels for better visibility while cornering even at higher speeds.
@@alexqwert1 Doesn't seem to do much during the day and at night they're both on anyway, gimmick. Swiveling headlights....Just like a Tucker in the 50's.
As I'm constantly been told it's all about the tires, I note the Jeep has better tires, I wonder how the Subaru would do with the same tires as the jeep?
The Jeep has better tires than the stock All Seasons, they only upgraded the tires to keep up with the Subaru's AT tires. It's a pretty fair comparison.
Tires make a differences at their extremes. The GO15's on the Forester are not as aggressive as the Falken's but the difference isn't night and day. If it had been the GO15's versus a Falken mud terrain with the ability to clear much more snow from it lugs with each revolution there would have been a different outcome due to tires. Too often reviewers talk about tires in nearly the same class as being very different when they aren't. As such the performance difference isn't that great either. What the Wildepeak actually does for you is gives a more durable option for sharp rocks, sticks and the occasional man made shrapnel of bottles and cans.
i have both brands: subaru outback sport 2008 (manual transmission) and a Jeep Patriot 4x4 latitude 2014, my choice, the subaru. in this video perfectly shows how reliable subarus are. my Jeep patriot started to disable the 4WD system not even 1 minute after. Totally disappointed with Jeep even i like em so much. thank you for sharing this video. was so helpful.
Great video as always. I know the subaru cvt is questionable but Have you or anyone ever had a subaru awd system overheat like most of the other manufacturers? Thanks.
Check out JonDZ adventuring's channel. He started off with a subaru and it didn't warn him that it was overheating. His CVT died really early. Now he's running a Honda Passport with a scan gauge to constantly monitor temps. . Heck, even my Jeep when put into an "offroad mode" pulls up the transmission temp gauge.
@@KTMcaptain that’s not the AWD system. Rear diff on compass has clutches that engage and disengage. That’s what probably overheated. Subaru AWD don’t overheat. Now the CVT it’s questionable
@@osvaldovalencia6330 Subaru's CVT also uses clutches to transfer torque without a conventional center diff. 🤦♂️ . Not to mention their CVT's also will not always warn you when they overheat... or I should say run at dangerous temperatures within subaru's safety threshold. . Just because a manufacturer tells you it's safe, like lifetime transmission fluid, that doesn't actually make it true.
@@osvaldovalencia6330 I was talking about CVT. Offroading with little gear reduction in a manual is not very good. At least the CVT and Auto's have torque converters to multiply torque. All a clutch does is reduce the amount of torque that's transferred, so you are depending on the momentum of the flywheel to shock your driveline into moving.
In 2007, I bought a used 2002 Forester with a manual tranny. Nothing fancy, but supremely capable off-road in any weather conditions. I took care of it and didn't abuse it, but I had to let it go several years ago. Late last year, we rented a Compass for a couple of days, but the circumstances were such that I couldn't give it a decent test drive on one of our local USFS roads.
My MY18 Crosstrek's cvt oil temp climbed to 238 f in the mountains of Utah last summer and never skipped a beat. 10k miles later it functions the same as it did when new. Plus, it is warrantied for 100k, so I don't see why so many people dis on the cvt. I guess, some people just don't like change.
Running one on my 4eat for piece of mind. 180k on the original 4eat(2006 Forester) and I have 242k on it now. But I put the trans cooler on as soon as I bought the thing
@@veganpottertheveganjust make sure you change the fluid at the recommended interval according to maintenance drive. I believe it's 15k for offroading or hard snow use like in this video. Otherwise inspect quality and level every 30k and change as needed.
@@nathanwhitman4699 Some of the CVTs have "lifetime fluid" which is total nonsense. It will still help to have a cooler, and they're very cheap. Mine was $120.
overheated the system, see thats one of the problems with this new technology its so embarrassing.. they make a vehicle and claim its "trail rated" but can't do that hill? lol
This video reminded me of the continuous all-wheel-drive superiority on manual transmission Subaru vehicles. There is almost never any overheating concerns regarding the transmission or all-wheel drive system on manual AWD Subies. 😄 Thanks again as always, Ryan, for doing these helpful and fun tests that almost all other automotive publications refuse to do! 👍
You are very correct. When Subaru began installing CVT gearboxes in the 4th generation foresters, they were not as capable as the previous generation. This is why they engineered X mode, to bring it up to the previous generations standards. Their Viscous coupling mechanical limited slip center differentials only found in manuals transmissions are by far some of the best AWD systems. Add traction control, VDC and a good set of tires, you will be making paths for snowplows.
The 9 speed in the Jeep is superior to the automatic CVT Subaru as the lower gears will make up for lack of low range or limited slip or locking diff etc
In Australia This Jeep is 10 -20k (aus) more than the Subaru depending on spec. Jeeps are dying a death over here, whilst Subaru's are everywhere outside of inner cities, I wonder why.
Perhaps not entirely fair comparison on the last test. Jeep has already plowed uphill more than half of the way. Had Subaru started with fresh snow at the bottom, would it overheat too?
Great video! Just got my Outback Wilderness 2 days ago and I just came back from a "ride" into the blizzard that is raging right now: it's like being on a dry road in that car! Of course, my OBW is on 4 x Hakkapeliitta R3 so there isn't much issues. And if it is still to much out there, 4 x Studded Hakka 9 are waiting for emergencies!
The Compass overheated because you kept the pedal pegged. You don’t want to do that with any vehicle on an incline that steep covered in that much snow.
Wheel spin gets you through stuff. The compass overheated because the engine / transmission were battling against the brakes. All that energy has to go somewhere. The subaru let the Wheels spin and dig down to gravel to get it over the hill. If you could take the traction control off the compass and let he fly with 4wd it would have been fine.
The Wilderness did add a Transmission cooler, compared to the other models, which upped the towing to 3000lb. I imagine that may mitigate some transmission heat issues
@@teabag3854 I 100% disagree with that. CVT drive horribly compared to a regular automatic, and they over heat off roading. Have you not seen the reviews before? Lots of overheating issues.
I own a 2008 Subaru and it may not have all the bells and whistles like the newer models but still gets me around amazingly in all weather. I’ve thought about getting a Jeep but I’m still going to go with my Subaru when I need to purchase my next vehicle.
Honestly, my Impreza with brand-new Blizzaks would’ve made it up that incline with snow. Might’ve damaged the underbody or hit some shit with the front lip, but it would be no problem. If anything, shows how bad A/Ts are in snow. Both the Forester and Compass couldn’t put the power down in the deep pow. Throw good snow tires on and both would be unstoppable, IMO. They’re just as important as awd and locking diffs in real bad snow. For some reason, SUV drivers forget this and alas, I see them off the road every winter.
Its shocking how clueless people are with tires. They see "all season" on some Highway terrains and think it is good for deep snow and mud. They see "Pilot Sport" on the side with some checkered flags and think it can do track days.
100% Agree. This is the best comment. Only thing is I still believe the video did a good job at comparing the 4WD systems of these 2 vehicles. The Compass falls short because it is still a FWD-based AWD system with no way of putting more than 50% of the torque to the rear. Jeep did a good job using working with it, but it's still an afterthought system in a FWD car, like most crossovers. Subaru wins in that regard. But yes both of these vehicles would be better off in these conditions with actual winter tires.
On city streets, I drive 5mph over the speed limit in summer, and in winter snow storms in my Impreza. Nokian WRG4s blow my mind. Never a white-knuckle moment. On black ice... what black ice?
@@Aqwanermuk is ICE on the road that u can’t because is clear so u just see the road until u pass through and feel the car a little loose. DO NOT HIT THE BRAKES during that time or u could end up on the side of the road or hitting the guardrail.
@@osvaldovalencia6330 my car rarely notices ice, because I only use dedicated winter tires in winter. I only know it's icy when I see other cars off the road. Ha ha
We live in Brazil My wife and I plan to travel around the country. We will have 70% On-road and 30% Off-road, Asphalt, Sand, Stones, Mud. Here in Brazil we don't have many Subaru workshops, Jeep have many. The Subaru Forester that sells here is the 2.0 aspirated gasoline and the Jeep we have the Trailhawk Diesel 2.0 Turbo. We also have the Mitsubish Outlander Sport HPE AWD, I don't know anything about it. Which vehicle do you recommend? PS. Some friends have Subaru Forester for years and have no complaints...others have Jeep and have problems. Thanks for listening Hugs.
Overheated, damn well the Jeep Compass still made it up pretty high, still impressive! , I own a 2014 Jeep Compass and I love it!, I do have mazama all terrain tires on mine and they work great.
This really shows the difference in off road tier wise between the compass and Cherokee trailhawks. I have the 2.0 turbo Cherokee trailhawk and apartment from having tons more power and torque, in sand mud mode I would have probably ended up spinning around where you couldn't get the back end to throw. Mine like unleashes it when I'm in that mode. It seems like a much better buy to get a base no option Cherokee trailhawk at the same price of a fully loaded compass one. Or close enough. I also didn't realize you couldn't select speed on that either. On the Cherokee you can go from .6 to like 5.6 every half mph on hill descent and crawl control. There are a lot more differences than I realized. And that's not even mentioning the locker til now. Still I like that one, and it's the same grey mine is and that's the best color
a locker is a huge advantage. So is having an actual low range and not just a 1st gear. Unfortunately both use power transfer units which is a weak point that wears down and can fail easily. A dedicated part time (capable) transfer case will not generate heat when distributing torque where it needs to go and won't wear down significantly over time. . But for small sub 40k crossovers, the Cherokee trailhawk has the best 4wd system.
@@KTMcaptain oh I know. I've had to replace my front ptu already, although to be fair I have wheeled it rather hard for a couple of years before that happened. I never noticed overheating issues in 4 low with it tho , even at altitude but when I was 4high I really did when I would climb. So I can imagine how much harder it is here. That said I get it is a weak point. Jeep made a really big mistake making the Cherokee trailhawk so capable that it would out drive it's durability long term. Specially with good tires and a small lift
@@seanwatson3790 Well, the Cherokee has a two speed rear diff, so I bet in low range it magnifies the PTU's strength by that ratio (ie a 2:1 will make the PTU twice as strong). . Yeah, they made an exceptionally capable vehicle. But to be fair, it's a "next level" capability for the Cherokee and had to work with the tech they had. . There is overlap in price between the Wrangler and Cherokee TH, but you get a pretty cruddy, albeit very capable wrangler, for the price of a very nice Cherokee. . So the choices are there, it just comes down to what one needs and it's not like the Subaru, the Cherokee can be rebuilt.
@@KTMcaptain you're absolutely right. I was looking at a 4 door Willy's Wrangler when I cross shopped, and the locker and better on road feel is why I picked mine over the more base model Wrangler . It's all about the balance and compromise you're willing to make , and nobody's right or wrong with it. That ptu does give it a 56/1. Or I think 2.72 to 1 crawl Ratio. I carry about 600 lbs static weight all the time and I've crawled up 13500 foot mtns in it and never felt a lack of power because of that. So it is what it is 🤷♂️
Good video, very informative and well presented. Still not sure why anyone would choose a Compass Trailhawk over a base four door Wrangler. Starting MSRP is only about 1k or less apart - so why go with a smaller, compromised softroader over the real deal?
I can tell you why we didn't go Wrangler (I've owned 2). We went Renegade since its a daily commuter vehicle in a parking garage, so security with a real roof. It won't be going offroad but will see light forest roads. On road comfort, quiet, heat for winters & mpg's...and let's be honest...if you add an auto trans, hardtop and even think about power locks & windows you're at what, $43k? for a Wrangler. Jeep throws rebates and specials on Renegades & Compass's all the time...so our $34k Renegade TH (which is a stupid high MSRP) was $23,700 new out the door.
Better gas mileage on the compass. With the Biden administration we need that because he closed the pipe line and gas is only going to continue to go up unfortunately
I am really impressed with subaru. Thought jeep would win this. I guess, for such situation subaru is better, but for slow (rock)crawling jeep is better.
There are used Foresters, a couple years old, that are more expensive than the new MSRP prices. Subarus have excellent resale values. In the winter or mud, I'd take the Subaru any day.
I believe that for most people, this type of testing is the most informative. Especially for Canadians, it is important to know how a vehicle will handle on snow covered roads, including at highway speeds. Thank you for this.
I’ve been a Jeep person MY WHOLE LIFE!
With that being said… I bought a Subaru Outback Wilderness on a whim, I fell in love with this damn thing and have taken it several times where I usually take my Jeep Rubicon. This Subaru WILL go anywhere I wish for it to go! My wife and I have been blown away by its nimbleness, comfort and reliability. I would NEVER have guessed I would be driving a Subaru… but life is funny that way.
It’s TRUE…once you drive a Subaru, you’ll own a Subaru!💪🏼😇
Here I am considering swapping my Crosstrek for a Cherokee trailhawk
@@jonathanbormann5077 well don’t buy a crosstrek if you really wanted a trail hawk. Very different cars
@@benw2578 I bought the Crosstrek in '17 man. Getting to the 100k mark but looking to get something a tad bigger and just as if not more capable. Mainly commuter but I also deal with heavy snow.
@@jonathanbormann5077 yeah I think you’re looking in the right spot then. Trailhawk definitely seems like one option for you
@@jonathanbormann5077 I had my forester in the shop overnight and I was given one of the new crosstreks as a rental but dang that’s a tight interior for my tastes
I just bought a 2022 Forester Wilderness, 10/10 boys. I’ve driven a pos for 3 years to be able to buy it, absolutely worth it..
In the Compass you can adjust de speed in Hill Descent Control by pressing soft on the gas pedal or brake pedal. This information is found on the Owner's Manual
Owners manual? Who has time for that. 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ rtfm lol
@@arekay21 maybe someone who wants to take care and know most of his car
@@mateuspereira1360 I know I was being sarcastic LOL
These real world videos in snow are awesome keep these going. I have a 2019 Subaru Sport and it amazes me all the time in snowy conditions no issues at all.
We have dedicated snow tires on our 2021 Subaru CrossTrek Sport and it’s a tank. Awesome car.
Can confirm, same experience.
Agree. I have Michellin X-Ice on my 2021 Crosstrek. Does really great in Manitoba, Canada's harsh winter. 🥶💯
I've got a dedicated winters on my Legacy, and only time I get beat off lights is when I don't pay attention on lights change 😂 Subarus = winter tanks!
@@filcad You must be loving today's snow, then. Its so much fun driving after a big snowfall
Thanks for the great reviews. I have had my new Forester wilderness for one week now. You were right, it is plenty fast enough, even when not in sport mode. For those of you wanting a turbo...it doesn't't need one! I love this SUV!
May I ask where you are located? I would be concerned about the non turbo forester in high altitude areas where I am hauling 3-4 people
It does need a turbo we have a 21 sport I drive in the city and it struggles merging on the freeway, I love everything else about the car. If it had a turbo it would have been amazing.
@@youngrenl In Florida. FYI: None of Toyota's SUV's have a turbo 🤔
@@kirksmith347 Use "sport mode" to get on the freeway. It's fine.
@@kirksmith347 The sport doesn’t have the same 4.11:1 gear ratio as the wilderness. The sport has 3.70:1. The wilderness has more low end torque which is why it feels faster. There’s more to the forester wilderness than just the fancy trim. It has a more robust drivetrain.
I know technical reading is not the most enjoyable, but before you do a review you should probably read the Owner's Manual. With the Compass in 4-Wheel Lock and in neutral you press the electronic stability control button located on the dash to disable the stability control, you then press and hold down the stability control button for 5 seconds. You will hear three beeps and a notification will appear on the driver's dash display that all stability and traction control aids have been disabled (basically the Compass' "Lock Out" Mode with equal power to all wheels). If you would have done this the Jeep would have climbed the hill with no problem.
4-wheel low is for rock crawling/climbing when the tires are deflated and traction is good.
This guy literally knows nothing about 4wd systems which is maybe a good test because most people don’t and won’t read the manual. The car companies need to make it stupid easy to understand.
Great video. I have a Outback Wilderness and on snowy and icy Alaska back roads it runs circles around my F250 or any other SUV. In the winter I use Hakkapallita 10 studded tires and in my experience they are unbeatable.
Waiting on my 2022 special ordered Outback Wilderness to come in. Funny how people rag on the CVT but personally I love them. As seen in this test the CVT was actually a big advantage by not having shift points. Our Outbacks have even more aggressive Xmode then the Forester Wilderness because Xmode doesn't shut off at slip over 25mph.
The best snow tire on the Market, that's what I used in Upstate New York!!👌
@@HomesteadOnThePreserve the CVT is fantastic for what it’s designed to do. The people who complain about it are off roaring beyond the Subies designed function. If you want a hard core of roader get one it will be great crawling through mud and over rocks but not really enjoyable on a 600 mile highway trip. Nothing beats the Subie for dirt/gravel roads, snow, mud along with regular Hwy driving.
I have Hakka 9 studded tires they are No1. for sure
+1 For Subaru.. Even without proper tires.. Although, to be honest, It has more Ground Clearance. Either way, a treat on this 3 day weekend.. Thanks, Ryan.
And the Subaru AWD didn't overheat.
@@AndyTK421 The Wilderness does have a CVT cooler built in, I believe.
Subaru had half the incline plowed by another vehicle, but so it seems it does put power back more aggressively allowing less understeer and better climb support which is big plus
@@tallll70 @ 14:25 Even before Ryan reaches his cameraman, you can see it is fresh snow.. Therefore the Subaru did not take the easy route 100% of the time. Meaning, it surpassed the Jeep's tracks.. Plus we all know, Subaru has the Better AWD system. Therefore it would have made the trek even without the Jeep "Plowing part of the way."
@@Kiss__Kiss nahh, if it would have to heat up it's clutches from bottom, who knows what would happen in half or bit passed it, also, i would disagree on "better", Subaru has less features on same system, only slip activated center, can not pre close clutches, has no low dedicated gear, plus cvt does not favor it either, only advantage directly noticeable is more aggressive power to rear wheels as it seems from this test
The Jeep would have gotten up that deep snowy hill no problem in snow mode as I’ve seen other reviews where it went up a lot deeper snow than even that without a issue
Facts
(Canadian here) I just got a 22 compass (not a Trailhawk), and had a chance to test it on snow. Full confidence of what it offers. I like to keep my finger on the 4x4 switch, and flip it up from auto when I'm in traffic and starts to fish tail lol.
Put it in snow mode you gonna feel the traction.
If you hold the traction control button for a out 10 seconds, it will completely disable the traction control system and you will make that hill. I have a 16 patriot withe same engine, but the 6spd hyaundai Trans. It kicks ass in snow. The over heating is from brakes grabbing constantly. It heats the clutches up quick.
Those used a hyundai transmission? Good to know
On my 2020 Renegade you can hold down the TSC button for about 30 sec and it will ding and disable the stability control and traction control should let it get a bit more sideways
While using hill descent assist in the Jeep you have to use the pedal shifters to adjust your speed.
exacly! The should ckeck the manual with extra information for situation like that :)
It doesn’t have paddle shifters lol
I think you shift the gear select lever into manual mode and use the shift up/down to adjust hill descent speed.
You guys didn’t say it but the best conclusion is that a Subaru hardly will let you down, even if the tires aren’t the right ones! Nice video!!
"drops the hammer on any potential fun" is definitely the quote of the day.
For the Jeep Compass, if you want you have “fun” all you have to do it is click one button and that’s the off/road button for better drifting experience like the Subaru. Good video!
Hill descent is something that you try once for the fun, and never use until you check to see if it still works down the road.
Disagree. Well, maybe that hill descent. But my TH-cam channel did a trail review on black bear pass and I used hill descent on my Cherokee trailhawk like a Lot on that trail. It's also way better for steep ice. Also we have a video coming out soon on red cone and I used hill descent on the super steep hills at the end and made them no problem. For the most part brakes are just fine, but when the hill is extreme, you will be happy you have it. I know I was
I use hill decent all the time. Went down Otay Truck Trail at about 9mph last weekend, and didn't have my foot on either pedal the entire way down.
I’m frustrated that on my Subaru Crosstrek that Hill Decent is only active in Xmode at less than 10 miles an hour and doesn’t activate in another other steep hill situations
@@seanwatson3790 Would you say Hill Descent Control is better than using 4 Low and manually shifting into 1st gear?
@@KittRembo Why don't you just put it in manual mode and put it in 1st gear while using X Mode?
I'm very thankful that the information on your video is super accurate. So many people get the stats wrong.
You guys certainly are one of the best - if not the best - testers for Suv‘s, / reall Offroad consumer cars. This test in the clip is an excellent example.
I see more and more of these compass videos and I really am starting to respect them. It’s like the little engine that could. The Outback has always been a favourite of mine though.
my compass sucks in the snow. Its super cheap. The automatic awd system is constantly making a reving sound I guess its trying to see if it needs to engage awd.
@@nog117Interesting…what year do you have? I have a 2012 4x4 and it has always done amazing in snow/rain. Drove it 7 hours in an ice storm and was one of the few vehicles who made it to my destination without an accident or sliding off the road.
Just bought a 2023 Trailhawk. I expect it will perform similarly but time will tell.
For 20 years I was a Toyota fan....... but when I got a Forester ..... I can say it is unbelieveable in water, sand, snow etc .... this car was made just for best and safety conduction.
Ryan, could you do a Crosstrek sport vs Forester Wilderness comparison?! Same engine, same modes, one is lighter... Would love to know how they stack up off-road in real-world conditions!
Forester wilderness has Added CVT cooler, engine oil cooler, and lowered gearing. It should outperform the Crosstrek significantly. At least until the Crosstrek wilderness comes.
@@ZachMauch I agree with you, but would be awesome to see a real-world comparison, wouldn't it? The $8k difference in price, at least here in Canada, it's very tempting!
@@Guidefer Here will be the video for you. Wilderness is way more capable. th-cam.com/video/gVliavE6-tc/w-d-xo.html
@@wanglee21 I appreciate that Karl, but those are totally different cars! They are testing the outback wilderness against the base Crosstrek! Outback has a 2.4 turbo engine while the base Crosstrek has a 2.0 NA with only 150hp, the outback has 9.5 inches of ground clearance while the Crosstrek has 8.7 and the base Crosstrek only has the first tier x-mode.
The comparison between the Crosstrek sport (which is called "outdoor" in Canada) with the Forester wilderness is much closer! They share the same 2.5l 182hp engine, Crosstrek has 8.7 inches of ground clearance and the Forester wilderness has 9.2, and they both have the same 2 levels X-mode.
@@Guidefer I had a Crosstrek Sport 2016 and since it didn't have the X-mode you would be more like the Jeep, i.e. understeer and can't slide because as soon as the backend slides to a certain angle the system kicks in and brings back the car in a straight line.
A pseudo-AWD on trail-rated Jeep that overheats going up a tiny hill is always fun to watch!
Overheats in cold/ freezing temperatures! Wow. Just saying.
@@attnielthomas7856 yeah because the person driving doesn’t know what he’s doing.
That because he was in sand mode for some reason. sand mode allows slipping in the rear diff which will eventually overheat. Should have been in snow mode.
@@justicecenter He did go into snow mode, still didn't work. Would be funny if he re-did the test in snow mode and still over heats. Which is exactly what will happen. While everyone had claimed the CVT was the over heater from the prior Forester video he made. He clearly debunks all the Subaru haters. lol
@@wanglee21 not really. The subaru had over half a trail broke for it. Also I find sport mode traction control off in those jeeps to work best.
The snow mode is very restrictive cuts power.
Back in 2010 my company gave us all Subaru Legacy's. I was not too thrilled about it in the beginning, then winter arrived and you know what?? I'll never be without a Subaru ever again. No matter what the road conditions, this car goes where you point it. While all other drivers were sliding all over the place, my Subaru was planted firmly. I'd have to say, Subaru got this all wheel drive thing right.
The heat warning on the Jeep was the AWD system which uses a PTU (power transfer unit), it was not the transmission (and I know you didn't mention it was). Subaru's CVT heat warning happens at 270F, which is beyond damaging temps. I preach to people to spend $130 to purchase a scangauge II for full time transmission temperature monitoring. It would be interesting to see what temps are registering, would you consider putting scan gauge II's in all your long term test vehicles Ryan?
I believe the Wilderness comes with an upgraded tranny cooler
@@xxxarmycop I would expect that. The Ascent and Outback XT / Wilderness have upgraded transcoolers and are less prone to overheating, but everything will overheat when pushed. Especially when the wheels are constantly slipping. Transmission temp monitor > Cooler. It’s better to know what temp you’re really at than having a false sense of security with a transcooler. Case in point, many Subarus with aftermarket transcoolers have reported trans temps at 240-250F driving up our mountain passes here in California on a hot summers day. The Forester wilderness with stronger gear ratio and an oem cooling solution will probably be less prone to overheating, it would just be nice to know where those temps are at.
I owned a 2015 FXT, and while driving in wet snow, I never got a trans temp warning, my CVT just melted. Maybe the sensor was covered in snow? Maybe a constant 260F over hours of snow driving did enough damage without triggering the temp warning? 🤷🏻♂️ I dunno.
Love my Forester, it's such an awesome beautiful 🥰 SUV that does it all for me, all the very best.
Two things. Most cars have a manual setting on the shifter, that limits shifting to higher gears. This is useful when you DONT want to lose momentum shifting in snow or sand or mud, and you also don't want or need a different mode.. Also in Hill descent, if the car has no ability to adjust the speed it might be that it will lock to the speed it was engaged in. Or if engaged at a stop, it's minimum speed. I believe this is how some vehicles handle this. You can't adjust it, but you CAN self regulate a good speed and let the car take over at that speed. And I don't know about the Jeep, so maybe not. But it's worth looking into. I sorta doubt it is set that slow and you HAVE to use it like that, so it may work as described.
Wonderful video. I can tell you put a lot of time into these videos and we are better off because of it.
I'd take the Jeep for sure. It looks like a mini version of the Grand Cherokee. Too bad you guys didn't use the Subaru on that last hill first. It would have been interesting to see how the Jeep would have done if it went up halfway in the Subaru's tracks instead of the other way around.
and too bad the Subaru didn't also get better tires like the Jeep 😒
You adjust the hill descent control by putting the transmission in manual gear select and bumping the gear up or down.
Overheating the AWD in the jeep. Does it have a cooling system? I've never heard of an AWD system overheating. Curious if that could happen to the Subaru as well (I drive a subaru for over 235k miles now, never had the AWD overheat).
I’ve owned 4 99-03 subarus…and one 2019 VW with 4 motion. Subaru is a different breed in the snow then the rest. I’m curious to see how my maverick is when it gets delivered.
those subarus don't use the same type of drivetrain current CVT subarus use. My similar 13 WRX got stuck in the snow pretty easily. Was not impressed, though my 06 STi with helical front diff, posi rear diff, and electromagnetic clutch preloaded helical center diff (DCCD) was a way different story. Though that's to be expected since it didn't have a single open diff which lends a massive difference to torque delivery.
@@KTMcaptain no for sure. The older ones didn’t have the traction control, stability trac and all that bullshit. My dad had a 17 legacy and hated it for that reason. Can never turn everything off
@@Mpompi315.
We have a 2014 OB and a 2010 Forester. I like the older drivetrain MUCH Better!
@@pedlpower my current is a 03 outback with the 3.0. It’s pretty decent for 191k miles. I don’t mind the newer ones but the cvt scare me. They seem pretty reliable but still scary lol
@@KTMcaptain It pretty much is the same. The design and operation is the same as those 99-03 model (talking automatics only in this case) the only things really different are the transmission, programming, and likely gearing. The base is still the same, hydraulically actuated multiplayer clutch integrated into the transmission along with the front differential. Since it was in use pre-traction control days, it was always handling the full power of the engine.
Great video and hello from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷
curious to know why you chose the sand/mud option for the trailhawk and not the snow option for the 4x4 and then used the deep snow option for the subaru?
sand/mud option allows the wheels spin needed for that hill... I'm pretty sure he explained it
11:45 Traction control is cutting power... You should turn off and let tires to dig in snow... Look how Subi is digging. You should try second try from begining with Jeep.
The manual states, “…when starting off in deep snow, sand, or gravel, it may desirable to allow more wheel spin. This can be accomplished by momentarily pushing the ESC OFF button to enter Partial Off mode”. Wouldn’t this setting have helped in this situation? Retest?
Thanks, Ryan. Great video! Very clear comparison and analysis. Of course as a new FW owner I might be a little biased!
Thanks for another great video. I hope there is still some snow when you are able to test the Pathfinder later this month. I'm in Eastern Washington and there should be places with plenty of snow. Looking forward to your next video.
Love your work man and appreciate it When are you going to do Toyota Highlander 2022
Which Highlander. It got 3 very different AWD systems available.🙂 Dynamic Torque Control AWD, Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD, Electronic On-Demand AWD.
Great video! I really enjoy watching your channel and look forward to new content. Keep up the great work!
Just got back from Mountain Loop HWY with my Maverick. Got to 3000ft before the snow hit about a foot and I turned around. Love the trucklet!
Congratulations, but this isn't about your Maverick.
@@kennethcurtis1856 No, it was about driving forect roads and icy conditions. Thanks for your concern about my 11 month old post.
I would have liked to see the Compass try that last hill with snow mode enabled.
it wouldn’t have made it. snow mode limits wheel spin
I kind of thought we beat that into the ground. But yes, snow mode is useless in deep snow.
I have lived in Alaska for the last 15 years and before this Montana and some midwest states. Basically tons of ice and snow experience and with that time spent in the cold, I had the opportunity to drive a lot of newer cars with different modes. Snow mode in any vehicle is absolute garbage. Find the mode that does not limit your wheel spin and modulate the throttle yourself.
@@drivingsports you manipulate vehicles settings for your advantage of failures to only remark about Subaru after the fact.
@@justicecenter cope
Would have been interesting to see them with the same tires equipped. With the Jeep upgraded to notably better tires, this makes the Subaru’s performance look even better than it already did. -A Subaru fanboy.
The tires on the Subie aren't great either.
So glad you're making these fantastic videos! Information with entertainment presented in a way nobody else is doing. Nicely done!
LOCK button locks only the front clutch (in PTU). It is connecting the driveshaft to the system but still only front wheels may be powered.
The jeep overheated because you had it in 4low and were revving it too high too long. The subaru doesn't have 4low.
Exactly
It's has a low crawl ratio on the cvt transmission and has xmode
It overheated because every Stellantis owned company churns out pure trash
It wasn't the transmission that overheated, it was the AWD that overheated. Subaru's AWD system has a completely different mechanical design from most others which gives it an advantage here. Also remember, the low range in this Compass is just 1st gear, its not a true low range.
@@niuhuskieguy Some brands have great track records due to superior manufacturing, others don't due to inferior manufacturing. Most Stellantis brands have been inferior for a long time now. They look cool, have all this supposed performance, but don't last 10 years.
Researched this car segment for the last 2 months, my findings, - 5th gen forester rated #1 in safety and readability over all others including RAV, trial hawk, honda and bronco sport. That said, it has been a long road for Subaru from the CVT tranny , oil consumption, head gasket issues of past generation vehicles. At 6'3, CR just announced the Forester is #1 with tall drivers as well, no surprise as the "green house" visibility is very attractive. All the safety dings can be disabled permanently, with the exception of engine on/off at stop. After market solution will solve that as well. So, I will be picking up my Subaru Forester Wilderness / pearl white next week. Comfortable driving on and off road, safety and readability, looks, honest service advisors that I have visited with during this time, all have pushed me this direction. And finally driving my daughters 2017 Forester premium, sold me on being a Subie owner. Suggested maintenance to ensure long life; 30k diff (F/R) service, 40k CVT Transmission service, and oil changes every 4k.
Compared to the Outback, Off road analysis/videos show the turbo in the Outback gets totally in the way of performance when climbing, as the Forester's new gearing and software changes bring much more to the equation over the turbo, in my opinion. th-cam.com/video/ZF_JtgJ7aKQ/w-d-xo.html
HAPPY TRAILS
I have a Jeep Compass Trailhawk 2019. It does not perform well in snow with factory tires or with traction control on. I put Falken at3w tires, and remove traction control and it drives fine on snowy backcountry roads and trails I drive on in Northern Ontario Canada. Anyone in Canada knows that the tires makes a massive difference in driving in snow. Although I've had success with the Falken At3w tires they are not true winter tires. Regardless that compass in 4x4 with traction control off, should be able to handle everything in this video. 4x4 low is not meant for high RPMs on this vehicle, nor ideal for going through snow uphill that isn't packed. It overheated because he was reving it up in low. Not meant for that. Low is more so for rocks. You need quite a bit of momentum and throttle approaching the ascent and should get up no problem with traction control off.
Please do a review of a cherokee trailhawk with locking rear diff vs 4runner
“No overheat. No warnings.” It just gets the job done. Go Suby go! ❤️
He was for some reason not using snow mode on the biggest hill and deepest snow… and then he wonders why it doesn’t perform
Had this test been done with the factory supplied tires, the difference in favour of the Subaru would be even larger. But the real reason my wife and I own two Subaru is because when it comes to reliability and durability, Subaru is by far much better than Jeep. BTW I live in Canada
Every mechanic on Earth will disagree with you on Subaru reliability. We have nightmares about Subaru head gaskets, cvt failures, axle issues, valve guide leaks……
@@haroldbeauchamp3770 On newer models? Sounds like problems of the past.
@@TheTamrielDrunkard absolutely. FB25 supposedly corrected the head gasket issues, but they still occur. I blew the head gasket on my 2015. Cvt failures are common around 70-80k due to burnt valve bodies. Remedy is to change the cvt fluid every 30k miles. Problem is Subaru disagrees and dealers refuse to change the fluid.
@@haroldbeauchamp3770 I'm skeptical. Inspecting the CVT fluid is part of the maintenance schedule every 30k.
@@TheTamrielDrunkard some Subaru dealers will change the cvt fluid. However, Subaru does not recommend this nor provide any support if it fails due to fluid changes. Immediate denied warranty claim. However, the overwhelming amount of Subaru dealers will inspect it for level, but won’t change it. If your dealer does, you’ve found the needle in the haystack. Love them and treat them well.
I will confirm that its very hard to get the rear to rotate on our Renegade. It never really seems to want to give up on being a FWD biased vehicle regardless of the drive mode setting. Sand or Mud modes are fun, but it never really lets 'go' of the rear end, which is fine for our daughter. For me, I'm just used to 'goosing' the throttle to get the rear to kick around on corners...so it can be annoying with the nannies always running...even with T/C fully off...its never really off as you know.
even with the 10 second button hold on the TC button?
@@shassabo It helps, and you can get it to slide around...but not as easily as the Forester Wilderness in the cones. Ryan highlights the difference really well...but you can get a nice drift in the Compass/Renegade...you just have to work at it more.
The way the AWD system works in these Jeeps doesn't push enough power to the rear end at all doesn't matter what setting, they're purely a reactionary mall crawler AWD system.
@@wildbill23c pretty sure it’s 50/50 with a clutch that sends the power back on the trailhawks, but only brakes control left and right after that.
All Jeeps are holding your hand too much now. My mother has a 2018 Grand Cherokee and it is stable and safe but no fun whatsoever. Perfect for my elderly mother. Jeep is the new Oldsmobile!
Why do the driving lights on the Jeep come on individually in relation to which direction the wheels are turned, hmmm? Watch at 5:10, check out the driving lights in relation to the steering.
Steering responsive fog lights. It's for better visibility during slow cornering. Subaru used to have the same system but have recently switched to Steering Responsive Headlights, where the whole headlight swivels for better visibility while cornering even at higher speeds.
@@alexqwert1 Doesn't seem to do much during the day and at night they're both on anyway, gimmick. Swiveling headlights....Just like a Tucker in the 50's.
As I'm constantly been told it's all about the tires, I note the Jeep has better tires, I wonder how the Subaru would do with the same tires as the jeep?
The Jeep has better tires than the stock All Seasons, they only upgraded the tires to keep up with the Subaru's AT tires. It's a pretty fair comparison.
Tires make a differences at their extremes. The GO15's on the Forester are not as aggressive as the Falken's but the difference isn't night and day. If it had been the GO15's versus a Falken mud terrain with the ability to clear much more snow from it lugs with each revolution there would have been a different outcome due to tires. Too often reviewers talk about tires in nearly the same class as being very different when they aren't. As such the performance difference isn't that great either. What the Wildepeak actually does for you is gives a more durable option for sharp rocks, sticks and the occasional man made shrapnel of bottles and cans.
I thought 4x4 always beat AWD but not all of them which I surprised. Thanks for proving me wrong :)
i have both brands: subaru outback sport 2008 (manual transmission) and a Jeep Patriot 4x4 latitude 2014, my choice, the subaru. in this video perfectly shows how reliable subarus are. my Jeep patriot started to disable the 4WD system not even 1 minute after. Totally disappointed with Jeep even i like em so much. thank you for sharing this video. was so helpful.
Give me oversteer vs understeer any day. I have a Forester Sport and it's been a champ in snow.
I prefer the look of the Subaru and it has a very smooth ride, but I’m biased since I have one
I would like to see purchase and maintenance cost comparison over 15 years.
Awesome video here. So impressed with what the Jeep was able to get done!
Very informative and very helpful. Reinforces my decision to get the Compass.
Great video as always. I know the subaru cvt is questionable but Have you or anyone ever had a subaru awd system overheat like most of the other manufacturers? Thanks.
Check out JonDZ adventuring's channel. He started off with a subaru and it didn't warn him that it was overheating. His CVT died really early. Now he's running a Honda Passport with a scan gauge to constantly monitor temps.
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Heck, even my Jeep when put into an "offroad mode" pulls up the transmission temp gauge.
@@KTMcaptain that’s not the AWD system. Rear diff on compass has clutches that engage and disengage. That’s what probably overheated. Subaru AWD don’t overheat. Now the CVT it’s questionable
@@osvaldovalencia6330 Subaru's CVT also uses clutches to transfer torque without a conventional center diff. 🤦♂️
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Not to mention their CVT's also will not always warn you when they overheat... or I should say run at dangerous temperatures within subaru's safety threshold.
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Just because a manufacturer tells you it's safe, like lifetime transmission fluid, that doesn't actually make it true.
@@KTMcaptain I did say CVT was questionable 🤨
@@osvaldovalencia6330 I was talking about CVT. Offroading with little gear reduction in a manual is not very good. At least the CVT and Auto's have torque converters to multiply torque. All a clutch does is reduce the amount of torque that's transferred, so you are depending on the momentum of the flywheel to shock your driveline into moving.
In 2007, I bought a used 2002 Forester with a manual tranny. Nothing fancy, but supremely capable off-road in any weather conditions. I took care of it and didn't abuse it, but I had to let it go several years ago. Late last year, we rented a Compass for a couple of days, but the circumstances were such that I couldn't give it a decent test drive on one of our local USFS roads.
This is A Fair and Square Comparison for Both SUV...,👍
+1 for Subaru. I was worrying about subaru but it’s animal ). Nice video. Thank you.
My MY18 Crosstrek's cvt oil temp climbed to 238 f in the mountains of Utah last summer and never skipped a beat. 10k miles later it functions the same as it did when new. Plus, it is warrantied for 100k, so I don't see why so many people dis on the cvt. I guess, some people just don't like change.
I'd still get an extra transmission cooler if I were you. I'd be pissed having a transmission die before 150-180k.
Running one on my 4eat for piece of mind. 180k on the original 4eat(2006 Forester) and I have 242k on it now. But I put the trans cooler on as soon as I bought the thing
CVT’s suck. No actual gearing. For mileage go for CVT. For fun to drive or actual off roading stay away from a CVT.
@@veganpottertheveganjust make sure you change the fluid at the recommended interval according to maintenance drive. I believe it's 15k for offroading or hard snow use like in this video. Otherwise inspect quality and level every 30k and change as needed.
@@nathanwhitman4699 Some of the CVTs have "lifetime fluid" which is total nonsense. It will still help to have a cooler, and they're very cheap. Mine was $120.
overheated the system, see thats one of the problems with this new technology its so embarrassing.. they make a vehicle and claim its "trail rated" but can't do that hill? lol
This video reminded me of the continuous all-wheel-drive superiority on manual transmission Subaru vehicles. There is almost never any overheating concerns regarding the transmission or all-wheel drive system on manual AWD Subies. 😄
Thanks again as always, Ryan, for doing these helpful and fun tests that almost all other automotive publications refuse to do! 👍
You are very correct. When Subaru began installing CVT gearboxes in the 4th generation foresters, they were not as capable as the previous generation. This is why they engineered X mode, to bring it up to the previous generations standards. Their Viscous coupling mechanical limited slip center differentials only found in manuals transmissions are by far some of the best AWD systems. Add traction control, VDC and a good set of tires, you will be making paths for snowplows.
Thats why i bought a 6spd 2022 crosstrek. Save the manuals
Too bad this Subaru has open diffs tho
Subaru automatics have always been junk
The 9 speed in the Jeep is superior to the automatic CVT Subaru as the lower gears will make up for lack of low range or limited slip or locking diff etc
There is a reason there are so many subarus in places where the weather gets wild. Trustworthy.
In Australia This Jeep is 10
-20k (aus) more than the Subaru depending on spec. Jeeps are dying a death over here, whilst Subaru's are everywhere outside of inner cities, I wonder why.
It’s gotta be the commercials, I used to think Subarus were Australian lol
Also to use Hill Decent you can adjust the speed by using the accelerator pedal for up and down by using the brake.
Perhaps not entirely fair comparison on the last test. Jeep has already plowed uphill more than half of the way. Had Subaru started with fresh snow at the bottom, would it overheat too?
my thoughts exactly
Does it not have an M next to the D on the shifter? On a Cherokee, you can use that to change the hill descent speed
Great video!
Just got my Outback Wilderness 2 days ago and I just came back from a "ride" into the blizzard that is raging right now: it's like being on a dry road in that car! Of course, my OBW is on 4 x Hakkapeliitta R3 so there isn't much issues. And if it is still to much out there, 4 x Studded Hakka 9 are waiting for emergencies!
Was waiting for this ! thankyou !
The Compass overheated because you kept the pedal pegged. You don’t want to do that with any vehicle on an incline that steep covered in that much snow.
Wheel spin gets you through stuff.
The compass overheated because the engine / transmission were battling against the brakes. All that energy has to go somewhere.
The subaru let the Wheels spin and dig down to gravel to get it over the hill.
If you could take the traction control off the compass and let he fly with 4wd it would have been fine.
The Jeep Compass 2023 will officially have a 2L turbo with an 8 speed transmission. Please make sure to test it!
Great job subaru but the design is frustrating
Everyone says that about every new change. I think it looks sick.
More like a refresh with a new trim/options package than a new design. I have a 17' Forester and it doesn't look much different.
That means probably you are not the customer for them. Designs is great! As it has been for years. is like asking jeep wrangler to change the design.
In Snow Mode does the trans not shift past 6th gear on highway? In my Cherokee Trailhawk it’s not a good mode for highway use.
Interesting to see the Jeep overheat. Never would’ve thought that’s happen. I would’ve guessed the Subaru’s CVT would.
its not a JEEP , its a Fiat dressed up in Jeeps clothing.
@@jonathankarakas5354 it is. Jeep it's only WRANGLER or G. CHEROKEE. other cars are just FIAT re-badged
The Wilderness did add a Transmission cooler, compared to the other models, which upped the towing to 3000lb. I imagine that may mitigate some transmission heat issues
That's because you've bought into all the "CVT transmissions are bad because blaaaa". Subaru makes theirs in House. Best on the market. Period.
@@teabag3854 I 100% disagree with that. CVT drive horribly compared to a regular automatic, and they over heat off roading. Have you not seen the reviews before? Lots of overheating issues.
I own a 2008 Subaru and it may not have all the bells and whistles like the newer models but still gets me around amazingly in all weather. I’ve thought about getting a Jeep but I’m still going to go with my Subaru when I need to purchase my next vehicle.
Honestly, my Impreza with brand-new Blizzaks would’ve made it up that incline with snow. Might’ve damaged the underbody or hit some shit with the front lip, but it would be no problem.
If anything, shows how bad A/Ts are in snow. Both the Forester and Compass couldn’t put the power down in the deep pow.
Throw good snow tires on and both would be unstoppable, IMO. They’re just as important as awd and locking diffs in real bad snow.
For some reason, SUV drivers forget this and alas, I see them off the road every winter.
Its shocking how clueless people are with tires. They see "all season" on some Highway terrains and think it is good for deep snow and mud. They see "Pilot Sport" on the side with some checkered flags and think it can do track days.
100% Agree. This is the best comment. Only thing is I still believe the video did a good job at comparing the 4WD systems of these 2 vehicles. The Compass falls short because it is still a FWD-based AWD system with no way of putting more than 50% of the torque to the rear. Jeep did a good job using working with it, but it's still an afterthought system in a FWD car, like most crossovers. Subaru wins in that regard. But yes both of these vehicles would be better off in these conditions with actual winter tires.
On city streets, I drive 5mph over the speed limit in summer, and in winter snow storms in my Impreza. Nokian WRG4s blow my mind. Never a white-knuckle moment. On black ice... what black ice?
@@Aqwanermuk is ICE on the road that u can’t because is clear so u just see the road until u pass through and feel the car a little loose. DO NOT HIT THE BRAKES during that time or u could end up on the side of the road or hitting the guardrail.
@@osvaldovalencia6330 my car rarely notices ice, because I only use dedicated winter tires in winter. I only know it's icy when I see other cars off the road. Ha ha
We live in Brazil
My wife and I plan to travel around the country.
We will have 70% On-road and 30% Off-road, Asphalt, Sand, Stones, Mud.
Here in Brazil we don't have many Subaru workshops, Jeep have many.
The Subaru Forester that sells here is the 2.0 aspirated gasoline and the Jeep we have the Trailhawk Diesel 2.0 Turbo.
We also have the Mitsubish Outlander Sport HPE AWD, I don't know anything about it.
Which vehicle do you recommend?
PS. Some friends have Subaru Forester for years and have no complaints...others have Jeep and have problems.
Thanks for listening
Hugs.
Overheated, damn well the Jeep Compass still made it up pretty high, still impressive! , I own a 2014 Jeep Compass and I love it!, I do have mazama all terrain tires on mine and they work great.
Likewise, I own a 2014 Jeep Compass Sport 4x4 w/ the CVT. It’s currently equipped with Falken Wildpeak H/T. I feel confidently planted to the ground.
@@alexeastman28 right on man!
I'm not sure how. I've gone through deep and steeper in my 2019 Compass lol
This really shows the difference in off road tier wise between the compass and Cherokee trailhawks. I have the 2.0 turbo Cherokee trailhawk and apartment from having tons more power and torque, in sand mud mode I would have probably ended up spinning around where you couldn't get the back end to throw. Mine like unleashes it when I'm in that mode. It seems like a much better buy to get a base no option Cherokee trailhawk at the same price of a fully loaded compass one. Or close enough. I also didn't realize you couldn't select speed on that either. On the Cherokee you can go from .6 to like 5.6 every half mph on hill descent and crawl control. There are a lot more differences than I realized. And that's not even mentioning the locker til now. Still I like that one, and it's the same grey mine is and that's the best color
a locker is a huge advantage. So is having an actual low range and not just a 1st gear. Unfortunately both use power transfer units which is a weak point that wears down and can fail easily. A dedicated part time (capable) transfer case will not generate heat when distributing torque where it needs to go and won't wear down significantly over time.
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But for small sub 40k crossovers, the Cherokee trailhawk has the best 4wd system.
@@KTMcaptain oh I know. I've had to replace my front ptu already, although to be fair I have wheeled it rather hard for a couple of years before that happened. I never noticed overheating issues in 4 low with it tho , even at altitude but when I was 4high I really did when I would climb. So I can imagine how much harder it is here. That said I get it is a weak point. Jeep made a really big mistake making the Cherokee trailhawk so capable that it would out drive it's durability long term. Specially with good tires and a small lift
@@seanwatson3790 Well, the Cherokee has a two speed rear diff, so I bet in low range it magnifies the PTU's strength by that ratio (ie a 2:1 will make the PTU twice as strong).
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Yeah, they made an exceptionally capable vehicle. But to be fair, it's a "next level" capability for the Cherokee and had to work with the tech they had.
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There is overlap in price between the Wrangler and Cherokee TH, but you get a pretty cruddy, albeit very capable wrangler, for the price of a very nice Cherokee.
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So the choices are there, it just comes down to what one needs and it's not like the Subaru, the Cherokee can be rebuilt.
@@KTMcaptain you're absolutely right. I was looking at a 4 door Willy's Wrangler when I cross shopped, and the locker and better on road feel is why I picked mine over the more base model Wrangler . It's all about the balance and compromise you're willing to make , and nobody's right or wrong with it. That ptu does give it a 56/1. Or I think 2.72 to 1 crawl Ratio. I carry about 600 lbs static weight all the time and I've crawled up 13500 foot mtns in it and never felt a lack of power because of that. So it is what it is 🤷♂️
Now that’s a great pick to compare
Did these cars have the same winter tires?
Good video, very informative and well presented.
Still not sure why anyone would choose a Compass Trailhawk over a base four door Wrangler. Starting MSRP is only about 1k or less apart - so why go with a smaller, compromised softroader over the real deal?
For on road performance.
I can tell you why we didn't go Wrangler (I've owned 2). We went Renegade since its a daily commuter vehicle in a parking garage, so security with a real roof. It won't be going offroad but will see light forest roads. On road comfort, quiet, heat for winters & mpg's...and let's be honest...if you add an auto trans, hardtop and even think about power locks & windows you're at what, $43k? for a Wrangler. Jeep throws rebates and specials on Renegades & Compass's all the time...so our $34k Renegade TH (which is a stupid high MSRP) was $23,700 new out the door.
Because not everyone wants to feel like they're driving a tractor on the road
Better gas mileage on the compass. With the Biden administration we need that because he closed the pipe line and gas is only going to continue to go up unfortunately
@@luchaDor Don't buy any Chrysler product,they are all junk.
12:51 - "and, oops, I overheated" - LMAO!
I am really impressed with subaru. Thought jeep would win this. I guess, for such situation subaru is better, but for slow (rock)crawling jeep is better.
Hey buddy
I love seeing how a subaru kick the ass to so many cars
Stability control is keeping you from tossing the rear around. Traction control works on the slip.
thank you sir
those who have doubts about subaru CVT i think now they have the answer
I can see your mind while the Jeep overheated "I regret buying this".
Did the Compass ever make it up that hill?
I sure like the body style changes they’ve made to the Compass 😊
How have larger tires on the compass impacted the vehicle? Rubbing? Etc?
There are used Foresters, a couple years old, that are more expensive than the new MSRP prices. Subarus have excellent resale values. In the winter or mud, I'd take the Subaru any day.