I traded in my 2013 Explorer for a 2020 Outback. Fell in love at the test drive. CVT has not been an issue. Infotainment has not been an issue. So much is voice control. I purchased the remote start app... $75 for three years. I start it up when I wake up and let her warm up and then again before I leave the house. Can preprogrammed all of your HVAC settings. The o my minimal complaints I have are 1) move the screen up a bit to increase storage. 2) randomly lose car play... might be the cable. Some of these comments about trading in there 2020 because of the system or overly dramatic. The car is fantastic the systems are fantastic. I’m 38 almost 39 and this is car 16 or 17 for me.
Just today when I woke up at 7:00am and went to start my 2020 Outback and my Girlfriends 2017 F-150. I kept checking it every 15min to see if the ice has melted off the windshield. The F-150 was clear of ice on ALL windows in 30 min so she left to go to a friends house while my Subaru still had thick ice on all windows. At 8:15 ( a full hour and a half) I had to leave no matter what only the very bottom middle of the windshield had ice had melted. So even though it running for an hour and 15 min I still had to scrape lice crazy to get the pile of junk to drive while my girlfriends F-150 had just as much ice on it was completely clear in 30 min. I'm leasing this Subaru and will turn t in at lease end to purchase any other kind of vehicle besides Subaru. But still got another year left.
@@mr-alexknight6578 because you’re too lazy to take your ass out to scape the ice off your windows? LOL that’s why Subarus are bad? You’re a complete moron. Also, Who lets their car run for an hour and a half to remove the ice off their window…. Tons of common sense there, idiot.
We’ve been buying Subaru’s since the early 2000s. Excellent cars. We will continue to buy them as long as they keep making outstanding cars. We are VERY loyal and VERY fond of the brand.
They love the new outback, great interior, views, drives better than ever - like a luxury car, the turbo engine is best option, they hate the new jumbo infotainment display. This matches other magazine and internet reviews of the 2020 outback
I thought I was going to hate the touchscreen, but after driving the car, I found my old man eyes had a much easier time seeing the large graphics for the fan, modes, heated seats, etc, especially at night when the tiny red pictographs on the old model are hard to see. You can use voice commands for a number of functions as well.
Here, a proud owner of a 2013 Subaru Outback which I replaced in 2016 with another Subaru Outback, both with a 6-speed manual transmission. I absolutely loved these cars perfectly suited for the harsh Canadian winters. Too bad the manual transmission is no longer available ...
In my adult life I have used Consumer Report's to buy all of my cars. They have been completely accurate. I worked in the auto industry for years. I don't buy anything they don't recommend. I go for the car/suv with the most bang for the buck. I used to be a Honda person but Subaru is a much better compromise. I would say the Honda is slightly more reliable, as are Toyota's. If you need a good all weather vehicle safe for the family at a very reasonable price Subaru's are the best vehicle you can buy!
Not all of the 2020 Outback features are new. The turbo engine and the upgraded CVT are both a year old, starting in the 2019 Ascent. I haven't seen too many issues with either of them though I've looked high and low.
Ive read from owners that have had issues with their CVTfrom about 10 years old cars. Let’s be honest tou just don’t hear a plethora of people saying their automatics are dying or need warranty work in droves.
Some people just like Subarus. I live in central CA, where it never snows and rarely rains, but there are plenty of Subarus of all kinds and ages. As for reliability, it feels like some manufacturers, such as Toyota, over-engineer their cars, by which I mean, make them a little sturdier than is required, so they last a little longer. When they threw infotainment into the mix, people started having issues that analog cars hadn't. I think CR is separating those issues out into "usability", so that's better for reliability as a measure.
Just turned 180,000 miles on my 2014 Forester with a CVT. I beat the crap out of that thing and have only needed regular maintenance. Never owned a Suby before and I would recommend one now. I was particularly impressed with the tire wear and gas mileage. Only zonk would be that it seems to drink oil..not leak, but use it. So long as I watch the oil levels when I gas up, it just keeps going.
Touch screen technology is a huge distraction for drivers. And, it's not an easy task to play with it while you driving. I hope they will realize this issue and take back the manual option. Thanks!
It's amazing how car manufacturers forcing us into touchscreen instead of physical buttons in new models despite so many complaints from customers. Here we are years later when new cars sales are plumeting and customers prefer to buy used cars instead because newer cars were developing touchscreen everywhere while reliability of new models vs old ones often was neglected (ie. Subaru Outback replaced classic cheap thermostats with thermo control module with some electrical parts which are common point of failure in dozen thousands miles and module is not cheap to replace). I hope the manufactures will do reality check and start listening customers needs again if they like to sell new cars. We like reliable car with physical buttons for most functions, Infotainment is OK as addition to buttons and not replacing every possible button by the touchscreen. Thank you!
For a reliable manual tranmission car my first choice would be Mazda and second choice would be Honda. Stay far away from VW GTI! Also Kia/Hyundai have horrible, weak clutches in their manual transmissions, but they have good automatic transmissions.
What's wrong with VW GTI? I have had an 08 Mazda 3 and 17 GTI, both since new. The Mazda was giving me problems after the first couple of months requiring 4 unscheduled dealer visits in its first 2 years. The GTI has been literally flawless in its first 2 years thus far. Well, other than a co-worker recently putting a scratch on it while pulling out of her parking space. That's it. My story is just an anecdote, but reliability concerns of current-gene GTIs are greatly exaggerated.
Better answer for last question. 2015 Golf TDI with manual 45 MPG, blast to drive, and full engine and exhaust warranty until 2026 and 162K miles. Quiet and Best in class ride
Interesting discussion on how not to buy a first year/re-freshed car - then they go on to talk about how they generally like the new 2020 Outback and it's easy to live with.
I own a 2019 Outback but I wouldn't want a new one. I won't buy a car that has on-screen HVAC controls. No way. Physical knobs for temp and fan speed are a must-have feature. Also, it seems like Consumer Reports is always saying that Subarus have perfect reliability. But that just isn't true. Their turbos tend to blow head gaskets and their CVT transmissions have had lots of problems, historically anyway.
I would love to get the new outback but cannot based on the infotainment system. It’s ridiculous to have to go into said system to adjust the the heated seat setting. That alone is enough for me not to consider. What are these companies thinking?!?
@@jonnyfish76 it is for the kids......Gee I have a 11.9 IPAD in my car......Yes, I wish it had regular knobs and dials (mechanical) heater controls since I change the fan speed and direction every few minutes
"...70 percent of new Subaru vehicles are now the object of recalls or service campaigns within two years of being purchased, noting that the “permissible limit” should be around 10 percent." www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2019/06/report-outlines-how-subaru-is-coping-with-quality-control-issues/
@@LlyleHunter They are NOT an agency.....they are a non profit company...And for crumdaggy...they buy all car model every year to report on likes/dislike, changes etc so you , their subscriber can be informed when you purchase a vehicle that year. My family and I have been subscribers since 1977.
OK well tell me why our 2020 has been in the shop on and off for a total of about 2 months, because the infotainment system keeps going down, the navigation goes down, eyesight goes down with great regularity. They have done numerous software updates, replaced the CCU, gone through and checked every connection and cable, yet the problem persists. We love Subarus but we're ready to shove this one somewhere. We are way past being patient. A new $40K+ car should not be this much trouble. We did not have any of this trouble with our 2018, but we traded to get the turbo engine.
I hate to NOT quote the exact source*, but I read yesterday a list of the 15 most expensive cars to own/operate. Down the list at the 12 spot was the Forrester. I could hardly believe it. But, as a shopper for my first non-Honda, I could not be more disappointed to take Subaru off my list of options. (*KBB, I think)
eb1888 My partner and I drove a Honda HRV. The dealership WAS horrible and all sorts of sales tactics trying to pressure us into buying the vehicle. For the price and what you got and it wasn’t worth it. And I rode in the passenger seat while he drove the vehicle and I almost puked because the passenger seat vibrates so poorly so harshly that I got sick sitting there. the faster he went to worse it got. the dealership tried to say it was a fluke but I have a hard time believing that because you can feel it get worse the faster we went. pass on that vehicle hard pass.
eb1888 so I edited my post because I was clearly drinking the night I posted it and voice text clearly didn’t understand me. It looked like a bad Chinese to English translation. Sorry. My bad.
I get why other car publications often recommend VWs (nice interiors, good driving dynamics, upscale styling), but don't VWs have known and significant reliability issues? I wouldn't have expected CR to be seduced by initial driving impressions. Every Jetta I've ever driven from a rental car agency has been a box of creaks and rattles. And given their reputation, I've also been surprised to find highly featureless, cheap feeling interiors compared to base Hyundais and Kias, for example. Granted I'm in a rental car, so we're talking base models (but so was the questioner). Every person I've ever known to own a VW, has also had weird, difficult to diagnose/fix electrical problems. But yeah, they drive nicely. Direct, good feeling steering and acceleration. It's just all the other stuff (plus diesel gate) that makes VW recommendations hard to swallow, IMO.
Marc Bertucco uh oh. I have an 18 Jetta S, so far, so good. True, it has less features than my old Hyundai did, but it drives better, , faster and better on gas. Let’s see how it holds up. I have a friend with a ‘14 Jetta 5 speed. The inly problem he had was the ignition switch.
Marc Bertucco Hi! FWIW the GTi seems to be much higher quality with no creaks. I have a Mark 6 GTi and other than a few things all covered by warranty it has been very good.
I bought a Jetta, what a nightmare. VW made me a great offer and 0% financing on a Passat, so after a year I got the Passat. It died 5 miles out of warranty. They were horrid cars to own. Reliability made them unsafe. My sunroof always opened on its own to the max position every time it rained.
2010-2014 Outback 3.6R is a great car with a bulletproof 5spd transmission. I believe that's also the last year they offered the manual with the 2.5l engine.
I tried the New turbo outback when my 2018 3.6 had it's fuel pump recall work done. They engine is economical but buzzy. I do not like the stop engine start feature the way it's setup and feel it cuts off to quickly. The 3.6 engine in my current outback and my 2010 Legacy will be missed. This will likely be my last Subi.
as an owner of a '17 Forester XT Touring (loaded) I can assure you that in my year, it's definitely Subaru's software that lags - seat position memory loses its place, power tailgate balks, cannot turn off stereo while in Reverse, nav screen auto zoom usually wrong, cannot carry key in pocket because inadvertent unlock stays unlocked forever, endless beeping if you shift to Park after engine shutoff rather than before, etc. etc. On the other hand, except for one loose exhaust manifold nut early on, all mechanicals have been perfect for 49,000 miles including 10,000 miles of trailer towing.
Andy K This is overly dramatic. You knew the car came with this stuff so why did you buy it? I played with all the parts of it before I purchased the car And I knew what I was getting into. I question your sanity if you purchased the car and didn’t test any of the features and then traded it in because oh my God it’s too much for me.
I have had my 2019 Forester as an all-new model for a year now. I chose it because of Android Auto and standard LED headlights over the outgoing model. I haven't had any teething issues with it other than an update for the infotainment system. Even that was just the radio presets getting lost. So (knock on wood), I feel pretty fortunate to be free of major first-model-year issues that a lot of cars seem to have. I really like the Outback and would have gotten that if it was available back then.
I test drove '19 Forester and Outback models past summer. I really wanted to wait for the '20 OB refresh. But I went and drove a new '19 Passport Touring and I brought it home that day. It just felt so nice to drive. I've owned '08 Pilot, '12 Ridgeline and still have '13 Crosstour-EXL, so I do like Honda's. But I traded in a '15 Highlander for this Passport. Nothing wrong with that HL, just wanted more safety features in a newer auto. I do prefer a larger SUV, Passport gives me that. I've read some pretty bad issues some owners have had with their new Passports. At 3800 miles so far, no issues but a strange intermittent front end clunk a few of us have. Will have that looked at with first oil change. Overall, I'm very happy with my Passport. The Highlander only had 22K miles on it when I traded it. So I have now qualms of getting another vehicle if my current one has issues or just bores me. And I still want to go test drive the new Outback, just to know. peace, e
No matter what a manufacture does, the nav screen console is either not informative or not, not flexible enough, but when it is flexible, it is too much. You cannot have it both ways.
The 2020 Outback screen is bigger however when using the car play the screen is shared with the radio and it becomes a very small display for the car play features such as maps navigation and the phone info. On the 2020 screen the font is very small in the car play mode and there isn't a setting to enlarge the font. There isn't a setting to remove the visual lower radio on the screen to make the upper screen larger while using car play. The lower radio screen is redundant while using car play since the radio is also shown at the top of the screen. The visuals on the 2020 screen are not crisp and clear. The screen on the 2019 Outback is much nicer as the visual display is clear and the font is larger.
I purchased a fully loaded Outback in 2017 I had RAB problems from the first day. Took it into the Mid Michigan dealer 10+ times. All they did was reset the computer, deleting all the evidence, and sent me on my way. The refused to provide any paperwork to prove I was there. So, when the problems god MUCH worse, full engine shutdown towed into dealerships 4 x. I had no paperwork to prove I had a Lemon. The Subaru district manager talked to me in person, he knew I had many electrical problems with the car and Subaru should refund all my 4. But Subaru refused. Ended up trading the car in, still under warranty, STILL NOT FIXED. Lost over $14,000 because Subaru does not stand behind their cars, or the customer. Subaru treats the customer terribly. Do yourself a favor, buy a Toyota.
I had a very similar experience like yours. Subaru like to hide its problems from the regulators. Resist to comply with Lemon Laws. This is its way of having everyone sharing the Love!!!!!!
Your article To Get the Most Reliable New Car, It Pays to Wait, suggests not to buy new models. Here is my question. Honda is introducing CR-V hybrid early next year. The gasoline CR-V has been more or less the same since 2017 or 2018, and hybrid is going to be based on the gasoline model. On the CR-V hybrid, Honda will use, as far as I understand, the same hybrid system they have used for several years on Accords. So, how new will the CR-V hybrid be? Do you consider it a new model which a prudent buyer should avoid?
Consumer Reports I like for a lot of reasons, but their reliability data does miss things at times. For example, on their site, Subaru transmissions are great - get perfect scores on all their models. However in real life, they are failing left and right in snow environments and off-road. The CVT's torque converter is failing, costing thousands of dollars? Don't believe me, and want to believe CR? Here is a list of videos on TH-cam right now showing the massive amounts of failures occurring on the latest Subarus: th-cam.com/users/results?search_query=subaru+cvt+transmission+problems
Why stop there?Add in the oil burning fiasco (A coworker of mine is on his THIRD replacement engine!) Headgasket nightmare (NEVER resolved) and two NEW catastrophic engine recalls last month. "Bad infotainement' is the LEAST of a Subaru owners problems.
Sam S Yes. You make an important point that has bothered me as a prospective Subie owner. On the one hand the Internet and many seemingly authoritative voices are concerned about CVT and Head Gasket issues. On the other hand there are a TON of OBs and other Subies on the road, people luv em, I don’t see them breaking down by the side of the road all over the NE USA anyway. How concerned should I be about buying a 2020 OB?
@@vanceshaw3675 It depends what you do with your Subaru and its CVT to be honest. For those who truly go off road a lot, or operate in snow over 30 days a year (unplowed roads not plowed), you are stressing your transmission more and problems occur. However, if you are rarely in deep snow and never go off roading, it will last a lot longer. Basically, the cars are still decent but for heavy off-road and snow use, they don't hold up so well anymore. All those videos I linked to are under heavy loads - they are not people in Florida driving around. They are in harder situations and burning out their transmissions. As you might imagine, Subaru has an image of hard working cars. Just that is not so true anymore, unfortunately. Head gaskets are less of an issue now, but they will and do burn oil. My parents own a 2014 and 2015 Outback and while the ignition failed on one of them, and a sun visor broke on another, and both burn small amounts of oil after 50,000 miles, they run well. They are both on the CVT but don't experience hard operating conditions. They should be okay. Best of luck.
@@pressrolls I did not mention it because while oil burning remains an issue, I am not seeing as many head gaskets going particularly after 2010 on the Legacy, and after that on the redesigned FJ engines. I own a 2013 Legacy and yes, it burns some oil but I can compensate for it as it is a little less than a quart between oil change every 5000 miles, but no head gasket issues and I am nearly at 100,000 now. Parents on their older Fosters when they bought them in 2010 owned them for four and five years, putting nearly 100,000 on them - no head gasket issues and one burned some oil. So yes, it is still an issue but no failures of any kind. The changes made to the FJ engine seem to have reduced that problem greatly, but the CVT is a new can of worms for those who go off road or in deep snow.
@@Buc_Stops_Here Honestly, most people i know, and a lot of my neighbors seem to trade their cars every 5 years or 100,000 miles. The people I know who got burned by a Subaru bought them 2nd, 3rd owner because of the "Reputation" and then got stuck with a huge repair bill!
New technology is a list of new things that will break. There is a huge unserved group of consumers who want a simple car that is reliable. No bells, no whistles, just get me to work and back.
Don't buy the first year of a re-design. So no one buys the first year, and the second year becomes the first year. Update: don't buy the first year and don't buy the second year.
You don't "unlock keys" Love your work CR, but it's quite a feat to put together a roundtable discussion that's slightly LESS exciting than just reading a spreadsheet of the survey results.
In 2019 was"...the biggest recall Subaru has ever seen. Some 1.3 million Subaru Forester SUVs, Impreza sedans and wagons, WRX and STI sedans, and Crosstrek SUVs were recalled in March for an issue apparently stemming from contaminants in common household products such as cosmetics, fabric softener and car polish that could cause a brakelight switch malfunction. Word to owners should have been passed along starting in late April, but if you still haven’t repaired your Subaru, know that dealers only have to replace the brakelight switch as a fix." Cars dot com "...70 percent of new Subaru vehicles are now the object of recalls or service campaigns within two years of being purchased, noting that the “permissible limit” should be around 10 percent." Thetruthaboutcars
You get used to the display screen pretty fast, I bought my wife a 2019 Forrester Sport, ( entirely made in Japan), I just bought a 2020. Outback Onyx XT,(assembled in Indiana, engine and transmission made in Japan)I was sitting in my outback warming up, and the side of the seat that houses the seat controls, just popped, and the seat went down on that side a bit, and that plastic peace on the side was unattached and cracked off the seat in several places? I hope that’s not going to keep happening, like it’s a design flaw? I really love this car !
Wow, after test driving '19 Forester and 4cyl/6cyl OB's, I so wanted to wait for the '20 OB refresh to buy one. Next week I went and drove a '19 HOnda Passport Touring and I brought it home. Kinda glad now. No issues at all with the Passport, great ride.
It's evident Consumer Reports is biased to the Subaru brand. It's the most researched car in their organization and of course they have to please the masses by giving this car too much credibility. Let's talk about their engine issues such as excessive oil consumption, head gasket issues and problems with their CVT. Of course the panelists can choose to give automakers the benefit of the doubt as to why I question some of their commentary. CR is a resource for automotive research instead of "the" source.
In a few more months a Highlander Hybrid capable of 33/34 mpg is coming to market. If you really want a utility/family vehicle built in Indiana, it seems like a much better choice than an Outback.
I'm curious about the usable cargo space in a Highlander vs an Impreza. A 2012-2017 Impreza yields 36 mpg with no hybrid tech. On top of that, Toyotas hybrids are insanely expensive. $50K for 30mpg?! Heck no. I notice my girlfriend's 05 Highlander appears much wider than the new Highlanders, almost as if shrinkflation is existing on the cars too..
Ha. I just got a 2020 Outback Limited and 2 reasons I went with Outback instead of my Toyota (past) were towing capacity (2700 lbs) and the big screen infotainment. I hated Mazda skinny long screen or even the Hyundai's was not as good. It is a very personal thing. I am a pilot so everything in an EFIS like screen is all good for me. The dude complains is not even that old. Come on man. My concern is fuel economy given by EPA real, the stupid start/stop engine thing and if it can match the longevity/reliability of Toyotas I have owned. It certainly drives and rides better than Toyotas
As a former owner of a 2011 and 2014 Forester and now a 2017 Outback, was interested in what they had to say. Generally agree. Not a lot of difference between all 3 of them. The Outback is longer , lower and wider and slightly more refined. Disagree about the roof cross rails. The Outback can only be set at either 30 or 40 inches apart.. Forester rails can be set at almost any distance. Must get a newer roof carrier as my old one needs the rails at not much more than 24 inches. Also a lot of info is displayed at the top of the dash on the Foresters while the same info on the Outback is very low on the dash , requiring you to take your eyes well off the road. One more thing; many people have a "hate" for CVTs. I think they are just fine.My '11 Forester was a manual while the other 2 are CVT. The CVTs give much better gas mileage.
your '11 Forester I think had an EJ25 engine, while the '14 and the '17 Outback are FA25, the significantly reengineered engine design that optimized fuel economy (while creating the recent oil consumption issue because of looser piston rings). I don't think it's fair to ascribe your mileage to the transmissions alone.
Thanks Mark. Don't know the designations of the engines on my 3 Subaru's, but they are all identical , I think. I know up to and including 2010, the 2.5 was a belt driven SOHC with a the oil filter mounted low. All 3 of mine were the chain driven DOHC with the oil filter mounted high and forward. The 2011 was an oil burner. Had to add oil 3 times between Nova Scotia and Florida. The 2014 was somewhat better. My 2017 Outback , which I got in June (74000km), will go 10,000 km without having to add. It will drop a bit but I like to keep it on the full mark, so I add a little. Both CVT models can get around 7.5l /100 km while the 2011 manual would be around 8.5. If I remember correctly, the manual was turning around 2500 rpm at 100 kph while with the CVTs ,the engine could turn as low as 1500 rpm. Think this accounts for the difference. What do you think?
Reliability of modern cars is much better than older cars. I think modern tech and safety is a more important factor in selecting a car than reliability. That means the newly redesigned models are a better choice even if they cost more.
I don't give a hoot about new technology. I buy used cars (Honda/Toyota) and wait for the new technology for several years after it comes out. Let others amortize the cost of new cars and new technology.
The Toyota Hilux has been the best selling vehicle in Australia for several years now (Ford Ranger is second). Last time I looked, we aren't Third World 😂😂
Subarus have come a long way since almost leaving U.S. market in the early 90s. Styling, ride and interior comforts, from the utilitarian days of the Loyal wagon days before the Outback. Personally still do not care for Subaru’s. Still think they are underpowered (some on CVT) and engines prone to head gasket failure around 100k. While this seems more prevalent with 6 cyl.
when the one guy start criticizing the infotainment you could feel the other two starting to apply energy to slow his roll... Subaru's mktg $ at work here? Basically they are allowed to state a few glancing criticisms but nothing that would be sustaining in nature to create doubts.
CR is biased towards Subaru....they are always biased towards models they personally like. I have a friend with a 2013 Outback and the engine needed replacing, wheel bearings, etc. I have read plenty of issues with various Subaru models and the issues are plenty. What in the world is CR basing their predicted reliability on? I drive a 2006 Honda Element. We bought my son a 2006 Element. Both needed new starters and new window motors.....that is it....both are reliable daily drivers....but never a CR "Best Buy." I like CR and use them as a general reference but it is clear they have bias towards models the writers like.
I purchased a new Outback in 2017. It had RAB and many other electrical problems from the start. I had it in the shop 10 times for repair. Went a total of 42 days without my car. It was a Lemon. Had to have it towed into the dealer no less than four times. Even the district service manager told me to contact Subaru Customer service to get a full refund, as they could not figure out what is wrong with the car. After months of being given the run around, Subaru customer service did not refund my money as they should have. I traded my car in, still under warranty, still not fixed. I lost over $14,000 because Subaru does not stand behind their cars. Toyota is looking better all the time.
I sold, Managed, the number 2 largest store in America. 20 years No one makes a better AWD SUV than Subaru, Butt ugly kinda but great car. Colorado sells more subs than any other maker.
I didn't care for the answers that were given about reliability. Through the many years that I have been driving and looked through the Consumer Reports, there is always a manufacture that has poor brakes or transmissions or something year after year. In fact they become known for having this defect. Why is that even possible? 😕
@@normt5463 My cousin just spent $4500 on his Malibu for a transmission. Turns out GM has TSB's for catastrophic failures on the 08-12 Malibus/similar platforms. He was not covered by any warranty.
Everything in life, no One can please Everybody.... Can you please Everyone that works around yourself ??????? Even Man and his wife is sometime Fuss and Fight 😂
How do you give a company like Subaru top 10 billing for reliability...on a brand that has NOTHING but well known problems? CVT nightmares, headgasket problems that have gone on for decades, the oil burning lawsuits, engine replacements, oil leak issues that have never been resolved, the BRZ/FRS recall fiasco, and last month 2 more serious/catastrophic engine related recalls and a NEW class action suit for their garbage windshields - on and on. Reading some of the similar comments below, we must ask you? Are you speaking to the RIGHT owners? Or are you accepting payola from the "hot hand" right now? Because NOBODY could get it this wrong.("Subaru sales are on fire so lets go with it!") I used to put stock in your publication before the Internet. Today with the Internet you are nearly irrelevant to me.
Whoever asked the question about the Toyota Hilux .. The question was a literally the answer, There's definitely a specific reason we have the Tacoma and they have the Hilux
As much as so many people complain that the US doesn't get the Hilux, the Tacoma is still basically owns the midsized market in the US and has for many years.
I don't understand this idea that people in the US don't use small pickups for actual work. Who drives that kind of vehicle just to show off? Isn't that more of a big truck thing?
Avoid any vehicle that has a CVT transmission.... failures lead to complete replacement, not rebuilds. Especially Nissan's JATCO built CVT units. 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
CVTs are junk. My bike fits inside my 2002 Focus ZX3 manual Who needs a rack. 18 years , running great. This guy use a rack so he can say , look I ride a bike !😂
Where are the results? I watched the whole video and waited to find out the results of the reliability survey and you never gave them to us. You were talking about a Toyota Hilux or something. The little you did talk about the Outback was just your personal review of the vehicle. This is a clickbait video and should be removed. I don't understand what is going on. And the man on the far right is not a speaker. He mumbles and every third word is "uh". That doesn't help my frustration with this deceptive video.
This isn't a review of the car or the results if their survey. I don't know if either is their videos, but it's on their website, and has been for decades. It goes by car, but there's also the general brand reliability list. www.consumerreports.org/cars/ www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/who-makes-the-most-reliable-cars/
You Complain about the infotainment system, look on you tube There are many videos on how to set it up with your preference too short cuts. And you complained about you have to push this menu, while driving and what a pain it is, Why have you not done this before you go and drive on the road, see what works for you and make changes, while not driving on the road. I get nothing, from your talking points. get on the road, get in the car, and show us. Your table talking points is boring! You need to watch others, like Red Line Review, or Alex Auto, and learn how to do a proper report on something that where going to to give our life savings, to buy one of the essentials, that we need in our life! And adding one more thing, this was a Subaru Video. And you managed to get involved talking about another car? Jim
Mike H - Please tell me that you realize the entire purpose of these videos is to encourage you to subscribe or buy Consumer Reports magazine. LOL! This is suppose to get you to interested enough to buy.
Subaru Outback discussion starts @ 6:25
They need media coaching. And some journalists...don't bury the lead
Thank you.
🙂
I traded in my 2013 Explorer for a 2020 Outback. Fell in love at the test drive. CVT has not been an issue. Infotainment has not been an issue. So much is voice control. I purchased the remote start app... $75 for three years. I start it up when I wake up and let her warm up and then again before I leave the house. Can preprogrammed all of your HVAC settings. The o my minimal complaints I have are 1) move the screen up a bit to increase storage. 2) randomly lose car play... might be the cable. Some of these comments about trading in there 2020 because of the system or overly dramatic. The car is fantastic the systems are fantastic. I’m 38 almost 39 and this is car 16 or 17 for me.
Please see this link to the 2020 Outback problems th-cam.com/video/0AcRLyxYHqI/w-d-xo.html
Just today when I woke up at 7:00am and went to start my 2020 Outback and my Girlfriends 2017 F-150. I kept checking it every 15min to see if the ice has melted off the windshield. The F-150 was clear of ice on ALL windows in 30 min so she left to go to a friends house while my Subaru still had thick ice on all windows. At 8:15 ( a full hour and a half) I had to leave no matter what only the very bottom middle of the windshield had ice had melted. So even though it running for an hour and 15 min I still had to scrape lice crazy to get the pile of junk to drive while my girlfriends F-150 had just as much ice on it was completely clear in 30 min.
I'm leasing this Subaru and will turn t in at lease end to purchase any other kind of vehicle besides Subaru. But still got another year left.
@@mr-alexknight6578 because you’re too lazy to take your ass out to scape the ice off your windows? LOL that’s why Subarus are bad? You’re a complete moron. Also, Who lets their car run for an hour and a half to remove the ice off their window…. Tons of common sense there, idiot.
We’ve been buying Subaru’s since the early 2000s. Excellent cars. We will continue to buy them as long as they keep making outstanding cars. We are VERY loyal and VERY fond of the brand.
The main thing I need out of an infotainment system is an easy way to turn it off at night.
They love the new outback, great interior, views, drives better than ever - like a luxury car, the turbo engine is best option, they hate the new jumbo infotainment display. This matches other magazine and internet reviews of the 2020 outback
Better summary than the video
I thought I was going to hate the touchscreen, but after driving the car, I found my old man eyes had a much easier time seeing the large graphics for the fan, modes, heated seats, etc, especially at night when the tiny red pictographs on the old model are hard to see. You can use voice commands for a number of functions as well.
I've 2015 Subaru Outback, and I've 100K miles already. I still love it. And, I'll get a new 2020 Outback soon, and still keep my 2015 Outback.
have you had any major problems since?
Any cvt issues?
Here, a proud owner of a 2013 Subaru Outback which I replaced in 2016 with another Subaru Outback, both with a 6-speed manual transmission. I absolutely loved these cars perfectly suited for the harsh Canadian winters.
Too bad the manual transmission is no longer available ...
So I bought a crosstrek!!
Skip to 6:26
Ivan Vojt mvp
In my adult life I have used Consumer Report's to buy all of my cars. They have been completely accurate. I worked in the auto industry for years. I don't buy anything they don't recommend. I go for the car/suv with the most bang for the buck. I used to be a Honda person but Subaru is a much better compromise. I would say the Honda is slightly more reliable, as are Toyota's. If you need a good all weather vehicle safe for the family at a very reasonable price Subaru's are the best vehicle you can buy!
Not all of the 2020 Outback features are new. The turbo engine and the upgraded CVT are both a year old, starting in the 2019 Ascent. I haven't seen too many issues with either of them though I've looked high and low.
Plenty of problems with the new 2.4T and CVT too in thr Ascent.
Ive read from owners that have had issues with their CVTfrom about 10 years old cars. Let’s be honest tou just don’t hear a plethora of people saying their automatics are dying or need warranty work in droves.
Some people just like Subarus. I live in central CA, where it never snows and rarely rains, but there are plenty of Subarus of all kinds and ages.
As for reliability, it feels like some manufacturers, such as Toyota, over-engineer their cars, by which I mean, make them a little sturdier than is required, so they last a little longer. When they threw infotainment into the mix, people started having issues that analog cars hadn't. I think CR is separating those issues out into "usability", so that's better for reliability as a measure.
Just turned 180,000 miles on my 2014 Forester with a CVT. I beat the crap out of that thing and have only needed regular maintenance. Never owned a Suby before and I would recommend one now. I was particularly impressed with the tire wear and gas mileage. Only zonk would be that it seems to drink oil..not leak, but use it. So long as I watch the oil levels when I gas up, it just keeps going.
What about the new Kia Forte sedan base model? You can get them brand new for $18,000 here in Canada with a manual transmission.
Fortes in the US aren't sold with manuals anymore. I think the Soul is the only Kia left with a manual option, and only for the base model
Touch screen technology is a huge distraction for drivers. And, it's not an easy task to play with it while you driving. I hope they will realize this issue and take back the manual option. Thanks!
It's amazing how car manufacturers forcing us into touchscreen instead of physical buttons in new models despite so many complaints from customers. Here we are years later when new cars sales are plumeting and customers prefer to buy used cars instead because newer cars were developing touchscreen everywhere while reliability of new models vs old ones often was neglected (ie. Subaru Outback replaced classic cheap thermostats with thermo control module with some electrical parts which are common point of failure in dozen thousands miles and module is not cheap to replace). I hope the manufactures will do reality check and start listening customers needs again if they like to sell new cars.
We like reliable car with physical buttons for most functions, Infotainment is OK as addition to buttons and not replacing every possible button by the touchscreen. Thank you!
I have a 2005 Outback 3.0R but it only has about 70K miles on it.
For a reliable manual tranmission car my first choice would be Mazda and second choice would be Honda. Stay far away from VW GTI! Also Kia/Hyundai have horrible, weak clutches in their manual transmissions, but they have good automatic transmissions.
What's wrong with VW GTI? I have had an 08 Mazda 3 and 17 GTI, both since new. The Mazda was giving me problems after the first couple of months requiring 4 unscheduled dealer visits in its first 2 years. The GTI has been literally flawless in its first 2 years thus far. Well, other than a co-worker recently putting a scratch on it while pulling out of her parking space. That's it. My story is just an anecdote, but reliability concerns of current-gene GTIs are greatly exaggerated.
nsbioy
That’s because you have a 2008 Mazda which is unreliable. Mazda started to become reliable from 2015+
Better answer for last question. 2015 Golf TDI with manual 45 MPG, blast to drive, and full engine and exhaust warranty until 2026 and 162K miles. Quiet and Best in class ride
Just bought a used 2019 with 47K miles.
Hoping to go all the way to 300K with it! Any tips or advice??
Interesting discussion on how not to buy a first year/re-freshed car - then they go on to talk about how they generally like the new 2020 Outback and it's easy to live with.
Right on about the seat heating. I live in Canada so I just leave it on at the first level.
I own a 2019 Outback but I wouldn't want a new one. I won't buy a car that has on-screen HVAC controls. No way. Physical knobs for temp and fan speed are a must-have feature. Also, it seems like Consumer Reports is always saying that Subarus have perfect reliability. But that just isn't true. Their turbos tend to blow head gaskets and their CVT transmissions have had lots of problems, historically anyway.
Crosstrek!
I have a 2018 Regal TourX 2.0T with torque vectoring AWD and wouldn't want a 2019 Outback.
Good for you it doesn't mean it's crap you should buy a Pinto perhaps better LOL What about the 2019 has the same Issues about Head Gasket ?
@@DanielField2023 The old 6 cyl was blowing head gaskets occasionally. Get it right.
I would love to get the new outback but cannot based on the infotainment system. It’s ridiculous to have to go into said system to adjust the the heated seat setting. That alone is enough for me not to consider. What are these companies thinking?!?
Don't let them scare you. It's literally two buttons. Are you that inept? Lmaoooo
The Onyx XT is AWESOME.
@@jonnyfish76 it is for the kids......Gee I have a 11.9 IPAD in my car......Yes, I wish it had regular knobs and dials (mechanical) heater controls since I change the fan speed and direction every few minutes
Wow, my 2018 still has buttons.
Why do you buy newly redesigned vehicles if they are inherently less reliable? Should not CR wait one year as well?
As a consumer reporting agency they should buy them as a consumer alert to warn consumers of the pitfalls
crumdoggy CR does not base reliability data on their vehicles. Those are just for test purposes
"...70 percent of new Subaru vehicles are now the object of recalls or service campaigns within two years of being purchased, noting that the “permissible limit” should be around 10 percent."
www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2019/06/report-outlines-how-subaru-is-coping-with-quality-control-issues/
Good point. Everybody, stop buying first year models and wait until they junk them, then buy the exact same model in year two. 🤪
@@LlyleHunter They are NOT an agency.....they are a non profit company...And for crumdaggy...they buy all car model every year to report on likes/dislike, changes etc so you , their subscriber can be informed when you purchase a vehicle that year. My family and I have been subscribers since 1977.
OK well tell me why our 2020 has been in the shop on and off for a total of about 2 months, because the infotainment system keeps going down, the navigation goes down, eyesight goes down with great regularity. They have done numerous software updates, replaced the CCU, gone through and checked every connection and cable, yet the problem persists. We love Subarus but we're ready to shove this one somewhere. We are way past being patient. A new $40K+ car should not be this much trouble. We did not have any of this trouble with our 2018, but we traded to get the turbo engine.
Has Subaru correct it's issue with the head gaskets for the 2019 models
They don’t even use the same engine type anymore. I haven’t heard anything regarding the FA engines having head gasket issues.
Camry AWD will be a solution to those dismayed by Subaru’s automatic transmission problems.
I hate to NOT quote the exact source*, but I read yesterday a list of the 15 most expensive cars to own/operate. Down the list at the 12 spot was the Forrester. I could hardly believe it. But, as a shopper for my first non-Honda, I could not be more disappointed to take Subaru off my list of options. (*KBB, I think)
Honda Fit for a base commuter car with excellent interior utility. 3 cubic feet less fold down room than an HRV. Just tint the rear windows.
eb1888 My partner and I drove a Honda HRV. The dealership WAS horrible and all sorts of sales tactics trying to pressure us into buying the vehicle. For the price and what you got and it wasn’t worth it. And I rode in the passenger seat while he drove the vehicle and I almost puked because the passenger seat vibrates so poorly so harshly that I got sick sitting there. the faster he went to worse it got. the dealership tried to say it was a fluke but I have a hard time believing that because you can feel it get worse the faster we went. pass on that vehicle hard pass.
eb1888 so I edited my post because I was clearly drinking the night I posted it and voice text clearly didn’t understand me. It looked like a bad Chinese to English translation. Sorry. My bad.
I get why other car publications often recommend VWs (nice interiors, good driving dynamics, upscale styling), but don't VWs have known and significant reliability issues? I wouldn't have expected CR to be seduced by initial driving impressions. Every Jetta I've ever driven from a rental car agency has been a box of creaks and rattles. And given their reputation, I've also been surprised to find highly featureless, cheap feeling interiors compared to base Hyundais and Kias, for example. Granted I'm in a rental car, so we're talking base models (but so was the questioner). Every person I've ever known to own a VW, has also had weird, difficult to diagnose/fix electrical problems. But yeah, they drive nicely. Direct, good feeling steering and acceleration. It's just all the other stuff (plus diesel gate) that makes VW recommendations hard to swallow, IMO.
Well said.
Marc Bertucco uh oh. I have an 18 Jetta S, so far, so good. True, it has less features than my old Hyundai did, but it drives better, , faster and better on gas. Let’s see how it holds up. I have a friend with a ‘14 Jetta 5 speed. The inly problem he had was the ignition switch.
Marc Bertucco Hi! FWIW the GTi seems to be much higher quality with no creaks. I have a Mark 6 GTi and other than a few things all covered by warranty it has been very good.
I bought a Jetta, what a nightmare. VW made me a great offer and 0% financing on a Passat, so after a year I got the Passat. It died 5 miles out of warranty. They were horrid cars to own. Reliability made them unsafe. My sunroof always opened on its own to the max position every time it rained.
@@apache-yaquibrown4060 Because they ran wiring harness under the roof and water went and effected the wiring. Great German engineering :)
I want a non CVT subaru outback and i want it now!!!.
Exactly, the old 4 speeds were bullet proof. I have a hard time trusting the CVT.
Juanitux 2014 Outback with the 5 speed auto and mechanical handbrake. Last year of it
Juanitux 3 liter outback flat six
2010-2014 Outback 3.6R is a great car with a bulletproof 5spd transmission. I believe that's also the last year they offered the manual with the 2.5l engine.
Had an 09 XT with 4 speed. Will stay away until CVT is gone.
I tried the New turbo outback when my 2018 3.6 had it's fuel pump recall work done. They engine is economical but buzzy. I do not like the stop engine start feature the way it's setup and feel it cuts off to quickly. The 3.6 engine in my current outback and my 2010 Legacy will be missed. This will likely be my last Subi.
Take a shot every time the guy on the right says uhhh
I'm going to trade my 2020 Outback in 20-minutes before the transmission warranty expires.
The hardware in these cars aren’t keeping pace with the software if you will. In my car, like so many, the software manages the transmission.
as an owner of a '17 Forester XT Touring (loaded) I can assure you that in my year, it's definitely Subaru's software that lags - seat position memory loses its place, power tailgate balks, cannot turn off stereo while in Reverse, nav screen auto zoom usually wrong, cannot carry key in pocket because inadvertent unlock stays unlocked forever, endless beeping if you shift to Park after engine shutoff rather than before, etc. etc. On the other hand, except for one loose exhaust manifold nut early on, all mechanicals have been perfect for 49,000 miles including 10,000 miles of trailer towing.
Guy in purple looks like he hasn't had a good night's sleep in 35 years.
I wanna know how the hell does he still have all his hair..
KGP MEDIA HOMEE Must be thanks to some product CR has been testing
Just traded in my 2020 Outback due to infotainment bugs and too much touch screen interactions required.
Andy K This is overly dramatic. You knew the car came with this stuff so why did you buy it? I played with all the parts of it before I purchased the car And I knew what I was getting into. I question your sanity if you purchased the car and didn’t test any of the features and then traded it in because oh my God it’s too much for me.
It's fine, a little lag occasionally, but fine.. not for drama queens
Are you guys still giving good ratings to motorhomes because they have more room than a car?
I have had my 2019 Forester as an all-new model for a year now. I chose it because of Android Auto and standard LED headlights over the outgoing model. I haven't had any teething issues with it other than an update for the infotainment system. Even that was just the radio presets getting lost.
So (knock on wood), I feel pretty fortunate to be free of major first-model-year issues that a lot of cars seem to have. I really like the Outback and would have gotten that if it was available back then.
I test drove '19 Forester and Outback models past summer. I really wanted to wait for the '20 OB refresh. But I went and drove a new '19 Passport Touring and I brought it home that day. It just felt so nice to drive. I've owned '08 Pilot, '12 Ridgeline and still have '13 Crosstour-EXL, so I do like Honda's. But I traded in a '15 Highlander for this Passport. Nothing wrong with that HL, just wanted more safety features in a newer auto. I do prefer a larger SUV, Passport gives me that.
I've read some pretty bad issues some owners have had with their new Passports. At 3800 miles so far, no issues but a strange intermittent front end clunk a few of us have. Will have that looked at with first oil change. Overall, I'm very happy with my Passport. The Highlander only had 22K miles on it when I traded it. So I have now qualms of getting another vehicle if my current one has issues or just bores me. And I still want to go test drive the new Outback, just to know. peace, e
Can’t wait to get my 2020 next week.
No matter what a manufacture does, the nav screen console is either not informative or not, not flexible enough, but when it is flexible, it is too much. You cannot have it both ways.
The 2020 Outback screen is bigger however when using the car play the screen is shared with the radio and it becomes a very small display for the car play features such as maps navigation and the phone info. On the 2020 screen the font is very small in the car play mode and there isn't a setting to enlarge the font. There isn't a setting to remove the visual lower radio on the screen to make the upper screen larger while using car play. The lower radio screen is redundant while using car play since the radio is also shown at the top of the screen. The visuals on the 2020 screen are not crisp and clear. The screen on the 2019 Outback is much nicer as the visual display is clear and the font is larger.
The Apple car play screen is small when in use because that is what Apple wants. They will not allow it to be displayed any larger on that screen.
There was a firmware upgrade. Apple CarPlay is now full screen. And system is much more responsive.
I purchased a fully loaded Outback in 2017 I had RAB problems from the first day. Took it into the Mid Michigan dealer 10+ times. All they did was reset the computer, deleting all the evidence, and sent me on my way. The refused to provide any paperwork to prove I was there. So, when the problems god MUCH worse, full engine shutdown towed into dealerships 4 x. I had no paperwork to prove I had a Lemon. The Subaru district manager talked to me in person, he knew I had many electrical problems with the car and Subaru should refund all my 4. But Subaru refused. Ended up trading the car in, still under warranty, STILL NOT FIXED. Lost over $14,000 because Subaru does not stand behind their cars, or the customer. Subaru treats the customer terribly. Do yourself a favor, buy a Toyota.
I had a very similar experience like yours. Subaru like to hide its problems from the regulators. Resist to comply with Lemon Laws. This is its way of having everyone sharing the Love!!!!!!
Every infotainment system needs a plug on the back of it so you can unplug it and throw it in the glovebox.
Your article To Get the Most Reliable New Car, It Pays to Wait, suggests not to buy new models. Here is my question. Honda is introducing CR-V hybrid early next year. The gasoline CR-V has been more or less the same since 2017 or 2018, and hybrid is going to be based on the gasoline model. On the CR-V hybrid, Honda will use, as far as I understand, the same hybrid system they have used for several years on Accords. So, how new will the CR-V hybrid be? Do you consider it a new model which a prudent buyer should avoid?
Can i project my apple phone on to the infotainmemt screen and watch videos, TH-cam, etc.?
This video is a bunch of gibberish.. what are the real problems with the 2020 outback and legacy?
Consumer Reports I like for a lot of reasons, but their reliability data does miss things at times. For example, on their site, Subaru transmissions are great - get perfect scores on all their models. However in real life, they are failing left and right in snow environments and off-road. The CVT's torque converter is failing, costing thousands of dollars? Don't believe me, and want to believe CR? Here is a list of videos on TH-cam right now showing the massive amounts of failures occurring on the latest Subarus: th-cam.com/users/results?search_query=subaru+cvt+transmission+problems
Why stop there?Add in the oil burning fiasco (A coworker of mine is on his THIRD replacement engine!) Headgasket nightmare (NEVER resolved) and two NEW catastrophic engine recalls last month. "Bad infotainement' is the LEAST of a Subaru owners problems.
Sam S Yes. You make an important point that has bothered me as a prospective Subie owner. On the one hand the Internet and many seemingly authoritative voices are concerned about CVT and Head Gasket issues. On the other hand there are a TON of OBs and other Subies on the road, people luv em, I don’t see them breaking down by the side of the road all over the NE USA anyway. How concerned should I be about buying a 2020 OB?
@@vanceshaw3675 It depends what you do with your Subaru and its CVT to be honest. For those who truly go off road a lot, or operate in snow over 30 days a year (unplowed roads not plowed), you are stressing your transmission more and problems occur. However, if you are rarely in deep snow and never go off roading, it will last a lot longer. Basically, the cars are still decent but for heavy off-road and snow use, they don't hold up so well anymore. All those videos I linked to are under heavy loads - they are not people in Florida driving around. They are in harder situations and burning out their transmissions. As you might imagine, Subaru has an image of hard working cars. Just that is not so true anymore, unfortunately. Head gaskets are less of an issue now, but they will and do burn oil. My parents own a 2014 and 2015 Outback and while the ignition failed on one of them, and a sun visor broke on another, and both burn small amounts of oil after 50,000 miles, they run well. They are both on the CVT but don't experience hard operating conditions. They should be okay. Best of luck.
@@pressrolls I did not mention it because while oil burning remains an issue, I am not seeing as many head gaskets going particularly after 2010 on the Legacy, and after that on the redesigned FJ engines. I own a 2013 Legacy and yes, it burns some oil but I can compensate for it as it is a little less than a quart between oil change every 5000 miles, but no head gasket issues and I am nearly at 100,000 now. Parents on their older Fosters when they bought them in 2010 owned them for four and five years, putting nearly 100,000 on them - no head gasket issues and one burned some oil. So yes, it is still an issue but no failures of any kind. The changes made to the FJ engine seem to have reduced that problem greatly, but the CVT is a new can of worms for those who go off road or in deep snow.
@@Buc_Stops_Here Honestly, most people i know, and a lot of my neighbors seem to trade their cars every 5 years or 100,000 miles. The people I know who got burned by a Subaru bought them 2nd, 3rd owner because of the "Reputation" and then got stuck with a huge repair bill!
Greg should look at a mustang ecoboost with a manual transmission
New technology is a list of new things that will break. There is a huge unserved group of consumers who want a simple car that is reliable. No bells, no whistles, just get me to work and back.
Don't buy the first year of a re-design. So no one buys the first year, and the second year becomes the first year. Update: don't buy the first year and don't buy the second year.
2020 is not new, ( Outback) it’s the same engine that in the large Subaru.
You don't "unlock keys"
Love your work CR, but it's quite a feat to put together a roundtable discussion that's slightly LESS exciting than just reading a spreadsheet of the survey results.
Am a CR member and never got a survey request. Wot happen?
It may be arriving by email
In 2019 was"...the biggest recall Subaru has ever seen. Some 1.3 million Subaru Forester SUVs, Impreza sedans and wagons, WRX and STI sedans, and Crosstrek SUVs were recalled in March for an issue apparently stemming from contaminants in common household products such as cosmetics, fabric softener and car polish that could cause a brakelight switch malfunction. Word to owners should have been passed along starting in late April, but if you still haven’t repaired your Subaru, know that dealers only have to replace the brakelight switch as a fix." Cars dot com
"...70 percent of new Subaru vehicles are now the object of recalls or service campaigns within two years of being purchased, noting that the “permissible limit” should be around 10 percent." Thetruthaboutcars
A Toyota Hilux, 4x4, M/T...boooooooy I'd get one.
Majority of the video was not about the subaru or its reliability
You get used to the display screen pretty fast, I bought my wife a 2019 Forrester Sport, ( entirely made in Japan), I just bought a 2020. Outback Onyx XT,(assembled in Indiana, engine and transmission made in Japan)I was sitting in my outback warming up, and the side of the seat that houses the seat controls, just popped, and the seat went down on that side a bit, and that plastic peace on the side was unattached and cracked off the seat in several places? I hope that’s not going to keep happening, like it’s a design flaw? I really love this car !
Wow, after test driving '19 Forester and 4cyl/6cyl OB's, I so wanted to wait for the '20 OB refresh to buy one. Next week I went and drove a '19 HOnda Passport Touring and I brought it home. Kinda glad now. No issues at all with the Passport, great ride.
It's evident Consumer Reports is biased to the Subaru brand. It's the most researched car in their organization and of course they have to please the masses by giving this car too much credibility. Let's talk about their engine issues such as excessive oil consumption, head gasket issues and problems with their CVT. Of course the panelists can choose to give automakers the benefit of the doubt as to why I question some of their commentary. CR is a resource for automotive research instead of "the" source.
Do we do first here or are we too mature for that?
I agree with the previous model year purchase. I purchased a new 2 year left over model for the price of used OTD.
Wait...a Outback has 160,000 miles and is falling apart and you are no going to fix it?
In a few more months a Highlander Hybrid capable of 33/34 mpg is coming to market. If you really want a utility/family vehicle built in Indiana, it seems like a much better choice than an Outback.
I'm curious about the usable cargo space in a Highlander vs an Impreza. A 2012-2017 Impreza yields 36 mpg with no hybrid tech. On top of that, Toyotas hybrids are insanely expensive. $50K for 30mpg?! Heck no.
I notice my girlfriend's 05 Highlander appears much wider than the new Highlanders, almost as if shrinkflation is existing on the cars too..
Ha. I just got a 2020 Outback Limited and 2 reasons I went with Outback instead of my Toyota (past) were towing capacity (2700 lbs) and the big screen infotainment. I hated Mazda skinny long screen or even the Hyundai's was not as good. It is a very personal thing. I am a pilot so everything in an EFIS like screen is all good for me. The dude complains is not even that old. Come on man. My concern is fuel economy given by EPA real, the stupid start/stop engine thing and if it can match the longevity/reliability of Toyotas I have owned. It certainly drives and rides better than Toyotas
Boy the new entertainment is great .... young guy get with it .... it is just not that difficult to adapt to and at this level is amazing
The screen is AWESOME. People love to whine bc they don't have one! I love mine!Heated seats all the way up to the shoulders bro!!
Clickbait. Where are the survey results?
Tacoma98 You have to go to consumerreports.org. And pay
As a former owner of a 2011 and 2014 Forester and now a 2017 Outback, was interested in what they had to say. Generally agree. Not a lot of difference between all 3 of them. The Outback is longer , lower and wider and slightly more refined. Disagree about the roof cross rails. The Outback can only be set at either 30 or 40 inches apart.. Forester rails can be set at almost any distance. Must get a newer roof carrier as my old one needs the rails at not much more than 24 inches. Also a lot of info is displayed at the top of the dash on the Foresters while the same info on the Outback is very low on the dash , requiring you to take your eyes well off the road. One more thing; many people have a "hate" for CVTs. I think they are just fine.My '11 Forester was a manual while the other 2 are CVT. The CVTs give much better gas mileage.
your '11 Forester I think had an EJ25 engine, while the '14 and the '17 Outback are FA25, the significantly reengineered engine design that optimized fuel economy (while creating the recent oil consumption issue because of looser piston rings). I don't think it's fair to ascribe your mileage to the transmissions alone.
Thanks Mark. Don't know the designations of the engines on my 3 Subaru's, but they are all identical , I think. I know up to and including 2010, the 2.5 was a belt driven SOHC with a the oil filter mounted low. All 3 of mine were the chain driven DOHC with the oil filter mounted high and forward. The 2011 was an oil burner. Had to add oil 3 times between Nova Scotia and Florida. The 2014 was somewhat better. My 2017 Outback , which I got in June (74000km), will go 10,000 km without having to add. It will drop a bit but I like to keep it on the full mark, so I add a little. Both CVT models can get around 7.5l /100 km while the 2011 manual would be around 8.5. If I remember correctly, the manual was turning around 2500 rpm at 100 kph while with the CVTs ,the engine could turn as low as 1500 rpm. Think this accounts for the difference. What do you think?
Reliability of modern cars is much better than older cars. I think modern tech and safety is a more important factor in selecting a car than reliability. That means the newly redesigned models are a better choice even if they cost more.
I don't give a hoot about new technology. I buy used cars (Honda/Toyota) and wait for the new technology for several years after it comes out. Let others amortize the cost of new cars and new technology.
How about demand new cars be reliable. That’s what engineers get paid for. Instead u excused this terrible industry practice.
YES! This is going in the direction of the mess the new Ascent is in.
www.ascentforums.com/forums/subaru-ascent-complaints-issues-and-problems.137/
New cars even brand new models are reliable, better than ever. Recently redesigned models are also much safer.
The Toyota Hilux has been the best selling vehicle in Australia for several years now (Ford Ranger is second). Last time I looked, we aren't Third World 😂😂
I hate to be the one who tells you this.........
Aussies are tough and fun.
Never Subie again...My06 Outback XT Limited swayed side to side at freeway speeds...tried to go out of control...Google Subaru Outback Ghostwalking
Did u get a wheel alignment?
Subarus have come a long way since almost leaving U.S. market in the early 90s. Styling, ride and interior comforts, from the utilitarian days of the Loyal wagon days before the Outback. Personally still do not care for Subaru’s. Still think they are underpowered (some on CVT) and engines prone to head gasket failure around 100k. While this seems more prevalent with 6 cyl.
I almost brought the 2020 Outback with the turbo engine until I find out It cannot equipped with 360 degree camera.
Yeah I hope they add it next year... Even the larger Ascent doesn't have it, making it harder to park.
All Subaru won’t come with 360 camera, same with Honda.
Did you cry?
When would you talk about the Mercedes-Benz GLB?
.... but the headgaskets on the SOHC?
Subaru fixed the head gasket problems with a new design gasket in 2012
when the one guy start criticizing the infotainment you could feel the other two starting to apply energy to slow his roll... Subaru's mktg $ at work here? Basically they are allowed to state a few glancing criticisms but nothing that would be sustaining in nature to create doubts.
You hear 👂 that JDPower , that’s how it’s done ✅.
Toyota ranks high in both. There is no way Mazda should be ranked #2 in CR. It’s average at best.
Brian no CVTs in Mazda, better than Nissan. Would definitely take Mazda over subaru.
CR is biased towards Subaru....they are always biased towards models they personally like. I have a friend with a 2013 Outback and the engine needed replacing, wheel bearings, etc. I have read plenty of issues with various Subaru models and the issues are plenty. What in the world is CR basing their predicted reliability on? I drive a 2006 Honda Element. We bought my son a 2006 Element. Both needed new starters and new window motors.....that is it....both are reliable daily drivers....but never a CR "Best Buy." I like CR and use them as a general reference but it is clear they have bias towards models the writers like.
I purchased a new Outback in 2017. It had RAB and many other electrical problems from the start. I had it in the shop 10 times for repair. Went a total of 42 days without my car. It was a Lemon. Had to have it towed into the dealer no less than four times. Even the district service manager told me to contact Subaru Customer service to get a full refund, as they could not figure out what is wrong with the car. After months of being given the run around, Subaru customer service did not refund my money as they should have. I traded my car in, still under warranty, still not fixed. I lost over $14,000 because Subaru does not stand behind their cars. Toyota is looking better all the time.
I sold, Managed, the number 2 largest store in America.
20 years No one makes a better AWD SUV than Subaru,
Butt ugly kinda but great car.
Colorado sells more subs than any other maker.
I had a subaru 2018 and was a lemon. Seat squeaking, rattle like crazy.
I didn't care for the answers that were given about reliability. Through the many years that I have been driving and looked through the Consumer Reports, there is always a manufacture that has poor brakes or transmissions or something year after year. In fact they become known for having this defect. Why is that even possible? 😕
Honda has poor brakes and bad V6 ttansmission for like ever. Subaru always crack their windhields and have weak CVT transmissions.
@@normt5463 My cousin just spent $4500 on his Malibu for a transmission. Turns out GM has TSB's for catastrophic failures on the 08-12 Malibus/similar platforms. He was not covered by any warranty.
They didn't even talk about Subaru AWD, or the CVT. These guys don't know what they're talking about.
hey ugh gabe ugh spit ugh it out
drink every time he says "errrr" 😂
well uhh, he will uhh, when uhh, he's ready
Everything in life, no One can please Everybody.... Can you please Everyone that works around yourself ??????? Even Man and his wife is sometime Fuss and Fight 😂
How do you give a company like Subaru top 10 billing for reliability...on a brand that has NOTHING but well known problems? CVT nightmares, headgasket problems that have gone on for decades, the oil burning lawsuits, engine replacements, oil leak issues that have never been resolved, the BRZ/FRS recall fiasco, and last month 2 more serious/catastrophic engine related recalls and a NEW class action suit for their garbage windshields - on and on. Reading some of the similar comments below, we must ask you? Are you speaking to the RIGHT owners? Or are you accepting payola from the "hot hand" right now? Because NOBODY could get it this wrong.("Subaru sales are on fire so lets go with it!") I used to put stock in your publication before the Internet. Today with the Internet you are nearly irrelevant to me.
still better than chevys.
big waste of money thos touch screens
please stop allowing gabe to speak. anyone who says uh or um after every single word should not have a public speaking part of their job
All the microphones are pointed at their chests.
Whoever asked the question about the Toyota Hilux .. The question was a literally the answer, There's definitely a specific reason we have the Tacoma and they have the Hilux
As much as so many people complain that the US doesn't get the Hilux, the Tacoma is still basically owns the midsized market in the US and has for many years.
I don't understand this idea that people in the US don't use small pickups for actual work. Who drives that kind of vehicle just to show off? Isn't that more of a big truck thing?
Avoid any vehicle that has a CVT transmission.... failures lead to complete replacement, not rebuilds. Especially Nissan's JATCO built CVT units. 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
Uhhh...ummm
uhh
CVTs are junk. My bike fits inside my 2002 Focus ZX3 manual Who needs a rack. 18 years , running great. This guy use a rack so he can say , look I ride a bike !😂
Where are the results? I watched the whole video and waited to find out the results of the reliability survey and you never gave them to us. You were talking about a Toyota Hilux or something. The little you did talk about the Outback was just your personal review of the vehicle. This is a clickbait video and should be removed. I don't understand what is going on. And the man on the far right is not a speaker. He mumbles and every third word is "uh". That doesn't help my frustration with this deceptive video.
This isn't a review of the car or the results if their survey. I don't know if either is their videos, but it's on their website, and has been for decades. It goes by car, but there's also the general brand reliability list.
www.consumerreports.org/cars/
www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/who-makes-the-most-reliable-cars/
Uhhhhh
Pablum.
You Complain about the infotainment system, look on you tube There are many videos on how to set it up with your preference too short cuts. And you complained about you have to push this menu, while driving and what a pain it is, Why have you not done this before you go and drive on the road, see what works for you and make changes, while not driving on the road.
I get nothing, from your talking points. get on the road, get in the car, and show us. Your table talking points is boring! You need to watch others, like Red Line Review, or Alex Auto, and learn how to do a proper report on something that where going to to give our life savings, to buy one
of the essentials, that we need in our life! And adding one more thing, this was a Subaru Video.
And you managed to get involved talking about another car? Jim
How about some links to those set-up videos? This isn't a review video, by the way. It's just a discussion video.
Clickbait much ?!?? What reliability results unless it was fellatio to subaru, mazda and toyota again?
Mike H - Please tell me that you realize the entire purpose of these videos is to encourage you to subscribe or buy Consumer Reports magazine. LOL! This is suppose to get you to interested enough to buy.
Subaru unreliable gutless cheap cvt crap. Not a long time keeper. My mk5 golf tdi 13yo not a single problem.