I have a 2011 Outback 2.5i, with 150K miles. I off road in it and road trip in it. It is quite literally a member of the family. My fiance and I will drive 7 hours to Mammoth sleep in the back, snowboard and drive home. This car has saved hundreds on hotel rooms. We also love to through the kayak on the roof and find off road trails down to the river. Out dog joins us on all of our adventures. I absolutely abuse this car but I love it and have never even worried about being stuck somewhere. In 7 years Ive replaced my front struts, and all the control arm bushings. Nothing more that routine maintenance to everything else. (I am now a Subaru Ambassador, and will be a lifelong Subaru driver.)

9:26 for drag race.

I am a retired dealer rep for a major chain of dealers in Denver. I bought hundreds of Subarus at dealer auctions over the years along with other makes. When they went to the cvt transmission it was a major mistake. Head gasket issues in older ones. I never was interested in owning one and drive a 2013 Toyota all wheel drive Highlander with the 3.5L--270hp V6. A much tougher machine with no issues and more room inside.

I said it once, I'll say it again: these are great all-around cars. They don't really excel at any one thing, they don't really suck at anything (power isn't as bad when you get lower altitudes), and you won't ever feel like you're missing something big

Nobody buys an Outback for speed.

One of your best videos in a long time. This was hilarious. I enjoyed it.

I have 2016 2.5i limited, and I have to say when the engine and CVT are cold is a dog to accelerate to highway speeds, once worms up is a different beast. Also it seems that is very comfortable at around 2200-2500 RPM band to accelerate. What is different that regular automatic transmission is that mashing gas pedal to the floor has different results than normally expected, it jumps rpm but slowly increases speed. What I like about CVT (once you get used to it)is that I can hold it at desired rpm level and the outback will accelerate to desired speed without transmission jumps. What I kind of hate is the delay between reverse and drive.

There’s a reason they have the 3.6 R engine as an option...

My wife's 2015 Outback, loaded with luggage and kids, climbing up to Flagstaff, AZ (7000 ft. above sea level), was downright dangerous. Won't do it again, and is part of the reason I wasn't unhappy to say goodbye to it. That said, it was a comfortable, solid vehicle that was amazingly inexpensive to own. Put a turbo 4 in it with a real transmission and you'd have a world beater.

This reminds me of my brother and I street racing, him in a 1980 Volare wagon with a slant 6 and automatic transmission and me in a 1981 Chevette, 4 cylinder with 4 speed manual transmission, epic battles in slow motion, so much fun.

I loved the juxtaposition of the cheery music at the beginning with Andre desperately trying to bring the car to a stop!

TFL does some really odd comparisons. I've done four round trips to FL (1550 miles one way) in my 2015 Outback and cruised at higher speeds (80-90MPH) all day. Never a problem with power. But really, testing Outbacks for speed and quickness? Why not test a Hummer for fuel economy?

When watching this and seeing the issue with the moulding around the roof-rack I went and looked at mine, no issue and it's a 2015. The sound of the tortured squirrel under the hood made me so glad that I went with the 3.6R. Fun review though.

Shifting a CVT shouldn't make it faster... keeping it at max Rpm SHOULD be the quickest way..

When its new vs old and you can't tell which is which

Next on The Fast Lane Car: Cargo capacity of the Lamborghini Aventador versus the Trabant. Trabant has more cargo capacity......Trabant wins! Trabant is the better car!

I want to see you guys do the classic head gasket test. What you do is drive that Subaru around until the head gasket fails, then you pay $1000 to have it fixed, then you sell it on Craigslist with the title: SUBARU OUTBACK FOR SALE HEAD GASKET DONE RECENTLY

Dre' was about to total his subie. Great fun video!

They clearly have completely different CVT tunes. One "Shifts" and the other kept it in the peak power range like a CVT should.

I think Subaru needs something better than this 2.5 but not quite the thirsty 3.6. A detuned, turboed 2.0 from the WRX would be a good option. Gas mileage would probably be the same, if you stay out of boost. But the extra 40HP/50ftlbs is a welcome addition. Slightly more expensive Premium fuel is a worthy sacrifice. There is just too big of a gap between 2.5 and 3.6, performance-and-fuel-consumption-wise.

Cracks me up that in US Subaru are called economical. In UK they are the opposite, I know as I have two Subarus.

Tell me why i thought the 2015 was the new one😂

Because Outback buyers are buying them for performance? Why not do a Prius drag race next.

Love it when Andre drives off the track

Superb so much fun well done 👍😊

Wife’s car is a 2012 Outback 3.6r.Just turned over 100k miles .Car has had only service work and recalls done . I have a shop that I repair cars in .2 problems that required repair .Wife’s old job required a commute on country roads .The radiator got plugged up with corn silage .This was at 82k.Removed the radiator and cleaned.Refilled it with the special blue coolant .Rear struts wore out and got bouncy.Ordered new Kyb from Rock Auto .Just replaced the spark plugs and cleaned the throttle body + air filter .The 3.6 is kind of quick but it usually gets 20 city 25 Highway.These cars feel kind of heavy .

Everyone keeps ragging on the CVT, but the purpose of a CVT is to find the best possible output combo for the engine at all times.

So, why not bring in a 3.6L 6 cyl? Oh, cause you want to make the Subaru look bad. Got it.

Great vid!! My family have owned Subie's for years. Mother picked up an 18 Outback but did the 3.6 after her 2.5 Forester. I've moved on to Wranglers

It's about time some car reviewers are critical of Subaru. Who wants to pay $30,000 Plus for a station wagon that could be beat by a 50cc scooter. With all of the mechanical problems they are having there is no reason for people to be so loyal to this brand.

Watching two Outbacks drag race each other reminds me of two Canadian transport trucks trying to pass one another on a four-lane highway. Could be years before one passes another if you're stuck behind them. 🤬

Suggestion: Load it up with the TFL crew and luggage etc. and see if it can hold the speed limit up the Ike gauntlet. Should be pretty entertaining!

“I needed all the runway” 🤣 oh Andre

Why is TFL hating on Subaru so much lately? They have off roading tests and zero to 60 tests for a family wagon. So many people are excited with these cars because they do 100 other things right. Why hate on subaru so much? I own a 2016 STi my father in law a 2015 outback. Just done our oil changes all these years no issues whatsoever and looking to get the ascent next as the family grows. Some of the safest cars there and the sti is fun to drive. Disappointed with TFL i must say. They see what videos get more views and they keep going hammering the same nail. C'mon get a life

Hi, I'd like to know if Subaru has improved it's engine reliability, specifically the head-gasket issue? Why does it cost so much to replace a seal, why do the seals fail before the rest of the car?

one of the reason that the 2018 is slower than the 2015 it's because the transmision mimics a regular automatic thus losing acceleration time when it mimic the shifts

I know you hate Subarus.. Everyone knows you hate Subarus.... Why not just rename your channel 👍

That is so funny, they ran out of a track BEFORE the Outback reached 60 mph.

I noticed that Roman's CVT kept the engine in the Powerband while floored and CVT'd itself to speed while Andre's faux shifted

In 2018, those numbers are unacceptable

what's that gadget using to time your acceleration ? is it connected to your computer in the car or how does that work ? I want to get one to test 0-100 and 1/4 etc.. ???

Big fan of the channel and the content . just feel like I need to say something that's been on my mind for some time now. I Realy enjoy Andre he has that special something when it comes to conveying his opinion and talking to you like you've been friends for years and an honesty that's genuine #teamAndre

I have to say guys... it's pretty rewarding to race my slow outback with almost 400k of miles and memories next to a friend driving a similar one.

Would be interesting to compare your 2.5 flat four to a 3.6 flat six model.

Same thing you did with the new Subaru Outback but against an older Subaru Outback (if you can find one) with either a manual or an automatic transmission (did they make older cars without CVT?).

This video showed me how annoying it would be to listen to that CVT wind that engine up trying to reach highway speed.

It's the terrible launch speed. When you press the throttle on that CVT from a standing stop it just sits there and does nothing until the revs come up a bit. If you go back to an older Subaru with the 4 or 5 speed automatic. That's kind of where they shined that tip in throttle from stop was really good they launched pretty good. Off the line torque was pretty good even with the 4-cylinder. The CVT doesn't have a wide enough total ratio to give you both a good launch and enough top end. So they tweaked it for more top-end so the highway fuel economy was decent. And the fuel economy is pretty amazing for a heavy not very aerodynamic tall car. Honestly if I needed the car that size and I did not need all-wheel-drive I probably get a Prius V. Much more fuel efficient and about the same size interior.

You guys need a new place to test vehicles. You are always running out of room.

How are the CVTs for the Forster, crosstreks, and Impreza? I’ve watched some videos on manual transmission foresters. They look like so much fun. maybe you guys could track down a manual forester and give a review

Hey TFL! This comment is more for Tommy, but I was thinking about your Subaru Outback slip tests a lot over the past few weeks. I think you should find a previous generation Outback with the same 2.5 Boxer, BUT it has a regular 5-speed automatic instead of the CVT which I still think is the culprit. I believe the 2005-2009 was the last generation Outback to have regular automatics. The next generation that started in 2010, I think they offered a 6-speed automatic in the 3.6 version in 2010 and 2011 model years. The 2.5 from 2010 on was CVT. I think the 2005-2009 model year Outbacks would pass your slip tests easily, especially the test with only one rear wheel with traction and on an incline. The CVT could barely spin that one rear tire! I think it would also make it up goldmine hill no problem and with no transmission overheating warning flashing on the cluster. Thanks. Tom

my 2012 outback with the 6 speed manual 0-60 was a 10.3........but thats also the old EJ253 and not the FB25.... I really want to get my hands on a 2013 6MT so I can see how much better the FB25 is..............

Imo the Subaru 2.5 liter is a very outdated engine for this day and age. It really should have at least 200 HP - 170 HP from a 2.5 was acceptable in the 90s. I can’t understand why Subaru still sticks to this engine - these days we have small turbocharged engines with more power, flat torque curves and better fuel economy.

Hey TFL! can you find a 3.6R outback for drag race? and off road?

Without watching the video yet, I do. I do believe how slow the outback is.

all i could think of when andre went off the end is his wife watching this video and seeing that lol

love your sweater And'e!

I guess the 0-60 isn’t a huge deal, but here in UT we have several freeway entrances into I-15 with an incline. So if you want to merge on the freeway smoothly without holding anyone up and keeping the flow of traffic (70-80mph) , you want to be giving your car some of the beans so you can merge without being a nuisance. That’s where I see an issue with these Subaru’s. They’re slow...I seem to get stuck behind one quite frequently while I try to merge onto the freeway because my 12 year old truck with 250k miles can get up to freeway speeds better than a newer outback or Forrester.

"I went a little bit over." 😣😂

the shade is strong over here

Subaru replaced my rack under warranty on my 2016 Limited. The molding was torn and peeling.

I've never timed my Kona 1.6T AWD with 7 speed dual clutch transmission 0-60. but I think it is faster than this although it's no WRX. I almost bought a Crosstrek, but it seemed so sluggish, the Kona seemed peppy in comparison even at 5-6 thousand feet in the Sierra of Northern California.

what kind of cameras are you using? I like those.

Want to see you guys tow with them next!

There's overspray on that roof rack rail if you look closely on the rubber from being masked off. Obviously repainted and then reassembled incorrectly to cause that gap at the front. It's so unfortunate your family wagon isn't a complete rocket..

What is the 0-60 time for a 70's beetle? I tried the newer Subaru and I didn't buy it because of the sluggish CVT. I had a 2006 Outback and loved it, but the 2016 I looked at was just so slow especially when cold.

I have a 2015 Forester XT. These guys should take into account that the CVT is notoriously slow from a standing start and a drag race does not reflect real world performance when driving. The "in gear" performance is better that the drag race suggests.

I actually didn’t take the video as Subaru bashing, scrutinizing, mocking or whatever. Outbacks are one of the best and fastest selling cars. So why not see if there’s a difference from model to model. This was very interesting because there were improvements to the 2018 Outback CVT. TFL didn’t point it out, but I’m glad they did this drag race because it shows a car guy like me, how much the improved CVT belt and other little upgrades made. Yes, the drag race was slow, but the 2018 pulled away from the 2015 quite a bit.

DId your revs hold at peak performance? Mine revs like proper automatic - revs go up & down with a gear change - not smooth.

That was tough to watch. Subaru owners are not going to be happy.

Wow, these Subaru's are dangerously slow!

So many hurt Subaru fans.... They are boring cookie cutter cars. Yeah they work and last a long time. But they're also slow and basic af. Get over it. TFL is doing a good job. I enjoy the videos guys, keep it up.

new vs old and they of the same generation? put the CVT up against something with a 2.5 and a traditional auto.

On my 2nd OB. 2016 2.5L, now 70k miles. I think this thing speeds with ease in interstates. 80+ no problem. Doesn't loose speed on hills. I never floor it to take off so the cvt revs out. I have no problem accelerating from a stop lights and often seem to out accelerate the other cars beside me. My biggest annoyance is front seat comfort could be better.

Test next the brand new vs old crosstrek that would be interesting video

2011 Outback 2.5i with 107,000 miles here. The only issue I have had is a bad wheel bearing, which was replaced under warranty. On long highway trips, I average 31-32mpg, and I don't really have any issue merging or passing traffic, you just have to realize what power you have, and work with it.

Looks dangerous how slow they are

Y'all should do an Alltrack, Outback, and TourX mashup...

It amuses me seeing the turtle slow 0-60 time because I see a good majority of people driving these cars fast cutting up traffic like there Mario Andretti or something. I would be surprised if they are getting better than 20mpg the way they drive. Lol

From the sound of the engines, you weren't always consistent run to run with the CVT mode. I've taken my own '17 Forester XT to the drag strip and found that "I" mode (with constant droning 5800 rpm) was definitely faster than "S" and "S#" modes which have rev variation and fake "gear shifts", automatically doing what you were doing with the shift paddles. My results with turbo and at sea level were much better than yours, averaging 1/4 mile 15.5 sec @ 92 mph. On the other hand I've never had even one tank better than 30 mpg, it's premium, and my overall cumulative mpg is 22 for 25,000 miles.

You should do a comparison of the Outback to the Regal Tour X.

2014 tow rate is 3300 lbs. 2015 tow rate 1100 lbs. what went wrong.

My 2004 Forester XT does 0-60 in 5.8 seconds, that’s why I still own it. Still has space, still goes off-road but also can outrun its own shadow. Lack of performance to this degree can be a safety liability.

I would bet the AWD and the CVT has alot to do with it. It be nice if Subaru did what Toyota did with their transmissions. In toyotas the 1st gear is regular then from 2nd gear an up it all CVT. My experience with Subaru been when I had the 2016 OB 2.5 the usual MPG I would get is around 26 in my mixed 25 mile trip to work (one way). A good portion of that is Highway and its rush hour time so there is traffic will lots of slow downs. Let me tell you in the 4 you don't want to be passing unless you got plenty of room to passing. So my lease was up and over the summer I got the 2018 OB 3.6r so you know going into a 6 I knew that the 6 would be 5 mpg less than the 4. Do for me it meant spending just over a gallon of gas more per week. For me passing on the highway is important and the 6 does pretty well. I avg about 21mpg in my mix of highway and local commute. Highway alone it does get to 24 but that is in ideal case with consistent speed no traffic. Now I only have about 4k miles on it and I am told as time goes past 5k miles and 10k miles on it it will get better. We will see. Realistically I got the 6 for the passing ability and not for having to worry will I gain enough speed to get ahead of traffic to pass in the 4. Im worried about the electronics I mean it has head lights that turn when your turning and you cant turn that feature of like you could in the 2016.

That 2.5 is begging for a turbocharger.

Better to use the manual for 0-60 speeds, CVT is horrible for aggressive acceleration

A 4 cylinder NA car that weighs nearly 4,000 pounds is slow? Who knew? A 4 year old Japanese car with 70,000 miles has no mechanical issues? Shocking : /

I have a 2016 Outback, and their comments are spot on. While comfortable, relatively reliable, and efficient, I will never get another NA Subaru engine again

The 2018 CVT is probably retuned a little to get slightly more performance

Do a fill test. How much boxes/balls/bins/or whatever can the vehicle hold.

I lovingly refer to my 4 cyclinder Outback as GUTLESS. Other than that I love it :)

In short, no development in 3 years - can only assume that this car had only the traditional 3-year refresh (no major engineering changes).

You should do the In a Gauntlet with your crossovers.

You won’t believe no one buys an outback for its 0-60 🤔

Can you try racing against a Subaru Crosstrek? That would be a great competitor. Plus, The Crosstrek is more or just efficient as the Outback.

you probably see a lot of angry subaru owners here telling them that they’re clearly hattin subaru. well i won’t blame them though. they seems like they want the subaru to change their engines to v6 on some of its line up or make it turbo charge standard. but the thing is subaru is focus in practicality, efficiency and liability. i think subaru don’t really care about these youtube reviews. i believe subaru is focus on their loyal subaru owners to make more fuel efficiency as possible with touch of a safety features and their reliable awd system. i think TFL wants subaru to send them the new 2019 subaru outback 3.6 r to play around it. but subaru wont sent them i guess. so their best option is sell their old outback and buy a new one and review it.. with that being said.. i still gonna give these guys a thumbs up for continued reviewing these car and pushing the outback to limits showing how reliable these car are despite their dislike about this car. 😅

CVT...ugh...

Try towing with the long-term Outback

Wife has a 2014 Outback, our 4th Subaru. I have a 2005 Outback 3.0R engine, our 3rd Subaru. We drive these cars for their safety and reliability, not to set the world's land-speed record. Both keep up with traffic. If you want 0-60 performance get a Corvette then take it off road in the snow and see how it performs.

Guys do some journalism. Fuji industries was dead after Fukushima. Toyota bought them and remained the whole thing Subaru. Since 2011 they have been milking the Subaru name just like Daimler did to Chrysler. That's also why we have a 3 row Subaru. It's a shame cvt's are from Toyota too.

I just don’t trust a CVT, especially for someone like me who does 30,000kms a year (long commute to work)