What year did Subaru Forester get CVT transmission?
The Subaru Forester first adopted a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in the 2010 model year in the United States. Since then, the CVT has been the common transmission choice for most Forester trims, branded by Subaru as Lineartronic.
This article traces when the CVT appeared in the Forester and how its availability evolved across generations and markets, from the 2010 introduction to the present day, including regional variations and notable refinements to the system.
Historical timeline of CVT adoption in the Forester
The following timeline highlights key years and milestones in the Forester’s CVT history. The information focuses on the U.S. market, with brief notes on global availability where relevant.
- 2010 model year: Forester gains a CVT (Lineartronic) for most trims in the United States, replacing the older automatic configurations in several variants.
- 2010–2013: CVT becomes the predominant automatic transmission in North America, with ongoing refinements to smoothness and efficiency.
- 2014–2018: Continued CVT improvements, including enhancements to efficiency, response, and drive feel across updated Forester models.
- 2019–present: CVT remains the standard transmission on the vast majority of Forester models, with Subaru continuing software and hardware refinements to optimize performance and fuel economy.
The timeline shows a clear shift to the CVT starting with the 2010 model year, a trend that has persisted through multiple generations with ongoing improvements rather than a return to traditional automatics in the lineup.
Markets and transmission variations
While the move to CVT in 2010 is widely documented for the U.S. market, Subaru’s global adoption follows a similar timeline across many regions. Some nuances exist based on regional specs, engine choices, and regulatory environments, but the CVT (Lineartronic) has become a defining feature of the Forester in most markets.
- Global trend: Most markets adopted the CVT from around the 2010 model year onward, with regional configurations tailored to local conditions and emissions targets.
- Engine and trim differences: In some generations, certain trims or turbo/engine variants were offered with different transmissions depending on the market, though CVT remains the standard in the majority of Forester models.
Overall, the CVT has been the backbone of the Forester’s transmission strategy since 2010, evolving through refinements while maintaining the central goal of improved fuel economy and smooth operation.
What this means for buyers today
For contemporary Forester shoppers, expect a Lineartronic CVT in most trims, with Subaru’s tuning aimed at balancing efficiency and drivability. The company has continued to update the CVT’s software and, when applicable, related hardware to enhance response, hill handling, and overall reliability, all while preserving the vehicle’s all-wheel-drive capability.
In short, the Subaru Forester’s CVT debuted with the 2010 model year and has remained a central feature of the lineup ever since, evolving through generations but not returning to a traditional automatic as the standard choice.
Summary
The Forester first introduced its CVT in the 2010 model year and has relied on Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT across most trims ever since, with continuous refinements to improve efficiency and driving experience.
