What year did Subaru go to CVT?
The modern Subaru CVT, branded Lineartronic, began appearing in the United States with the 2010 model year. Subaru had earlier explored belt-type CVTs in Japan, but the North American rollout of Lineartronic started around 2010 and has since expanded across much of the lineup.
Context and timeline
To understand Subaru’s transition, here is a concise timeline of how and when the company moved to CVT technology, including the spread to various markets and models.
- Late 1980s to early 1990s — Subaru conducts early belt-type CVT experiments in Japanese-market models as part of ongoing CVT development.
- 2009–2010 — The modern Lineartronic CVT is introduced to North American-market vehicles for the 2010 model year, expanding beyond earlier automatic transmissions.
- Mid-2010s onward — CVT becomes widely adopted across most Subaru passenger models in major markets, with refinements to improve efficiency and reliability.
These milestones illustrate the shift from early CVT trials to broad, global implementation of Subaru's CVT technology across its lineup.
How Lineartronic works
Subaru's CVT, branded Lineartronic, uses a belt-and-pulley system designed to provide a continuous range of gear ratios, optimizing engine efficiency and providing smooth acceleration. The transmission is calibrated to work with Subaru’s boxer engines and all-wheel-drive layouts, with software controlling the ratio to balance performance and economy.
Benefits and considerations for owners
- Pros: Often better fuel economy in real-world driving, smoother acceleration, and compatibility with all-wheel-drive systems that Subaru emphasizes.
- Cons: Some drivers note different throttle feel or engine sound during rapid acceleration, and maintenance or repair costs can differ from traditional automatics in some regions.
In practice, Subaru’s CVT has become a central part of the brand’s driveline strategy, aiming to deliver efficiency without sacrificing the brand’s hallmark all-wheel-drive capability.
Summary
Subaru’s move to CVT began with late-1980s/1990s experiments in Japan and reached a broad rollout in the United States with the 2010 model year. Since then, the Lineartronic CVT has become common across most of Subaru’s lineup, reflecting a global shift toward belt-type transmissions designed to improve fuel economy while supporting all-wheel drive.
