What you need to know about the Mitsubishi CVT Transmission

Today Jon from our Marketing team explains all of the unique features with the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport CVT Transmission, including Hill Start Assist, low range, and the increased fuel economy.
In today's video, Jon takes you for a ride in his personal 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. He explained the details of the CVT Transmission and gives tips about how to adjust your driving style with this powertrain setup. He also explains the unique challenges of wintertime driving with a CVT.
McClinton Mitsubishi became a Mitsubishi dealer in 1989. We are one of the oldest Mitsubishi
dealers in the State of West Virginia and in the US. Learn more by clicking here: www.mcclintonmitsubishi.com/

[@vladimirignatiev4444]

Thank you, that's helpful. Especially about sports mode for uphills. It does make sense. As well as using low mode the snow

[@mcclintonauto]

It's our Pleasure. Please let us know if we can answer any other questions.

[@derickmc1]

CVT’s have been around for decades. Check-out DAF vehicles from the 60’s onwards.

[@rocketshiftgaming5693]

Apparently people say to change the cvt fluid every 30,000 vs the 50,000 recommended.

[@v10moped]

The infamous CVT problem was from a 2013 Nissan altima. And then the entire Nissan line got defamed by Scotty Kilmer's misinformation. Nissan and Mitsubishi are already on their 4th generation Jatco CVT which are obviously improved.

[@RatFace_MonkeyEar_FishEye]

Do you have any source for this info?

[@mradamp125]

Nissan and Mitsubishi use the same Jatco CVT transmissions via the RNM Alliance.

[@muhsinbustillo]

Sort of--Mitsubishi tunes their Jatco transmissions. They run FAR better than the Nissan CVT's, which are notoriously crap. The mits. CVT's are considerably more reliable.

[@Lightsylvan]

89,000 Miles on my mitsubishi outlander sport and I'm experiencing surging. Via lookup of service technical bulletin dated in 2020, the most likely solution is a CVT replacement or replacement of the belt in the CVT. I have done the maintenace per their specs, which is every 30,000 miles. I'am glad I bought the warranty + from white bear.

[@seankettledon1331]

Mine went out yesterday

[@petercheeminchong]

My ASX CVT no fun at all. But I don’t have any problem with it either. THUS , NO FUN NO BAD!

[@billl7625]

Yes,that is my understanding the Outlander has a Jatco made transmission. But software for trasmissin is flashed different,therefore no whining and better shifting.

[@wallyjniyah9720]

The software has nothing to help save your CVT when JATCO builds some of the worst quality CVT out there, no wonder Subaru starts making their own.

[@wallyjniyah9720]

@@kylemas2005 you're absolutely correct about the software improvement but most Mitsubishi suv like my 2018 outlander have been programmed to feel more powerful than they are, and that snap does weigh on the CVT, but my point is a bad quality and design cant be fixed through software, you can minimize the damage but it will stand no chance against a CVT from honda or toyota or even American brands for that matter. And Mitsubishi dont even freaking want you replacing fluid or filters on them CVTs. The manual doesn't mention anything about that. But certainly mention it for the v6 automatic transmission, that itself Makes it impossible to properly maintain them.

[@wallyjniyah9720]

@@kylemas2005 again I have to totally agree with you, but I just like well built powertrains and I prefer to change fluids and filters myself and Mitsubishi dont have much information on their cvt out there, nor do they make changing fluids any simpler by having a dip stick or easy to access filter and drain plug. Again you make a good point that it you dont abuse that CVT and you baby it and spend $1000s of dollars at dealership maintaining it then you may get lucky enough to clock +200k. But I also have a gen 2 prius that been abused with 300k and still going strong. And had a 4runner with 375k before is died. And in a market where toyota dont cost much more than many brands at least brand new. The choice is very easy. But when you compare mitsubishi then it's a different animal. I paid 25k for 2018 outlander LES new, compare that to at least a 35k toyota rav4 or 36k subaro outback, then it is a bargain even if only get 150k out of it.

[@wallyjniyah9720]

@@kylemas2005 I got an aamco near me, I just never felt comfortable taking it outside the dealership, I'll give those guys a try. Thanks for mentioning that. My Mitsubishi dealership sucks. And I hate those assholes, I had computer issue with my car last year. My car would drain the battery over night and I had to almost sue their ass to get my cat fixed even under warranty and I pray that I don't have to deal with any major issues again, but I had computer problems with my 2013 Ford taurus in the past as well and that dealership sucked too. Stealerships are there to scam you and rob you, that why I just appreciate any brand that makes it easy for me to do most the maintenance DIY !

[@wallyjniyah9720]

@@kylemas2005yes my V4 2018 Outlander doesnt have a dip stick for CVT to get that I'll have to upgrade to a V6 and yeat the manual doesnt th all much about the CVT and again it's just an extra 1000k but that fluid replacement may not be about to keep the damn thing going! I live that 10 years 100k warranty and I hope I keep my car under that for as long as I can

[@aresmaximus1]

Hill assist is with manual outlander too

[@wanelly]

Mitsubishi transmission, which is CVT, is freaking expensive. I was quoted $7500+ by the dealer for 2018 outlander sport 2.4L.

[@mickgatz214]

I got a ZG VRX Outander MY09. 244k and still no issues....(for now!) LOL These CVTs sound rather unreliable. When I bought it 2nd hand i couldn't find any infomations about CVT Let's see how much further it will go! The 3ltr V6 Mivec are known to be very reliable (450k + apparently) Cheers guys Mick

[@techten1012]

I am an uber/lyft driver with 2021 mitsubishi outlander. I have 82k miles. Zero issues. Never changed my transmission fluid and never will.

[@mcclintonauto]

I'm genuinely curious why you won't have your transmission fluid changed.

[@techten1012]

@mcclintonauto as an uber/left and long haul driver. I usually keep my vehicles for 4-5 years/100k miles max. I rarely spent any money on major services. Just one oil change every 10k miles, and tires roations from discount tires, and I keep on driving.

[@ethanhoff7772]

​@@techten1012I feel bad for the fool who buys your 100k poorly maintained cars

[@techten1012]

@ethanhoff7772 I feel bad too for the next person . But not my problem 😄

[@tech-tastic8649]

​@ethanhoff7772 why I don't recommend cvt cars in general near or over 100k miles

[@AldoFelt]

i got a 2019 outlander sport, looking to change my transmission fluid at 30k

[@mcclintonauto]

That's a good plan.

[@markheather1488]

Hi. Any problems so far with your Outlander cvt?

[@AldoFelt]

@@markheather1488 i sold the car. but i felt as the problems will come. Bought a kia

[@JCthedude601]

@@AldoFelt Now you can expect a fire problem with the KIA

[@garethevans4573]

Most cars will have cvts and as an old fashioned engineer how can they last

[@BeardedDaddyD]

Does it shift? Or stay at 1 rpm while the cvt shifts like a quad. I've driven other cvt cars and they shift like an automatic car. I test drove a 2014 outlander sport awd and the rpms raised to almost 4k, while accelerating, then just stayed there all the way up to 55mph. Is this normal?

[@erwinsabilala6014]

Mine also starting up to 2k rpm when starting, the thing is when you play the gas pedal, the rpm drops and feel the transmission do the job

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

Just Google how a CVT transmission works. There are a number of videos on You Tube explaining it.

[@gregg9672]

I hope its not the same cvt thats in the 2015 Outlander Sport

[@jtyree26]

I have a 2015 Outlander sport with 117,000 and the transmission is going out. It had recalls on the transmission I took it to the dealership they did the recalls it's still driving like crap now they want to charge me to do diagnostic on it. I just want a different car.

[@raymorin7726]

Did you ever change the fluid its is very important with a cvt

[@Beans4Prez]

Seems like within the last 2 years that Mitsubishi figured out the kinks on their CVT transmissions.

[@mcclintonauto]

I've had two Outlander Sports. Never had any transmission issues. But I totally understand why people are hesitant with them.

[@vicentesanchez911]

​@@mcclintonauto overall, would you recomend the outlander sport? I'm Considering to buy the 2024 model (RVR in Canada).

[@Vex-zz7br]

with Nissan's you have to change the fluid every 15k which rental places don't do and that causes the wine. They also are much more fragile and attention needing then the Mitsubishi CVT. You should change the fluid/filter in Nissans every 15k and every 20-25k in Mitsubishis.

[@chickenfarm09]

I thought they used the same Jatco units

[@OrganicFoxes]

Old comment but mitsubishi uses the same Jatco cvts that are in nissans. For example the Mirage uses the same cvt Jatco7 that is in the Versa and (Sentra 2013 - 2019) im assuming the outlander uses the same trans as the altima but I am not sure. The Phev outlander does not use a belt cvt though.

[@morebeer7673]

Nissan also turbo-charges most of their engines which causes much more strain of the CVT. Mitsu doesn't turbo-charge the Outlander or Mirage so much less strain and longer life if maintained well.

[@anthonyhamel3497]

I thought Mitsubishi and Nissan both use jatco cvt transmissions?

[@Prizm2356]

they do

[@Shaylesety]

They use Jetco which are cheaper and not as good as Aisin Toyota for eg are using.

[@midnightwind8067]

I am used to 40 mpg, these cvt are not an improvement. they do not last and are +5 k to replce about 60k miles, its junk.

[@russrtspooling7702]

My toyota cvt disagrees lol Asin FTW

[@Unrly37]

My toyota cvt failed at 84k. 2k miles after the dealer changed my fluid. My 2001 Mazda protege had 270k miles on its automatic trans and was still going when I sold it. When toyota charges 120 bucks a gallon for their fluid and its warranty lapses at 60k they are just wanting revenue at that point and this is how they get it. The upside of the Nissan and jatco stuff is the fluid is readily available unlike Toyota fluid, which FYI Aisin makes it and is much less expensive for the same exact thing. I’ll never own another car with one if I can’t service it without high tech gadgets to monitor fluid temperature no thanks. Bring back more manual transmission cars I’d rather deal with that than a 5k dollar transmission failing.

[@djhrjeiwhri]

still, same jatco transmission....

[@yudhobaskoro8033]

I dunno why, but the ones in mitsubishi tend to last longer, maybe it's a firmware on the cvt controller itself that keeping the cvt intact, for real tho, a lot of outlander sport here that still on the original cvt

[@25musicmaker]

I don't like cvt in my car.😏

[@garygwinn5818]

Yah I'd rather have one of those 8, 9, or 10 speed autos, or a manual. I wish their were more manuals available.

[@garethevans4573]

Why woul you accept a car that has roll back .it's dangerous

[@nirapsingh9773]

nissan cvt lol worst cvt out there

[@Salty_reviews]

Mitsubishi's CVT in the outlander is the same as the Rogue/Altima. It's trash!

[@Unrly37]

Pro tip: don’t buy a car with a cvt.

[@Beans4Prez]

Good luck. All new cars are going the way of CVT

[@joaquinzannchez3184]

​@@Beans4Preznot Mazda CX-5 to this day.