Outlander CVT vs RVR CVT

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02-15-2018, 02:03 PM

Tango4N

Junior Member

Thread Starter

Join Date: Jan 2016

Posts: 7

Outlander CVT vs RVR CVT

I have a 13 RVR (Outlander Sport in the US, ASX in other countries, RVR in Canada....) with a CVT.

As I understand the Outlander 2.4 with the CVT has a tow limit of 1500lbs.

My RVR manual says no towing whatsoever. The dealer says mainly because of CVT.

I at some point may want to tow a small trailer to haul a motorbike. I am also looking at small teardrop campers at around 900lbs.

If the Outlander has a tow rating of 1500 lbs even with a CVT I don't see why my RVR would not be able to tow anything because of the CVT. Yes it is only a 2.0 so it will have power issues. I am not pulling a 32 foot travel trailer.

Does anyone know if the CVT in both vehicles are actually the very same transmission or are they actually different and the one in the RVR is lighter?

02-15-2018, 05:15 PM

steve518

Member

Join Date: Feb 2014

Location: Albany, NY

Posts: 31

The only thing I know is that the CVT was improved for 2016, whether or not that makes a difference I'm not sure. Even the 2.4 lacks power, I personally wouldn't do it, but don't think it would be a problem especially if you keep the tongue weight low.

04-27-2018, 03:56 PM

AWCAWD

Senior Member

Join Date: Apr 2018

Location: Montreal, QC, Canada

Posts: 167

Below is a comparison between the CVTs of the 2.0 L(4B11) and 2.4 L (4B12) engine equipped RVRs. Since the 2nd generation Outlander (2.4L) was also built with the 4B12 engine I suspect the transmission should be the same as in the 2.4L RVR. However the current generation Outlander has a SOHC construction (4J12) and the CVT might be different.
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ou...rent-cvts.html
A would not call the 2016 change an improvement. People may like the virtual shifting better but it is more problematic and it defeats the name CVT. It had a recall:
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ou...vt-recall.html

04-28-2018, 05:41 AM

15_OS

Member

Join Date: Nov 2015

Posts: 47

It may not be just the cvt. It may also be down to body structure. These are unibody cars after all.

05-03-2018, 09:07 PM

Qthagg

Junior Member

Join Date: Apr 2018

Posts: 2

The 2015 outlander sport / RVR has a better CVT design. The older CVTs are quite sensitive to load. I'd say avoid towing if you can on a 2013. That being said, you won't damage your transmission. The display will indicate that the tranmission has overheated and your car will go into a limp mode till the transmission oil cools down.
i sold my 14 rvr last year as I got fed up with the transmission whine.