Subaru's flat-six engines powered the brand's wagons and SUVs from the late 1980s all the way up to 2019, when it was phased out in favor of flat-fours. Subaru dropped one of its best engines for the same reason a lot of automakers drop their best engines: emissions and manufacturing costs. Four cylinders are cheaper than six, and easier to get past the EPA.The brand's last wagon to run on the flat-six was the 2019 Subaru Outback 3.6R. There's a lot to like about this car, from its capable engine to its rugged good looks and generous interior space. The price has never been more attractive, and the wagon has more than proven itself as a reliable family car. But, the transmission might be a dealbreaker. We Like Everything But The Transmission Subaru The 2019 Subaru Outback 3.6R gets a commendable 256 horsepower out of its flat-six, an 81-hp bump over the entry-level 2.5i Outback. The 3.6R hits 60 mph in around seven seconds, while the 2.5i can take around nine seconds to get there. So the difference between these engines isn't marginal, one is noticeably more powerful than the other, and will lend you a lot more confidence when it comes to passing and merging on the highway.The Outback offers 8.7 inches of ground clearance and symmetrical all-wheel drive. It's a Subaru, after all, and it delivers exactly what you expect of the brand. When we took this car for a test-drive, we noted that it felt a bit more upscale than the Subaru Forester, with a higher grade of interior materials, and plenty of headspace, with the front seats offering 40.8 inches of room from butt to ceiling. The CVT Puts A Damper On The Driving Experience Subaru We'll take a stick or a conventional automatic any day, but we can concede that some CVTs provide an intuitive, satisfying experience behind the wheel. Lexus and Toyota both use one-speeds that we don't mind. The 2019 Outback's CVT isn't going to be changing anyone's mind, though.The Outback's CVT might be fine for people who aren't really concerned with an engaging driving experience, but if you've got even a trace of the gearhead gene in your DNA, you'll probably grow to resent the "rubber band" feel of the gearbox, and long for a real automatic. Hearing the powertrain rev up without actually accelerating, or feeling it lurch at low speeds. The engine has plenty of low-end torque on tap, so you can learn to live with it once you get used to the CVT's quirks, but you might hate the test-drive and decide that it's not worth it. You Might Have More Fun In A 2014 Subaru Outback Subaru Transmission-swapping the 2019 Outback would be more trouble than it's worth, but a 2014 Subaru Outback actually offers the best of both worlds, with the 3.6R delivering the same power output as the 2019 model through a five-speed automatic transmission. The 2014 model marked the end of the fourth generation, and it was the last Outback available with a conventional automatic transmission.In addition to being more fun to drive, a 2014 Outback with a conventional automatic transmission is also more reliable than one with a CVT. CarComplaints sees seven reports of transmission shudder at around 8,150 miles, a problem associated with the CVT which was available with the 2.5-liter engine in the Outback's fourth generation. Thankfully, these problems seem to have been worked out by the end of the fifth generation, as CarComplaints has zero transmission complaints on file for the 2019 Outback.2014 was also the last year the Outback offered a manual transmission, but it was exclusive to the four-pot, which, admittedly, is an excellent powerplant, but it's not a six-cylinder. The Outback never had a stick-shift factory-equipped to the flat-six. The 2019 Outback Is Super Reliable, Even By Subaru Standards Subaru Subaru ranked sixth in J.D. Power's latest dependability survey, with the Subaru Crosstrek earning the Highest Ranked award in the small SUV category. The Subaru Forester earned some recognition, as well, but was beat out by the Chevrolet Equinox in the compact SUV segment.The 2019 Outback scored a Quality & Reliability rating of 80/100 with the consumer advisory group, pairing nicely with its annual maintenance estimate of $479 (via RepairPal), ranking it as one of the least troubled of its generation, according to CarComplaints.RepairPal lists the following as the most expensive common fixes 2019 Outback owners are likely to face. Transmission fluid change $439 - $476 Miscellaneous diagnoses and tests $122 - $179 Tire & wheel assembly rotate & balance $110 - $161 Tire pressure monitor lamp diagnosis $98 - $143 Miscellaneous inspections $61 - $90 When the most expensive common fix is a transmission fluid change, a routine procedure, you know you're dealing with a vehicle that's practically unkillable.CarComplaints lists electrical issues as the most common problems facing 2019 Outback owners, with 55 complaints on file for dead batteries, averaging 33,300 miles, with a typical repair cost of $150. Three drivers report removing a dcm fuse to stop parasitic drain, while 11 drivers wound up replacing their batteries. The 2019 Outback Is Priced To Move Subaru Taking a look at our pricing trends tool, we find that the 3.6R Limited version of the 2019 Outback is worth a little more than half its original sticker price, based on recent sales.If we check in with our marketplace, we find the following listings. A 63,463-mile 2019 Limited is selling for $14,500 in Nevada. A 115,885-mile 2019 Touring is selling for $13,490 in Texas. A 94,485-mile 2018 Touring is selling for $15,200 in Florida. An 81,658-mile 2018 Touring is selling for $14,950 in Colorado. A 57,888-mile 2018 Touring is selling for $16,998 in Colorado. There's no telling if any of these models will still be available when you're ready to buy, but these numbers should give you an idea of what's out there. The 2014 Subaru Outback Is Even Cheaper Subaru The 2019 Outback is worth highlighting as the last of its kind, being the flat-six's swan song. But, the 2014 model is just as reliable, considerably cheaper, and comes with a five-speed automatic transmission.If we look at trending prices for the 2014 model, we find that it's selling for barely more than a third of its original MSRP.The only 2014 Outback with a 3.6 engine we could find via our marketplace was a 184,403-mile Limited selling for $6,995 in Washington, but there are plenty of 2013 models available, like a 98,957-mile Limited selling for $12,500 in Colorado. Again, we're just sharing these listings as examples. You'll want to run a search of your own to see what's out there by the time you read this.