I forgot to mention, the Nissan I leased needed a new transmission at 2 years and 29,000 miles. It wasn't blown up, just getting a loose feeling. It was replaced under warranty.

I ran a Nissan dealership at the time, and can't count how many Murano CVTs we replaced both under warranty and customer-pay. Took a lot of broken ones in on trade. It was about a $5500 fix. No serviceable overhaul or re-built units available.

I just did, a Subaru XV Crosstrek. I shopped around and tested the CX5, Murano, and RAV4, and in my mind the Subi was the best value by far - and the best sized vehicle for me.

Bought it for a daily driver, thought about a manual but then thought about the heavy rush hour traffic and went with the AT/CVT. And that I have 2 manual transmission cars already. No regrets at all, it's a great vehicle and the tranny behaves surprisingly like a regular AT, just without the shifts. It varies revs with throttle position, and is very smooth....I'm actually intrigued with the engineering behind it.

Averaging 31MPG on my first 3 tanks ain't bad either.

Good point LOL Get rid of that SC man!

Maybe it just seemed REALLY fast with my young niece behind the wheel :eek: She has a taste for speed as she learnt to drive in the 911.

My wife has a 2014 Pathfinder with it. We both like it. 42,000 in 14 months 25+ highway mpg. Average over 22 overall.

Here's an interesting read that talks about the 'new generation' of CVT's, and Subaru & Nissan in particular, from a mechanic's POV:

Subaru CVT Technology And Service Implications: Underhood Service

Thanks for that Dave as I am taking my daughter to check suv's this evening. It seems that 4 speed auto trans in the Forester is not being made anymore - just the CVT. Not interested in manual.
Guy

CVT continued. The daughter and I went test driving suv's yesterday. The salesman sat in the back seat and I did not know why she was so quiet. Was it the salesman or was it the Forester with the cloth seats and the CVT?

Actually the CVT was pretty good and operated quietly. The daughter said I should have something more exciting. I am not interested in manual trans in an suv and finding a regular 4 speed auto new is impossible now.

All auto trans in 2015 in the Forester are CVT so I think Subaru knows what they are doing.

So I said to the daughter(who had been at work all day) what should we try out for excitement? How about a Tiguan? She said how about we try the Mercedes dealership next door. So we zero in on the Merc. GLK AWD 3.5 litre suv. 2nd hand at $40K.
Rides nicely, motor shuts down to save fuel at red lights etc. Still no leather seating(sim leather) for a $60k car.

The search continues. Am fixing up the 2001 Boxster base for the next guy. Got a CEL light on steady - waiting for the parts for that . Am installing a new water pump as the old one is 13 years old although has not failed yet.

Have a good day! Guy

I bought my wife an Impreza with the CVT in October.
I had driven earlier CVT's (Subaru and Nissan) and I despised them. This Subaru is transparent - I never notice the transmission. She really likes the paddles for "downshifts" going down hills in auto mode. She never uses manual mode.

I got my significant other a new Subaru XV Crosstrek with the CVT.

Sweet car. So it sounds different - so what? The silly paddles on the steering wheel are an annoyance. Who needs fake gears?

Neither she, nor I, notice the transmission's operation; it's really good. Overall average is over 30 mpg U.S., which is great, considering her heavy foot and all-wheel-drive.

I'd get one for myself.

We picked up a Subaru Forester 2 days ago for my wife. Really like it, CVT isn't really noticeable, unless you think about it.

Averaging 30mpg so far.