[Rocky]

Confess my sense is that CVT's seem best with smaller engines eg Civic and CRV than pathfinder and now the Ascent. The latter looks like a cross between a Pilot, Highlander and an Outback.

The Marketplace is changing rapidly. Neither VW nor Subaru competed in this segment when I looked in 2016....

 

[Rocky]

Have you driven the CVT in larger vehicles? It pairs way better because of their larger, higher torque engines. The new turbo 4's in some smaller vehicles are helping but I have always felt Nissan's VQ35/CVT combination was one of the best applications of a CVT. We test drove brand new Pathfinders before settling on a used car and it was nothing like driving our old Rogue.

Confess I haven't. Only CVT I have experience with is our 16 CRV.

 

[Rocky]

Be interesting to do a back to back drive using say the CRV LX, equipped with the 2.4 naturally aspirated engine versus the Turbo 1.5 powered version. Similar outputs, both running the same CVT.... Always read that the Turbo does better at altitude.

 

[Rocky]

Subaru recalls entire cars due to welding defects.

https://www.carscoops.com/2018/08/subaru-ascent-owners-get-brand-new-model-thanks-recall/

Yup some people are getting new ones...... (or get to go shopping again)