Honda, Hyundai or Subaru?

A good CVT is a blessing. Two of my quads have CVTs. They are surprisingly fast because of this. When one shifts gears on a normal tranny, you temporarily lose forward momentum and engine powerband optimization. A good CVT doesn't have these issues. Plus, if well made, they will always be in the engine's powerband peak the whole way thru the acceleration, start to finish. That equals fast.

Seriously, my CVT quads are very surprising just how fast they are for 300s. That equals fun.

Some car CVTs don't upshift enough (rpms stay slightly high) when cruising speed is reached and gas intake would normally level off. That hurts gas mileage.

I greatly doubt a Subie has this issue. Never heard anyone say they didn't like their Subie.

Same thing applies to bicycles. When I got a 27 speed bike, I noticed it's much easier to pedal as the extra gear ratios enable one to always be in the pedaling sweet spot. Not too hard, not too easy. Just right = efficiency.

Drive a 2008 Hyundai Sonata would not say it is a snow vehicle but somehow it still gets me there.  Second car is a 2009 Toyota Matrix it might see a little more ski trip action this winter especially if I can find a reasonably priced car top ski carrier. I'm really here to add that Subaru is coming out with a revamped Impreza for 2012.   Still has the typical all wheel drive but with some amazing gas mileage 36/27mpg.  Hopefully one of those those is in my future.  Five door model is pictured below.