A perfect CVT is ideal from an technical standpoint. Manuals are just more fun if you enjoy that sort of thing - there's a bit of skill keeping the engine RPM in the power band.

As an aside, I do a bit of track time in an Automatic - it's like having a super power if you're a novice as there's very few people who really know how to shift properly. That being said, a Manual is so much more fun.

Reviews of many CVT equipped vehicles are pretty consistent in complaints about the transmissions. Have been looking at 5 different brands and while they offer better mileage, there are many complaints about gearing and reliability.

Car makers program CVTs to act like automatics, almost completely eliminating the benefit of a CVT. I’ve got a Subaru with a CVT and I’ve become used to it; I’ll never love it. Mine is the H6 engine paired to the heavy duty CVT. It’s a good thing it will last a long time, as it’s going to be my last Subaru (I’ve driven both the NA and turbo 4 with the CVT and would never buy one).

Subaru CVTs are especially bad from what I've heard. I tried a WRX with one back in 2015, but unfortunately I wasn't too experienced with them to really tell how bad it was. Went with a manual a few years later, though.

checkout the gearboxes that mazda makes, they consistently get good reviews.