If the CVT is the same as the one in the 2.5L outback, then it's actually quite good to drive.
I'm a traditionalist and I don't like CVTs or DSGs for that matter either. I'm a sales rep so I drive a variety of different cars. The main CVT cars I've driven are the 2nd gen Outlander & 1st Gen ASX, 1st gen Jazz, current gen Pathfinder and current gen Xtrail and each of them are woeful and frustrating - special mention to the outlander that was especially terrible. However I had did have a 2017 Outback as a company car and I did about 40,000kms in it - honestly I was very impressed with that CVT. Drove very much like a traditional slush box - you'd be hard pressed to find the difference between a slushy and the Subaru CVT.
I wouldn't be worried about the driveability of the Suburu CVT - it's very good to drive. I read reports that subaru spent a lot of time and R&D to try and make it as good as a traditional auto - they call it a "Linetronic" CVT. I'll give them credit where it is due - they have done well. To me, all suburu's drive like they were designed by someone who likes cars and has driven extensively in them.
However on the reliability and low running cost front, I wouldn't exactly call subaru cars consistently and inherently reliable. Generally speaking the non-turbo, non-modified versions hold up ok, but they're heavily reliant on proper servicing and the boxer engine needs new seals, gaskets and head gasket at around 200,000km which is not a cheap exercise. My mum had a rather boring 2008 Impreza 2L and she did 170,000km in it without problem before some stupid geriatric wrote it off for her by running a red light. The Linetronic CVT is new so we dont know how it will fair 5,6,7 etc years from now, and CVTs from other manufacturers haven't done well for longevity. The engines in the Levorg are also newer engines and so you take a risk there. I remember when they first launched boxer diesel's and they were a nightmare for owners. Subaru cars are very different from other cars so you generally want someone working on it who knows what they're doing - which can be expensive too. Also some of the things like the Eye-sight system are very expensive to repair/replace - from memory a new windscreen in the 017 outback was a $2000 exercise for the company.
Have you considered the Forester? it does use a more well known and reliable engine & gearbox setup.
The skoda Octavia isn't a bad car either. It has a little older VAG parts, but they're the more well known reliable parts and you can easily get OEM parts as the driveline has been in the market for some time.
Or why not get a VF Sportswagon?
