Opinions on trend toward CVT cars

Vehicles with continuous variable transmission (CVT) for 2021 . Mazda is the only Japanese company with no CVT cars. There are no European brands either. No engines over 3.5 liters, and most of them are 2.5 liters or less.

The Ford Escape and Chevy Malibu are assembled in China.
The Encore, the Spark, and the Trailblazer are assembled in GM Korea .

Division	Carline	Liters	Liters	Liters
Ford	Escape	2.5
Chevrolet	Malibu	1.5
	Spark	1.4
	Trailblazer	1.2	1.3
Buick	Encore	1.2	1.3
Hyundai	Accent	1.6
	Elantra	2.0
	Venue	1.6
Kia	Forte	2.0
	Rio	1.6
	Seltos	2.0
	Soul	2.0
Nissan	Altima	2.0
	Kicks	1.6
	Maxima	3.5
	Murano	3.5
	NV200	2.0
	Rogue	1.5	2.0
	Sentra	2.0
	Versa	1.6
Infiniti	QX50	2.0
Mitsubishi	Mirage	1.2
	Outlander	2.0	2.4	2.5
Subaru	Ascent	2.4
	Crosstrek	2.0	2.5
	Forester	2.5
	Impreza	2.0
	Legacy	2.4	2.5
	Outback	2.4	2.5
	Wrx	2.0
Toyota	Avalon	2.5
	C-HR	2.0
	Camry	2.5
	Corolla	1.8	2.0
	Highlander	2.5
	Prius	1.8
	RAV4	2.5
	Sienna	2.5
	Venza	2.5
Lexus	Es	2.5
	Lc	3.5
	Ls	3.5
	Nx	2.5
	Rx	3.5
	Ux	2.0
Honda	Accord	1.5	2.0
	Civic	1.5	2.0
	CR-V	1.5	2.0
	HR-V	1.8
	Insight	1.5

Although the first overdrive was sold in 1948, it only became universal for domestic cars since 1981 when U.S. corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) legislation. Subaru was probably the last brand to go from three speeds to adding an overdrive (i.e. four speeds) in 1988.

In 1993, the Subaru Impreza's first model year it had a 4 speed automatic transmission but 83% of the sedan/wagons sold in the United states had automatic transmissions of 4 speeds or less. So that was normal.
By 2011 the Subaru Impreza still had a 4 speed automatic transmission , but only 17% of the sedan/wagons sold in the United states had automatic transmissions of 4 speeds or less. The low speed automatic transmissions were no longer normal as manufacturers pursued other options to improve fuel economy.

Subaru went to complete CVT in 2012, and the Subaru WRX sport sedan is probably the fastest car with CVT. The BRZ two seat sports car that they co-developed with Toyota still has automatic transmission, but most of them are sold with manual transmission.

Subaru held off the EPA and didn't improve the fuel economy of Impreza car for 18 model years. They just increased horsepower.
1993 Subaru Impreza/MPG Up to 25 city / 31 highway -- 110 hp
1997 Subaru Impreza/MPG Up to 23 city / 30 highway -- 137 hp
2002 Subaru Impreza/MPG Up to 22 city / 27 highway -- 165 hp
2007 Subaru Impreza/MPG Up to 23 city / 28 highway -- 173 hp
2011 Subaru Impreza/MPG Up to 20 city / 27 highway -- 170 hp
====> CVT added and engine dropped in size from 2.5L to 2.0L
2012 Subaru Impreza/MPG Up to 27 city / 36 highway -- 148 hp
2022 Subaru Impreza/MPG Up to 28 city / 36 highway -- 152 hp
====> rumour get a 1.5L turbocharged engine
2023 Subaru Impreza/MPG ???? -- rumoured to get 148 hp

Quote: Federal Register: Aug 24, 2018 | The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule for Model Years 2021-2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks

Yet, each additional fuel economy improvement becomes much more expensive as the low-hanging fruit of low-cost technological improvement options are picked.