1. The hybrid "CVT" is actually ECVT, which is a completely different design than traditional pulley-based CVT. ECVT is a planetary gear system.
2. ECVT is extremely reliable, which I guess isn't a big surprise since mechanically it is a lot less complex than automatic transmissions.
3. Toyota non-hybrid CVT is also extremely reliable.
I have been driving ECVT cars for 15 years now. Excellent. The first day I drove an ECVT car was in 2001, and from then on I've preferred it to automatic transmissions. We are now on our fourth ECVT car.
2001 Prius <-- Got rid of car in 2004 because car too slow and rear seats didn't fold down, and 2004 Prius came out.
2004 Prius <-- Car totalled in car crash in 2015.
2012 Prius Plug-in <-- Bought this to replace 2004 Prius, in 2015. Still driving it now.
2016 RAV4 Hybrid <-- Bought this 3 weeks ago.
BTW, the AWD system in the RAV4 Hybrid works just as we need it to work. It works great on snow, slush, and ice on urban roads. I don't know how well it works on rough terrain, but I don't care, because I won't be using this car on rough terrain.
BTW I'm an FAA license Aircraft Mechanic and I work on Turbofan engines as a trade so I'm very mechanically inclined
That may be so, but it seems you haven't done much investigation into Toyota CVT systems, and are making a whole bunch of incorrect assumptions. Given your background, you shouldn't be making those types of mistakes.
