I've driven a 2019 HRV with the CVT, no problem at all. Honda makes a good CVT.
I heard Honda's AWD isn't the greatest, definitely not Subaru. You'd be better off buying a FWD HRV if you can find one, and then get a set of winter tires. There is a video of the CRV AWD being worthless, but the HRV may be different (or the same).
I don't have any experience with the AWD performance because I only drove it once last fall, and we didn't have much of a winter this year.
Nothing wrong with the ride and handling or the interior quality.