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[nonsequitur]

Aurel, the Cooper CVT is near "bulletproof" on all these points. It makes a silly, but OK, answer to your question become "Yes."

The computer(s) won't allow you to force a "gear" selection that would create a broken transmission or over-rev the motor.

This means that you can select the appropriate mode (D, SD, Steptronic) for the situation, or even rapidly switch between them to get the effect you need, AND THEN aggressively use that mode to control the car.

An example is a calm boulevard drive to the grocery in D (no serious performance requirement), but you can simply switch to SD to hold a proper 30mph speed on that downhill section, and then switch back, all quickly and repeadedly to maintain the following distance. You could also be in Steptronic for this same drive enjoying the tighter control of specific gear selections, and then use a quick Forward flick to slow the car slightly behind the milk truck. Or, use the brakes. No problem.

In the situation you described, most people would use the brakes to slow the car, then make a selection (Forward flick) to a lower gear for the now-slower speed you're driving.

The computer will select the next logical lower "gear" at about 1600rpm. The CVT will perform an "upshift" (depending on e-throttle position: floored) at 6000rpm (Steptronic or SD) or about 5500rpm (D). Note, these are not the quickest acceleration positions possible.

I've never had ANY of this misperform. The CVT is stone-cold-reliable, absolutely predictable, on these charateristics.