Just to compare my experience... 2.0P with 4 adults... Used AUTO most of the way, except for a few stretch where I paddle-d.

InspiRED (my car) performed very well on auto, no power loss and the CVT was never hunting up and down (most auto cars will hunt esp when the slope gets tougher)... during paddle, the CVT surged up to the MIVEC zone easily, and paddling from 6000rpm to the next gear, it never dropped to below 5000... this is the same as on flat roads, the advantage of electronics and paddle-shifters vs hands and feet of manual gear change....

(I still think paddle-shifting will beat any manual tranny car in a drag race....)
As for your body roll, I just did simple mods at the springs of the car... my wheels were screaming at a few stretch but the roll was not noticable.... my regular passengers that are usually vomit-ty when I reach the summit, are surprised that they are not... that by how much better the mod made the car...

in fact, some fellas here can attest on how inspiRED's rear wheels was pushed to "slip" during another test drive session....   
All in, the drive session up and down was fun, i over took many T & H and even my fellow german brands on M & B too.... am tempted to tiong a taxi, but.... next time, maybe...