I think my Pilot is really smooth but I am comparing it to a 2014 Accord V6 with 6spd Auto that can be a bit jerky especially in its automatic downshifts. I think I know what you're talking about on the Pilot. To me it is still very smooth but sometimes just starting out there may be a little hesitation for a microsecond and then it feels like it catches and then maybe a little surge. I dunno. To me it is smooth but it's not like electric-motor smooth perfectly linear.
2023 - Skipping 1st gear? Not shifting smooth?
Just purchased a 2023 Pilot EXL. Traded in my 2015 Pilot with 210k miles on it. Needed a new engine, so it was time, I guess. So, obviously, I drove the 2015 all the time and was so familiar with how it drove and changed gears. Maybe I'm being overly sensitive, or just need to adjust to the new one, but it's so different. Going from stop, to go, it feels as if it's jumpy and trying to skip 1st gear? Or maybe it's just changing gears quick and I'm not used to it? I'm not a car person at all, so don't know too much about transmissions, gears, etc. All I know is its different than my 2015 and I'm having a hard time getting used to the stop and go. Once it get going, it's so smooth and I love it. But it's just jumpy it seems to start off. Maybe I'm not pressing the peddle right? Maybe I'm pressing it to quickly? Not sure. I have turned off the idle setting, that turns the car off, as I don't like that right now, so that's not it. Just thought I'd come on here to see if anyone else had these issues or what others thought? Thank you in advance!
1 - 20 of 95 Posts
I believe 1st gear is bypassed unless you're towing or starting up going up a hill. I did see a video regarding the 9 speed trannys and they were saying both 1st and 9th gear are only used when necessary.
Agreed, coming from a 4runner this thing is smooth as can be but my perception could be skewed.I think my Pilot is really smooth but I am comparing it to a 2014 Accord V6 with 6spd Auto that can be a bit jerky especially in its automatic downshifts. I think I know what you're talking about on the Pilot. To me it is still very smooth but sometimes just starting out there may be a little hesitation for a microsecond and then it feels like it catches and then maybe a little surge. I dunno. To me it is smooth but it's not like electric-motor smooth perfectly linear.
The upshift to 2nd is very much a function of how much how hard one is mashing the gas pedal. Look like it's as low as 3mph at 10% throttle in D mode. But much higher, at 25-27 mph, with WOT. Not sure if ECO mode affect the shift-points, though.Just purchased a 2023 Pilot EXL. Traded in my 2015 Pilot with 210k miles on it. Needed a new engine, so it was time, I guess. So, obviously, I drove the 2015 all the time and was so familiar with how it drove and changed gears. Maybe I'm being overly sensitive, or just need to adjust to the new one, but it's so different. Going from stop, to go, it feels as if it's jumpy and trying to skip 1st gear? Or maybe it's just changing gears quick and I'm not used to it? I'm not a car person at all, so don't know too much about transmissions, gears, etc. All I know is its different than my 2015 and I'm having a hard time getting used to the stop and go. Once it get going, it's so smooth and I love it. But it's just jumpy it seems to start off. Maybe I'm not pressing the peddle right? Maybe I'm pressing it to quickly? Not sure. I have turned off the idle setting, that turns the car off, as I don't like that right now, so that's not it. Just thought I'd come on here to see if anyone else had these issues or what others thought? Thank you in advance!
In D (Drive) mode:
In S (Sport) mode:
I will say that I can tell the difference when I move to SPORT mode. The car is normally peppy enough for me, but in Sport it becomes even more responsive and just touching the pedal we get some real action. And I guess not surprisingly, I tried ECO mode too and I could really feel that difference too. Everything was soggy and even with a press of the accelerator, it was just slowww to respond.
The OP has the new 2023 which has the Honda built 10 speed , not the ZF 9 speed. 😎I believe 1st gear is bypassed unless you're towing or starting up going up a hill. I did see a video regarding the 9 speed trannys and they were saying both 1st and 9th gear are only used when necessary.
Thank you for this information! And I'm thinking its what you are saying as far as how hard one is mashing the gas. It's just different and I need to just get used to it. But this chart helps!
The upshift to 2nd is very much a function of how much how hard one is mashing the gas pedal. Look like it's as low as 3mph at 10% throttle in D mode. But much higher, at 25-27 mph, with WOT. Not sure if ECO mode affect the shift-points, though.
In D (Drive) mode:
View attachment 166832
In S (Sport) mode:
View attachment 166833
Checking the oil is still required on the new ones too. Usually purchasing the first production year of a new build is asking for trouble, but some people can't resist the urge to try to keep up with the Joneses.
Or their 3rd gen was about to start becoming a money pit.Checking the oil is still required on the new ones too. Usually purchasing the first production year of a new build is asking for trouble, but some people can't resist the urge to try to keep up with the Joneses.
And the Joneses would be keeping up with me technically, since I bought the first one in my area.
Welcome to the 4th gen subforum. Enjoy your stay. If you're like this all the time, I hope your stay with us is brief.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, study up on the first amendment!
Is this post in reply to something else or is it a non sequitur? Just curiousChecking the oil is still required on the new ones too. Usually purchasing the first production year of a new build is asking for trouble, but some people can't resist the urge to try to keep up with the Joneses.
I think the "oh lawdy lawdy the first production year cars all suck" thing is somewhat of an old wives tale, and overblown. Yes there can be issues. Or, there can be issues in cars that pop up in the 4th or 5th year, like the transmissions all having issues. So should I wait until year 7? Oh wait, by then there will be another version and we start over again.
Live in fear of everything that could happen and it's sort of a miserable life. We have a warranty if there are problems in the first year. Honestly I am loving this 2023 Pilot right now. I have been looking forward to moving on from our 2010 Odyssey for many years. Almost bought MDX last year and then waited to see what Pilot was gonna be, and glad I did. It's a better overall fit for me. So no regrets.
By the way, "Keeping up with the Joneses" happens any time you buy a new car.
Hi
I've been having the same issue. I'm paying attention to when it happens to tell if it's a problem or just how it is. I'm not worried due to being 100% covered.
My dealer did say I could bring it in and someone would ride with me and listen.
I've been having the same issue. I'm paying attention to when it happens to tell if it's a problem or just how it is. I'm not worried due to being 100% covered.
My dealer did say I could bring it in and someone would ride with me and listen.
Yes, you are entitled to your own opinion. And I'll defend your right to it. But if it looks like crap and smells like crap... You're probably full of it too. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, study up on the first amendment!
Yes, thank you, I am aware all cars need oil changes. And definintely not keeping up with the Jones', or I would have traded it in a long time ago. Been putting too much money in to it lately, in case you must know why we traded, also as I stated in my post, a new engine was needed.
Checking the oil is still required on the new ones too. Usually purchasing the first production year of a new build is asking for trouble, but some people can't resist the urge to try to keep up with the Joneses.
I've been driving mine for about a week and have had trouble timing/gauging my acceleration to get through the 1st gear smoothly. It has trouble particularly when I am at a very low acceleration from a stop. It will bring the RPMs higher than needed and the drop to second gear is felt in a sudden de acceleration. I've found that getting through the first gear with more acceleration than I'm used to provides a smooth shift to the second and third gear. I'm coming from a 2016 hrv that has a cvt transmission.
I agree with everything you said. I’ve been trying to smooth it out with no luck.
Yes, same! I even took it back to the dealership for my salesman to drive it and drive with me today. And you are right, at the lower speeds it seems worse. He said it was normal and I even got in another Pilot to compare and it was the same. I guess I just have to get used to it. I'm coming from a 2015 and he said I'm probably so used to that one, that I'm comparing it. But he assured me it was doing just as it should and nothing was wrong with it. So, I again need to just accelerate a little more from a stop. Glad I'm not the only one though.I've been driving mine for about a week and have had trouble timing/gauging my acceleration to get through the 1st gear smoothly. It has trouble particularly when I am at a very low acceleration from a stop. It will bring the RPMs higher than needed and the drop to second gear is felt in a sudden de acceleration. I've found that getting through the first gear with more acceleration than I'm used to provides a smooth shift to the second and third gear. I'm coming from a 2016 hrv that has a cvt transmission.
To the OP, be sure you’re not feeling the Auto Stop engine kill feature. It caught me off guard once or twice. Also, the 10 speed does rapid fire the gear changes. I’m used to it due to the ZF 8HP70 in my Durango. It’ll throw 3 gears to get through an intersection. The nice thing about the Durango is, it’ll show what gear you’re in all the time on the dash.
Coming back to the sluggishness when starting at low speed, I have been getting a little annoyed with this too. When puttering around starting out, like turning at a stop sign or out of my driveway, a light touch of the gas pedal leads to hesitation from the Pilot, and if I want it to actually get going then I need a firmer push on the pedal and then it sort of hesitates for a sec and then jumps forward and gets going. In normal driving and acceleration it is nice and smooth (like once you are going 15mph and you want to run it up to 45) but it is just that really slow speed and starting out where it's like the car is pokey and not sure what it is supposed to be doing. When I run in Sport mode it is much better, and overall is more fun to drive, but I still run in Normal because I don't need to be running around at the higher rpms of Sport all the time
1 - 20 of 95 Posts
Honda Pilot - Honda Pilot Forums
Piloteers.org forum community offers tech info, troubleshooting, modification DIY’s and discussion for the Honda Pilot SUV.
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Recommended Communities
