Comment on descending hills. With 6 or 8 speeds the ratios are close to keep a happy engine so pulling down to 4 in an 8 would be about the same as 2 or 3 on the old 4 speed autos.
My 06 sorento wants to go into passing gear pulling a hill, wifes trax does less so, but still shifts. If you feel the pedal position all the cars and trucks it will floor it for long grades to maintain speed. I learned that turning off the thing works better for mileage, even with a clutch truck. This is for hills in places like I80 in Wyoming; long grades with traffic light enough dropping from 80+ to 70 doesnt make you a road hog
That's about what happens with our Highlander. At freeway speed, I need to go down to about 4 or 5 to notice any engine braking at all. On steep dirt roads, I've gone all the way down to 1 and still had to ride the brakes. I guess I'm spoiled by the compression brake on my Dodge diesel. Now THAT's a brake.
