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My car struggles at 30mph but refuses to change down a gear - is this a common issue with modern autos?

My 2018 Jaguar E-Pace struggles at 30mph but refuses to change down a gear. There is a similar problem at 50mph (common speed limit at motorway roadworks). It would seem that the software is set at too high a gearing. I have spoken to Jaguar but they do not seem able to recognise the problem. Is this s common issue?

Asked on 13 March 2020 by John Beamish

Answered by Andrew Brady
This is pretty standard, I'm afraid. These days, automatic gearboxes are tuned to hold onto high gears in a bid to reduce emissions and provide better fuel economy. If you press hard on the accelerator it should drop down a gear or two. Modern autos will also learn your driving style, so it might get better over time.
Tags: automatics
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