Manual shift

[LMP]

I just rented a 2012 Equinox (4 cyl AWD) for a weekend. I found the manual mode quite annoying.
At highway speed in auto...in fact rolling in 6th gear, as soon as I move to MANUAL mode, it instantly and inevitably shifts down to 4th....then I have to manually upshift to 6th....
... at times it decides that 4th is ok at that moment (headwind !! or slight uphill) and following button input for upshift it will indicate 6th but will keep 4th gear...until it sees it ok to move to 5..then 6...always showing 6....I'm a bit upset with that.

I had rented one 15 months ago, also 4cyl AWD, a 2011 I suppose ( maybe a 2010), and I remember moving to MANUAL was seamless....stayed in 6th if it was already in 6th in AUTO....and the transmisison response was more in line with manual commands .

Any comment on that?....

(By the way, the 4cyl is OK on flat terrain but is really inappropriate in our mountainous highway...I would consider the new 3.6 instead...a possible replacement for my venerable '93TS 3.8....when/if it turns out as inevitable...)

[LMP]

for the record....I averaged 11litres/100 km...that is, 59.9 litres for 542 km or 21.3 miles/USG. I'm sure the V6 would have done as good...if not better. THe 4cyl is OK on level ground but on mountain range roads, it shifts endlessly to 5th and 4th....buzzing at 4500 rpm. Annoying...
That was winter season, near 30°F going, 0°F return with winter tires, 3 on board. 70mph on open road.

[LMP]

OK...maybe the time has come to say goodbye to my venerable '93 Transport. Anyway, I just went for a road test of a 2011 Equinox (4 cyl AWD) and the shift from AUTO to MANUAL instantly shifted from 6th to 4th....hence only the original 2010 had a seamless shift to Manual mode. Annoying....at least for me. I.m about to road test a 2010 in a few days....
ANyone feels what I describe as an irritant ? I know Toyota has the same b ehaviour. However, I rented a 2015 Malibu recently and shift from auto to manual is seamless. By the way. I loved the car, but I still want a SUV class vehicle.

DId someone investigate the option of having the transmission controller reprogrammed to 2010 version ?

[LMP]

WEll...another try with a 2010 proved shifting to M mode does shift to 4th gear. However, I read that original 2010 models used the 6T40 tarnsmission while they switched to 6T45 during the same year....so maybe there was a difference in the computer logic associated with the different transmisions, explaining my original experience...or am I mistaken.....

Anyway, I am contemplating a used 2012 4cyl Equinox seeming in very good condition though at 82000km (50000 miles). Still annoyed with the D to M4 shift.....but.....maybe I could live with it.
Are there any special cases noticed by you, actual users, that need attention ? Some have indicated "reliability issues".....but without details. in the mean time, I'll have a look at CONsumer's Report findings.

[Stealthee]

Searching around the internet will net you many results for reliability issues with the Equinox's. My mom was looking at buying one until I showed her the results of my searches. She quickly changed her mind.

[LMP]

From COnsumer's Report