Having lived through manual / auto stick on the steering column, manual / auto stick on the floor, and push-button on the left side of the dash ('58 Dodge / Chrysler) ….. I've no doubt whatsoever it'll come to be second-nature to owners.

Novelty, gimmick, good idea, bad idea, whatever ….. not sure I see the particular benefit since it takes about the same 'console real-estate' as the stick (granted it does give a clearer shot to the cupholders …. just don't spill any liquid on 'em seems to be the caveat from others with that unfortunate experience ).

It wouldn't be a make-or-break for any vehicle I wanted otherwise.

YMMV of course

 

I have a 2017 RTL and HATE-HATE the annoying shift handle that gets in my way all the time. It was a very poor design from the get go. I may buy a 2021 this year and will be ok with the new push button shift and gained space.

I was not a big fan of the new key fob technology at first, but now I wonder how we ever got by without it.

 

Did they do also do away with the pedal ebrake?

 

Nope, still there - and happy that it is still a manual pedal. The electronic emergency brake on my son's Odyssey confuses me.

 

I imagine I would get used to it. I think it would be better if they reclaimed some space instead of the current format. I think my favorite so far is what I had on my old Tundra. Lever on the steering column. Buttons out of the way and easy to access without looking would probably be similarly functional for me.

 

I always wonder how could you put the car in neutral if your battery is dead?

 

I started driving with transmission buttons on the left corner of the dash in my Chryslers and in the middle of the dash in my Mom's Chrysler. Unless it's a manual sticks have always seemed dumb to me. Wherever they were located.

 

I think there is tool that you can use to manually put the transmission in neutral. Not very convenient. I keep a capacitor based jumpstart box in my toolkit. I'd probably just jumpstart it with that if needed rather than try to push it somewhere or something.

 

Column-mounted lever is probably the most efficient and space-saving, but I'm sure the market said it was old-fashioned and may now confuse people given the other 2-3 stalks on the column...

 

Can't for the life of me remember what car, but I just know I've seen a pic of one that had a stalk-mounted push-button shifter on the steering column (?). A 'box' with several buttons just outside the steering wheel rim (?).

Aged memory is a b...…

 

Takes a little getting used to, but for me it became second nature after a week or so.

 

I appreciate a place to rest my right hand. Always liked a lever in the console.

 

Not a fan but prolly adapt if I had to.

 

I believe you are thinking of a Cord and it's pre-selecter on a stalk by the steering wheel. You put the little art-deco knob in the slot for the next gear (it's a manual) and (I'm guessing) depress the clutch and lift the accelerator it shifts "automatically".

 

I've had two cars with push buttons (09 Toy. Venza, wife's Lincoln MKX). The Toyota I got used to, the Lincoln, not so much. It is slow- and I have to look down to hit the right button. Bought a 2019 Ridgeline partly because I did NOT want buttons to shift, but I sure DID want a volume knob on the radio. BTW- I am a curmudgeon, and an old fuddy duddy, I still do not use cruise control much at all (never in that damn Lincoln). I really REALLY did not want a lane departure/ automatic interval cruise thingy/ emergency braking.

Hope the Honda lasts me the rest of my life- next time, I have no idea what they will be pushing on me.

And for the record, I really wanted a car that used a KEY instead of a damn remote.

 

Didn't think I would like it, but now that I have it, it's no big deal. Takes a drive or two to get used to it, then it's all good. Nice that the stick is out of the way.

 

I’m waiting for a joystick!

 

Our small dog already inadvertently changes AWD drive modes walking around the console area. I wondered if he could change gears w the new set up ?

 

LOL, my 2 Dachshunds do the same thing. I'm thinking of making some kind of cover for the button.

That said, I much prefer the PRNDL lever of my 19. Reminds me of my old Chevy with a powerglide.

 

We are creatures of habit, and we all knew the order PRND21. Been the standard for years and was consistent throughout every manufacturer. Was simple to operate a lever without having look down, without having to learn a manufacturer's unique procedure. Since 2017, we've seen an increased number of accidents where the driver (usually in rental cars) has stated that they were confused by which gear they were in (thought they were in reverse but it was actually drive). Some 2017 and later Cadillac and Buick models use a selector that is really confusing to operate.

Technically there's no longer the need for a lever. All of the gear changes are electronic and the gear selectors are just switches. Pressing a button or pulling up on a switch is not difficult, and yes after a few times you'll learn it. But for safety reasons, I wish the manufacturers would agree to a common design as to eliminate confusion. Chrysler's turning knob for instance is very simple to use. It's a good size, there's a notch for each position PRND21, and there's no real learning curve and less chance for confusion.

 

We are creatures of habit, and we all knew the order PRND21. Been the standard for years and was consistent throughout every manufacturer. Was simple to operate a lever without having look down, without having to learn a manufacturer's unique procedure. Since 2017, we've seen an increased number of accidents where the driver (usually in rental cars) has stated that they were confused by which gear they were in (thought they were in reverse but it was actually drive). Some 2017 and later Cadillac and Buick models use a selector that is really confusing to operate.

Technically there's no longer the need for a lever. All of the gear changes are electronic and the gear selectors are just switches. Pressing a button or pulling up on a switch is not difficult, and yes after a few times you'll learn it. But for safety reasons, I wish the manufacturers would agree to a common design as to eliminate confusion. Chrysler's turning knob for instance is very simple to use. It's a good size, there's a notch for each position PRND21, and there's no real learning curve and less chance for confusion.

If a driver cannot figure out what gear they are in... they shouldn't be driving.

 

It didn't take me long to adapt to my first vehicle with a pushbutton shifter (2018 Accord) and now I prefer it.

To me, it's more logical to press a button to make the vehicle go forward than to pull a lever backward.

 

While we are calling for standardization- how about making wiper controls work the same on every car. My truck wanted you to push up (or was it down?) but then, wife's car worked in the other direction.

 

Automatic high beam controls, too.

In my Honda, pushing the lever turns on high beams while pulling it flashes them and toggles the automatic high beam feature.
In my Mazda, pushing the lever turns on the automatic high beam feature while pulling it flashes them.

Mazda's logic makes more sense to me.

In some Ford models in the 1980's, you pushed the end of the turn signal lever to honk the horn!

 

For over a year, I have gotten used to it in my '19 Odyssey. Trust me, you will get used to it. My sister bought the '20 Pilot this past Saturday and they seem to like the push button gear switches.

 

for what it's worth, it goes with the modernizing approach to the interiors we see. i like it, certainly more than the straight-line PRND(L) shifter. It is all too easy to put the car into (L) - really should be a gated shifter at the very least.

 

I'm not sure whether it's a natural loss of mental faculties due to chronology or inconsistencies in operation from one vehicle to the next, but with the prevalence of automatic high beams and windshield wipers, I find myself occasionally flashing when I want to wipe and wiping when I want to flash.

 

At a glance I thought "flash" was "flush", lol.

We are creatures of habit, and we all knew the order PRND21. Been the standard for years and was consistent throughout every manufacturer. Was simple to operate a lever without having look down, without having to learn a manufacturer's unique procedure. Since 2017, we've seen an increased number of accidents where the driver (usually in rental cars) has stated that they were confused by which gear they were in (thought they were in reverse but it was actually drive). Some 2017 and later Cadillac and Buick models use a selector that is really confusing to operate.

Technically there's no longer the need for a lever. All of the gear changes are electronic and the gear selectors are just switches. Pressing a button or pulling up on a switch is not difficult, and yes after a few times you'll learn it. But for safety reasons, I wish the manufacturers would agree to a common design as to eliminate confusion. Chrysler's turning knob for instance is very simple to use. It's a good size, there's a notch for each position PRND21, and there's no real learning curve and less chance for confusion.

When I first drove, my Mom's 11 year old 1963 Oldsmobile F-85 had PDLR (park, drive, low and reverse. Yes, reverse all the way at the bottom (the shift lever was on the column).

We would all get used to the buttons quickly. I think the column lever of the G1 made more sense than the G2 shift lever's location does, as it requires a space-eating console.

 

Moved from the Gen1 RL to Insight which has the push button... yes you do get used to it...
The R (Reverse) took a second to figure out... not a button to just push!! Pull back on the tab gets you into reverse The Insight also has the brake hold options..

 

My concern would be spilling something on it.....and I will...... It better be liquid proof or easy to clean/dry....

 

Had it in the various recent Acura service loaners. Takes a little getting used to, but it's OK, certainly not a deal breaker.

 

The push button bothers me nowhere near as much as adding three more gears to the transmission.

 

Wait 'till you get the bill for a trans fluid change!

 

We have the push button shifter in the 2018 Odyssey, and have no issues with it. When i go back to the van from the truck though, i "Phantom" grab for the stick shifter.