Having just completed a 1300 mile roundtrip I had ample opportunities to use the Smart or Intelligent Cruise Control on a Palisade Limited. Two things I noted: the first is when you set a following distance and you close the distance the cruise control automatically reduces your speed, this I understood would happen. My question is how is the speed reduced. My experience over this trip has led me to believe the Palisade automatically applies the brakes??? and transmission to slow the vehicle down. If the brakes are applied do the brakes lights come on as well. My experience was during daylight so I could not see the brake light illuminate.
I also noticed that when you are going down a hill, the Palisade will maintain the set speed EXACTLY. Unlike other vehicles I have driven the Palisade holds the speed constant. It does not allow for the 5 to10 or so mph increase that going down a hill will cause. When I was going down a hill if I lowered the speed of the cruise control setting the Palisade would automatically lower my current speed to match. I went from 70 to 55 going down an incline without my choosing to apply the brakes or manually selecting the next lower gear.
I also noticed that when you are going down a hill, the Palisade will maintain the set speed EXACTLY. Unlike other vehicles I have driven the Palisade holds the speed constant. It does not allow for the 5 to10 or so mph increase that going down a hill will cause. When I was going down a hill if I lowered the speed of the cruise control setting the Palisade would automatically lower my current speed to match. I went from 70 to 55 going down an incline without my choosing to apply the brakes or manually selecting the next lower gear.