[blankenshiplaura]

Where did you see that designation? On the car itself?

 

[blankenshiplaura]

The ZF 9-speed transmission used in the Pilot is also used in the Passport. For 2019 it was retuned with hardware and software changes to address shifting irregularities reported by 2016-2018 Pilot owners. Sorry, I had never heard of "ZF1" or "ZF2" used in any context. Anyhow, I have heard in reviews that the Passport transmission feels good.

 

[blankenshiplaura]

at times (not always) it seems to take a tick from a full stop for the car to either engage or downshift

Can you confirm that the engine is running (by observing the tachometer)? Otherwise that is probably a symptom of the idle stop system, as dtom suggested.