I don’t think what you describe is “normal”. What does “inability to coast” mean? As any modern car slows the transmission will downshift to avoid bogging the engine down. Your description is...confusing.

 

I'm not sure how to exactly describe the "coasting" issue because I never had a car react like that when lifting off the throttle. This might be cylinder deactivation.

I'm more concerned with the shifting. It's not smooth and quick like every automatic I have ever driven (save for the Ford Escape).