A power door system for a vehicle includes a door connected to a vehicle body, a door actuator comprising a clutch and a braking system and adapted to displace the door between a plurality of open positions and a fully closed position, and a controller system configured to disengage the clutch on determination of a manual door open or close operation. The controller system is further configured to engage the braking system on a determination that the manual door close operation exceeds a threshold door closing speed. The controller system is further configured to cause the braking system to stop the manual door close operation exceeding the threshold door closing speed at a spaced distance from the vehicle body, to re-engage the clutch, and to actuate a power cinch function to displace the door to the fully closed position.