Page 161 of 488

Black plate (161,1)
Shifting
Manually Shifting up
(M1→M2→M3→M4→M5→M6)
To shift up to a higher gear, tap the shift
lever back (
) once.
NOTElWhen driving slowly, the gears may not
shift up.
lIn manual shift mode, do not run the engine
with the tachometer needle in the RED
ZONE. When the engine rpm is high, a gear
may shift up automatically to protect the
engine.
lWhen depressing the accelerator fully, the
transaxle will shift to a lower gear,
depending on vehicle speed (Except M2→
M1).
Manually Shifting down
(M6→M5→M4→M3→M2→M1)
To shift down to a lower gear, tap the shift
lever forward (
) once.
WARNING
Do not use engine braking on slippery
road surfaces or at high speeds:
Shifting down while driving on wet,
snowy, or frozen roads, or while
driving at high speeds causes sudden
engine braking, which is dangerous.
The sudden change in tire speed
could cause the tires to skid. This
could lead to loss of vehicle control
and an accident.
NOTE
lWhen driving at high speeds, the gear may
not shift down.
lDuring deceleration, the gear may
automatically shift down depending on
vehicle speed.
lWhen depressing the accelerator fully, the
transaxle will shift to a lower gear,
depending on vehicle speed (Except M2→
M1).
When Driving
Transaxle
4-37
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Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Page 162 of 488

Black plate (162,1)
Second gear fixed mode
When the shift lever is tapped back (
)
while the vehicle is stopped or driven at
about 9.3 km/h (5.7 mph) or less, the
transaxle is set in the second gear fixed
mode. The gear is fixed in second while in
this mode for easier starting and driving
on slippery roads. If the shift lever is
tapped back (
) or forward () while in
the second gear fixed mode, the mode will
be canceled.
Shifting specification
Shifting up
If the vehicle speed is lower than the
speed specified for each gear, the gear
cannot be shifted up to a higher gear.
Gear Vehicle speed
M1→M2 9.3 km/h (5.8 mph)
M2→M3 22.5 km/h (14.0 mph)
M3→M4 31.2 km/h (19.4 mph)
M4→M5 43.8 km/h (27.3 mph)
M5→M6 53.5 km/h (33.3 mph)
Shifting down
If the vehicle speed is higher than the
speed specified for each gear, the gear
cannot be shifted to a lower gear so as to
protect the transaxle.
Gear Vehicle speed
M6→M5 237.5 km/h (147.5 mph)
M5→M4 167.3 km/h (103.9 mph)
M4→M3 115.2 km/h (71.58 mph)
M3→M2 81.3 km/h (50.5 mph)
M2→M1 42.7 km/h (26.5 mph)
NOTE
Regarding the vehicle speed at the highest
gear indicated above, achieving this speed
may not actually be possible depending on
various driving conditions such as the wind,
upslope, and road surface.
During deceleration, the gears shift down
automatically when speed is reduced to
the following:
Gear Vehicle speed
M6→M5 47 km/h (29 mph)
M5→M4 39.8 km/h (24.7 mph)
M4→M3 28.2 km/h (17.5 mph)
M3→M2 11.9 km/h (7.39 mph)
M2→M1 6.3 km/h (3.9 mph)
NOTE
The gear does not shift down to M1
automatically while in the second gear fixed
mode.
If the vehicle is kicked down at the
following speeds or lower, the gears shift
down automatically:
Gear Vehicle speed
M6→M5 216.1 km/h (134.2 mph)
M5→M4 139.3 km/h (86.5 mph)
M4→M3 57.6 km/h (35.7 mph)
M3→M2 41.4 km/h (25.7 mph)
Recommendations for shifting (U.S.A.
and Canada)
Upshifting
For normal acceleration and cruising, we
recommend these shift points.
Gear Vehicle speed
M1 to M2 24 km/h (15 mph)
M2 to M3 40 km/h (25 mph)
M3 to M4 65 km/h (40 mph)
M4 to M5 73 km/h (45 mph)
M5 to M6 81 km/h (50 mph)
Downshifting
When you must slow down in heavy
traffic or on a steepupgrade, downshift
before the engine starts to overwork. This
gives better acceleration when you need
more speed.
4-38
When Driving
Transaxle
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Page 163 of 488

Black plate (163,1)
On a steepdowngrade, downshifting
helps maintain safe speed and prolongs
brake life.
qDriving Tips
WARNING
Do not allow the vehicle to move in
reverse on an up-slope while the
selector lever is in a forward gear
position, or move forward on a down-
slope while the selector lever is in the
reverse position:
Otherwise, the engine will stop,
causing the loss of the power brake
and power steering functions, and
make it difficult to control the vehicle
which could result in an accident.
Passing
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades, depress
the accelerator fully. The transaxle will
shift to a lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed.
Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position:
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift to D or M1, depending on the
load weight and grade steepness.
3. Release the brake pedal while
gradually accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift to
lower gears, depending on load weight
and grade steepness. Descend slowly,
using the brakes only occasionally to
prevent them from overheating.
When Driving
Transaxle
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Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Page 164 of 488

Black plate (164,1)
Lighting Control
qHeadlights
lTurn the headlight switch to turn the headlights, other exterior lights and dashboard
illumination on or off.
lA system malfunction or operation conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page 4-15.
NOTE
lIf the light switch is left on, the lights will automatically switch off (if equipped) approximately 30
seconds after switching the ignition off.
The time setting can be changed.
Refer to Personalization Features on page 9-9.
lTo prevent discharging the battery, do not leave the lights on while the engine is off unless safety
requires them.
Without auto-light control
Switch Position
Ignition Position ON OFF ON OFF ON OFF
Headlights Off Off Off Off On On
Daytime running lights On Off On Off Off Off
Taillights
Parking lights
License lights
Side-marker lights
Dashboard illuminationOff Off On On On On
4-40
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Page 165 of 488
Black plate (165,1)
With auto-light control
Switch Position
Ignition Position ON OFF ON OFF ON OFF ON OFF
Headlights Off Off Auto*Off Off Off On On
Daytime running lights On Off Auto*Off On Off Off Off
Taillights
Parking lights
License lights
Side-marker lights
Dashboard illuminationOff Off Auto
*OffOnOnOnOn
* The headlight and other light settings switch automatically depending on the surrounding brightness detected by
the sensor.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
4-41
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Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
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Black plate (166,1)
Auto-light control
When the headlight switch is in the
position and the ignition is switched ON, the
light sensor senses the surrounding lightness or darkness and automatically turns the
headlights, other exterior lights and dashboard illumination on or off (see chart above).
CAUTION
ØDo not shade the light sensor by adhering a sticker or a label on the windshield.
Otherwise the light sensor will not operate correctly.
Light sensor
ØThe light sensor also works as a rain sensor for the auto-wiper control. Keep
hands and scrapers clear of the windshield when the wiper lever is in the
position and the ignition is switched ON as fingers could be pinched or the wipers
and wiper blades damaged when the wipers activate automatically. If you are
going to clean the windshield, be sure the wipers are turned off completely―this
is particularly important when clearing ice and snow―when it is particularly
tempting to leave the engine running.
4-42
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Page 167 of 488

Black plate (167,1)
NOTElThe headlights, other exterior lights and dashboard illumination may not turn off immediately
even if the surrounding area becomes well-lit because the light sensor determines that it is
nighttime if the surrounding area is continuously dark for several minutes such as inside long
tunnels, traffic jams inside tunnels, or in indoor parking lots.
In this case, the light turns off if the light switch is turned to the
position.l(Without auto headlight off function)
When the headlight switch is in the
position and the ignition is switched to ACC or the
ignition is switched off, the headlights, other exterior lights and dashboard illumination will turn
off.
lThe dashboard illumination can be adjusted by rotating the knob in the instrument cluster. Also,
the day/night mode can be changed by rotating the knob until a beep sound is heard. To adjust the
brightness of the dashboard illumination:
Refer to Dashboard Illumination on page 4-11.
lThe sensitivity of the AUTO lights may be changed by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Refer to Personalization Features on page 9-9.
Xenon fusion headlight bulbsí
The low-beam bulbs of the headlights have xenon fusion bulbs that produce a bright white
beam over a wide area.
WARNING
Do not replace the xenon fusion bulbs yourself
Replacing the xenon fusion bulbs yourself is dangerous. Because the xenon fusion
bulbs require high voltage, you could receive an electric shock if the bulbs are
handled incorrectly. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer when the replacement is
necessary.
NOTE
If the headlights flicker, or the brightness weakens, the bulb-life may be depleted and a replacement is
necessary. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
4-43íSome models. CX-5_8CA5-EA-11L_Edition3 Page167
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Form No.8CA5-EA-11L
Page 168 of 488

Black plate (168,1)
qHeadlight High-Low Beam
Press the lever forward to turn on the high
beams.
Pull the lever back to its original position
for the low beams.
The headlight high-beam indicator light in
the instrument cluster illuminates while
the high beams are turned on.
High beam
Low beam
qFlashing the Headlights
To flash the headlights, pull the lever fully
towards you (the headlight switch does
not need to be on). The headlight high-
beam indicator light in the instrument
cluster illuminates simultaneously. The
lever will return to the normal position
when released.
OFF
Flashing
qHeadlight Levelingí
The number of passengers and weight of
cargo in the luggage compartment change
the angle of the headlights.
The angle of the headlights will be
automatically adjusted when turning on
the headlights.
A system malfunction or operation
conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page
4-15.
qAdaptive Front Lighting System
(AFS)í
The adaptive front lighting system (AFS)
automatically adjusts the headlight beams
to the left or right in conjunction with the
operation of the steering wheel after the
headlights have been turned on and the
vehicle speed is about 2 km/h (2 mph) or
higher.
A system malfunction or operation
conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page
4-15.
4-44
When Driving
íSome models.
Switches and Controls
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Form No.8CA5-EA-11L