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4–47
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
*Some models.
WARNING
Keep your hands on the steering wheel
rim when using fingers on the steering
shift switches:Putting your hands inside the rim of
the steering wheel when using the
steering shift switches is dangerous.
If the driver's air bag were to deploy
in a collision, your hands could be
impacted causing injury.
NOTE
When driving slowly, the gears may not
shift up.
Do not drive the vehicle with the
tachometer needle in the RED ZONE
while in manual shift mode. In
addition, manual shift mode switches
to automatic shift mode while the
accelerator pedal is completely
depressed.
This function is canceled while the DSC
is turned off. However, if the vehicle
is continuously driven at a high rpm,
the gears may automatically shift up to
protect the engine.
The steering shift switch can be used
temporarily even if the selector lever is
in the D position while driving. In
addition, it returns to automatic shift
mode when the UP switch (
) is
pulled rearward for a sufficient amount
of time.
Manually Shifting Down
You can shift gears down by operating
the selector lever or the steering shift
switches
*.
M6 → M5 → M4 → M3 → M2→ M1
Using selector lever
To shift down to a lower gear, tap the
selector lever forward
once.
Using steering shift switch*
To shift down to a lower gear with the
steering shift switches, pull the DOWN
switch
toward you once with your
fingers.
DO WN switch (-)
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4–48
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
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.
Keep your hands on the steering wheel
rim when using fingers on the steering
shift switches: Putting your hands inside the rim of
the steering wheel when using the
steering shift switches is dangerous.
If the driver's air bag were to deploy
in a collision, your hands could be
impacted causing injury.
NOTE
When driving at high speeds, the gear
may not shift down.
During deceleration, the gear may
automatically shift down depending on
vehicle speed.
When depressing the accelerator fully,
the transaxle will shift to a lower gear,
depending on vehicle speed. However,
the gears do not kickdown while the
DSC is turned off.
Second Gear Fixed Mode
When the selector lever is moved back
while the vehicle speed is about 10 km/h
(6.2 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
acceleration from a stop and driving on
slippery roads such as snow-covered
roads.
If the selector lever is moved back
or
forward
while in the second gear fixed
mode, the mode will be canceled.
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4–65
When Driving
Switches and Controls
Horn
To sound the horn, press the mark on
the steering wheel.
Hazard Warning Flasher
The hazard warning lights should always
be used when you stop on or near a
roadway in an emergency.
The hazard warning lights warn other
drivers that your vehicle is a traffic hazard
and that they must take extreme caution
when near it.
Depress the hazard warning flasher and
all the turn signals will flash. The hazard
warning indicator lights in the instrument
cluster flash simultaneously.
NOTE
The turn signals do not work when the
hazard warning lights are on.
Check local regulations about the use of
hazard warning lights while the vehicle
is being towed to verify that it is not in
violation of the law.
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4–82
When Driving
i-ELOOP
i-ELOOP Control Status Display
The driver is notified of the i-ELOOP
power generating status and the vehicle
conditions by the control status display.
The i-ELOOP power generating status is
displayed in the center display.
Refer to Control Status Display on page
4-85.
i-ELOOP Charging Display
If the engine is started after the vehicle
has not been driven for a long period of
time, an “i-ELOOP Charging Please don't
Drive” message may be indicated in the
display.
Leave the engine idling and wait until the
message disappears.
NOTE
If the vehicle is driven while the message
is displayed, a beep sound is heard.
If you turn the steering wheel while the
message is displayed, it will feel heavier
than normal, but this does not indicate
an abnormality. Stop the vehicle in a safe
location with the engine running and do
not attempt to turn the steering wheel. The
steering operation will return to normal
after the message is no longer displayed.
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4–86
When Driving
Drive Selection
*Some models.
Drive Selection*
Drive selection is a system to switch the vehicle's drive mode. When the sport mode
is selected, vehicle's response against accelerator operation is enhance\
d. This provides
additional quick acceleration which may be needed to safely make maneuvers such as lane
changes, merging onto freeways, or passing other vehicles.
CAUTION
Do not use the sport mode when driving on slippery roads such as wet or snow-covered
roads. It may cause tire slipping.
NOTE
When the sport mode is selected, driving at higher engine speeds increases and it may
increase fuel consumption. Mazda recommends that you cancel the sport mode on normal
driving.
Drive mode cannot be switched in the following conditions:
ABS/TCS/DSC is operating The Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system/cruise control is operating. Steering wheel is being operated abruptly
Drive Selection Switch
Press the drive selection switch forward
(“
”) to select the sport mode.
Pull the drive selection switch back
(“”) to cancel the sport mode.
NOTE
When the ignition is switched off, the
sport mode is canceled.
Depending on the driving conditions
when sport mode is selected, the vehicle
may perform shift-down or slightly
accelerate.
Select Mode Indication
When the sport mode is selected, the select
mode indication turns on in the instrument
cluster.
NOTE
If the drive selection cannot be switched
to sport mode, the select mode indication
flashes to notify the driver.
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When Driving
Power Steering
Power Steering
Power steering is only operable when
the engine is running. If the engine is
off or if the power steering system is
inoperable, you can still steer, but it
requires more physical effort.
If the steering feels stiffer than usual
during normal driving or the steering
vibrates, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
The warning indication/warning
light notifies the driver of system
abnormalities and operation conditions.
In addition, the buzzer may also activate
depending on the system abnormality or
operation condition.
Refer to Warning Indication/Warning
Lights on page 4-33.
Refer to Power Steering Warning Buzzer
on page 7-39.
CAUTION
Never hold the steering wheel to the
extreme left or right for more than 5
seconds with the engine running. This
could damage the power steering
system.
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When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
*Some models.
Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS)*
The adaptive front lighting system (AFS) automatically adjusts the hea\
dlight beams to the
left or right in conjunction with the operation of the steering wheel af\
ter 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 4-32.
NOTE
The Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) function can be switched to operable/inopera\
ble
using the personalization function.
Refer to Personalization Features on page 9-10.
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4–125
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
*Some models.
Lane-keep Assist System (LAS) & Lane Departure
Warning System (LDWS)
*
The Lane-keep Assist System (LAS) & Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) alerts the
driver that the vehicle may be deviating from its lane and it provides s\
teering assistance to
help the driver stay within the vehicle lanes.
The Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) detects the white lines (yellow line\
s) of the vehicle
lane in which the vehicle is traveling and if the system determines that\
the vehicle may
deviate from its lane, it operates the electric power steering to assist\
the driver's steering
operation. The system also alerts the driver by activating a lane departure warning\
sound,
vibrating the steering wheel, and indicating an alert in the display.
Refer to Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) on page 4-146.
Forward Sensing
Camera (FSC)
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