2017 MAZDA MODEL CX-5 engine

Shift-Lock System
The shift-lock system prevents shifting out
of P unless the brake pedal is depressed.

To shift from P:
1. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Press and hold the lock-release button.
4. Move the selector lever.
NOTE
•When the ignition is switched to ACC or
the ignition is switch ed off, the selector
lever cannot be shifted from P.
•The ignition cannot be switched to OFF
if the selector lever is not in P.
▼ Shift-Lock Override
If the selector lever will not move from P
using the proper shift procedure, continue
to hold down the brake pedal.
Ty p e A
1. Remove the shift-lock override cover
using a cloth-wrapped flat head
screwdriver.
2. Insert a screwdriver and push it down.
Cover
3. Press and hold the lock-release button.
4. Move the selector lever.
Take the vehicle to an expert repairer, we
recommend an Authorised Mazda
Repairer to have the system checked.
Ty p e B
1. Press the lock-release button with thebutton pressed.
Lock-release button
Button
2. Move the selector lever.
Take the vehicle to an expert repairer, we
recommend an Authorised Mazda
Repairer to have the system checked.
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
4-55
2017-6-7 7:51:19 Form No. CX-5 8FY4-EE-17E+L_Edition2

Transaxle Ranges
•The shift position indication in the
instrument cluster illuminates. Refer to
Warning/Indicator Lights on page 4-42.
•The selector lever must be in P or N to
operate the starter.
P (Park)
P locks the transaxle and prevents the
front wheels from rotating.
WA R N I N G
Always set the selector lever to P and set
the parking brake:
Only setting the selector lever to the P
position without using the parking brake to
hold the vehicle is dangerous. If P fails to
hold, the vehicle could move and cause an
accident.
CAUTION
 Shifting into P, N or R while the vehicle is
moving can damage your transaxle.
 Shifting into a driving gear or reverse
when the engine is running faster than
idle can damage the transaxle.
R (Reverse)
In position R, the vehicle moves only
backward. You must be at a complete stop
before shifting to or from R, except under
rare circumstances as explained in
Rocking the Vehicle (page 3-56).
NOTE
(With parking sensor system)
When the selector lever is shifted to the R
position with the igni tion switched ON, the
parking sensor system is activated and a
beep sound is heard.
Refer to Parking Sensor System on page
4-229.
N (Neutral)
In N, the wheels an d transaxle are not
locked. The vehicle will roll freely even
on the slightest inclin e unless the parking
brake or brakes are on.
WA R N I N G
If the engine is running faster than idle, do
not shift from N or P into a driving gear:
It's dangerous to shift from N or P into a
driving gear when the engine is running
faster than idle. If this is done, the vehicle
could move suddenly, causing an accident
or serious injury.
Do not shift into N when driving the
vehicle:
Shifting into N while driving is dangerous.
Engine braking cannot be applied when
decelerating which could lead to an
accident or se rious injury.
CAUTION
Do not shift into N when driving the
vehicle. Doing so can cause transaxle
damage.
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
4-56
2017-6-7 7:51:19 Form No. CX-5 8FY4-EE-17E+L_Edition2

Manual Shift Mode
The manual shift mode gives you the feel
of driving a manual transaxle vehicle by
allowing you to operate the selector lever
manually. This allows you to control
engine rpm and torque to the drive wheels
much like a manual transaxle when more
control is desired.
To change to manual shift mode, shift the
lever from D to M.

NOTE
Changing to manual shift mode while
driving will not damage the transaxle.
To return to automatic shift mode, shift the
lever from M to D.
NOTE
•If you change to manual shift mode
when the vehicle is stopped, the gear
will shift to M1.
•If you change to manual shift mode
without depressing the accelerator pedal
when driving in D range, 5th gear/6th
gear, the gear will shift to M4/M5.
▼ Indications
Manual shift mode indication
In manual shift mode, the “M” of the shift
position indication in
the instrument panel
illuminates.
Gear position indication
The numeral for th e selected gear
illuminates.

Manual shift mode
indicationGear position indication
NOTE
•If the gears cannot be shifted down
when driving at higher speeds, the gear
position indication will flash twice to
signal that the gears cannot be shifted
down (to protect the transaxle).
•If the automatic tr ansaxle fluid (ATF)
temperature becomes too high, there is
the possibility that the transaxle will
switch to automatic shift mode,
cancelling manual shift mode and
turning off the gear position indication
illumination. This is a normal function
to protect the AT. After the ATF
temperature has decreased, the gear
position indication illumination turns
back on and driving in manual shift
mode is restored.
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
4-58
2017-6-7 7:51:19 Form No. CX-5 8FY4-EE-17E+L_Edition2

▼Gear Shift Indicator (GSI)*
The GSI supports you to obtain optimum
fuel economy and smooth driving. It
displays the selected gear position in the
instrument cluster as well as notifies the
driver to change to the most suitable gear
position corresponding to the actual
driving condition.

Selected gear position Suitable gear position
Indication
Condition
Numeral The selected gear position is dis-
played.
and numeral Shift up or down to the indicated
gear position is recommended.
CAUTION
Do not rely solely on the shift-up/
shift-down recommendations by
indications. The actual driving situation
might require shift operations different
from indication. To avoid the risk of
accidents, the road and traffic conditions
have to be judged correctly by the driver
before shifting.
NOTE
The GSI turns off when the following
operations are performed.
•The vehicle is stopped.
•Manual shift mode is cancelled.
▼
Manually Shifting Up
You can shift gears up by operating the
selector lever.
M1 → M2 → M3 → M4 → M5 → M6
To shift up to a hig
her gear, tap the
selector lever back
once.

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 cancelled while the TCS
is turned off. However, if the vehicle is
continuously driven at a high rpm, the
gears may automatically shift up to
protect the engine.
▼ Manually Shifting Down
You can shift gears down by operating the
selector lever.
M6 → M5 → M4 → M3 → M2→ M1
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
*Some models.4-59
2017-6-7 7:51:19 Form No. CX-5 8FY4-EE-17E+L_Edition2

To shift down to a lower gear, tap the
selector lever forward
once.

WA R N I N G
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
tyre speed could cause the tyres to skid.
This could lead to loss of vehicle control
and an accident.
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 TCS
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 cancelled.
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
4-60
2017-6-7 7:51:19 Form No. CX-5 8FY4-EE-17E+L_Edition2

Driving Tips
WA R N I N G
Do not let the vehicle move in a direction
opposite to the direction selected by the
selector lever:
Do not let the vehicle move backward with
the selector lever in a forward position, or
do not let the vehicle move forward with
the selector lever in the reverse position.
Otherwise, the engine may 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.
NOTE
•The accelerator pedal may initially feel
heavy as it is being depressed, then feel
lighter as it is depressed further. This
change in pedal force aids the engine
control system in determining how much
the accelerator pedal has been
depressed for performing kickdown, and
functions to control whether or not
kickdown should be performed.
•While the selector lever is in the M
position and the TCS is turned off,
manual shift mode does not switch to
automatic shift mode even if the
accelerator pedal is completely
depressed. Operate the selector lever.
Climbing steep gra des 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
Automatic Transaxle
4-62
2017-6-7 7:51:19 Form No. CX-5 8FY4-EE-17E+L_Edition2

Lighting Control
▼Headlights
Turn the headlight switch to turn
the headlights and other exterior lights on or off.
When the lights are turned on, the lights-on indicator light in the instrument cluster turns on.

NOTE
•To prevent discharging the battery, do not leave the lights on while the engine is off unless
safety requires them.
•Headlights do not blind drivers approaching in the opposite direction no matter what side
of the road you must drive your vehicle (left- hand or right-hand traffic). Therefore, it is
not necessary to adjust the optical axis of the headlights when switching temporarily to
driving on the opposite side of the road (left-hand or right-hand traffic).
Without auto-light control

Switch Position
Ignition Position ONACC or
OFF ONACC or
OFF ONACC or
OFF
Headlights Off Off Off Off On Off
Running lights
*On*1Off Off Off Off Off
Tail lights
Position lights
Number plate lights Off/On
*2Off On On On
On*3
*1 The lights are turned on while the vehicle is driven.*2 When the running lights are turned on, the tail lights, and nu mber plate lights turn on. The position lights does
not turn on. (Taiwan)
When Driving
Switches and Controls
*Some models.4-63
2017-6-7 7:51:19 Form No. CX-5 8FY4-EE-17E+L_Edition2

CAUTION
Do not shade the light sensor by adhering a st icker or a label on the windscreen. Otherwise
the light sensor will not operate correctly.

 The light sensor also works as a rain sensor for the auto-wiper control. Keep hands and
scrapers clear of the windscreen 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 windscreen,
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.
NOTE
•The headlights and other exterior lights may not turn off immediately even if the
surrounding area becomes well-lit because the light sensor determines that it is night time
if the surrounding area is continuously dark for several minute s such as inside long
tunnels, traffic jams inside tunn els, or in indoor parking lots.
In this case, the lights turn off if the light switch is turned to the
position.
•The sensitivity of the auto-light control may be changed.
Refer to Personalisation Features on page 9-12.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
4-65
2017-6-7 7:51:19 Form No. CX-5 8FY4-EE-17E+L_Edition2