2017 MAZDA MODEL CX-5 Owner's Manual - RHD (UK, Australia) (in English)

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

▼Shift Gear (Shifting) Speed Limit
For each gear position while in the manual mode, the speed limi
t is set as follows: When the
selector lever is operated within the range of the speed limit, the gear is shifted.

Shift up
The gear does not shift up while the vehicle speed is lower tha n the speed limit.
Shift down
The gear does not shift down while the vehicle speed exceeds th e speed limit.
If the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit and the gear does not shift down, the gear
position indication flashes 2 tim es to notify the driver that the gear cannot be shifted.
Kickdown
When the accelerator pedal is de pressed fully while driving, the gear shifts down.
However, the gears do not kickdown while the TCS is turned off.
NOTE
The gear also shifts down using kickdown while in the second gear fixed mode.
Auto-shift down
The gear shifts down automatically depending on the vehicle spe ed during deceleration.
NOTE
If the vehicle comes to a stop while in the second gear fixed mode, the gear remains in
second.
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
4-61
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

*3 The lights are turned on continuously if the ignition is switched from ON to any other position with the lights
turned on. The lights are turned off when the driver's door is opened or 30 seconds have elapsed since the
lights turned on.
With auto-light control

Switch Position
Ignition Position ONACC or
OFF ON
ACC or
OFF ON
ACC or
OFF ON
ACC or
OFF
Headlights Off Off
Auto
*3Off Off Off On Off
Running lights
*On*1Off On*4Off Off Off Off Off
Tail lights
Position lights
Number plate lights On
*2Off
Auto*3On*5On On On On*5
*1 The lights are turned on wh ile the vehicle is driven.*2 When the running lights are turned on, the tail lights, and number plate lights turn on. The position lights does
not turn on. (Taiwan)
*3 The lights are turned on by the auto light function.*4 The lights are turned on while t he vehicle is driven, and turned off when the headlights are turned on by the
auto light function.
*5 The lights are turned on continuously if the ignition is switc hed from ON to any other position with the lights
turned on. The lights are turned off when the driver's door is opened or 30 seconds have elapsed since the
lights turned on.
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 automat ically turns the headlights
and other exterior lights on or off.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
4-64*Some models.
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