Hazardous Driving
WA R N I N G
Be extremely careful if it is necessary to
downshift on slippery surfaces:
Downshifting into lower gear while driving
on slippery surfaces 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.
Avoid sharp turns, excessive speed and
abrupt maneuvers when driving this
vehicle:
Sharp turns, excessive speed and abrupt
maneuvering of this vehicle are dangerous
as it could result in the increased risk of loss
of vehicle control, vehicle roll-over,
personal injury or death.
This vehicle has a higher center of gravity.
Vehicles with a higher center of gravity
such as utility vehicles handle differently
than vehicles with a lower center of gravity.
Utility vehicles are not designed for
cornering at high speeds any more than
low profile sports cars are designed to
perform satisfactorily under off-road
conditions.
In addition, utility vehicles have a
significantly higher rollover rate than other
types of vehicles.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt.
When driving on ice or in water, snow,
mud, sand, or similar hazards:
•Be cautious and allow extra distance for
braking.
•Avoid sudden braking and sudden
maneuvering.
•Do not pump the brakes. Continue to
press down on the brake pedal.
Refer to Antilock Brake System (ABS)
on page 4-75.
•If you get stuck, select a lower gear and
accelerate slowly. Do not spin the front
wheels.
•For more traction in starting on slippery
surfaces such as ice or packed snow, use
sand, rock salt, cha ins, carpeting, or
other nonslip material under the front
wheels.
NOTE
Use snow chains only on the front wheels.
Before Driving
Driving Tips
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Winter Driving
Carry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, flares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag of
sand or salt.
Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to check
the following:
•Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in the
radiator.
Refer to Engine Coolant on page 6-18.
•Inspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
•Use an engine oil appropriate for the
lowest ambient temperatures that the
vehicle will be driven in (page 6-17).
•Inspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
•Use washer fluid made with
antifreeze―but do not use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer fluid (page
6-20).
NOTE
•Remove snow before driving. Snow left
on the windshield is dangerous as it
could obstruct vision.
•Do not apply excessive force to a
window scraper when removing ice or
frozen snow on the mirror glass and
windshield.
•Never use warm or hot water for
removing snow or ice from windows and
mirrors as it could result in the glass
cracking.
•Drive slowly. Braking performance can
be adversely affected if snow or ice
adheres to the brake components. If this
situation occurs, drive the vehicle
slowly, releasing the accelerator pedal
and lightly applying the brakes several
times until the brake performance
returns to normal.
▼ Snow Tires
Use snow tires on all four wheels
Do not go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph)
while driving with sno
w tires. Inflate snow
tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm
2, 4.3 psi) more
than recommended on the tire pressure
label (driver's door frame), but never more
than the maximum c old-tire pressure
shown on the tires.
The vehicle is originally equipped with all
season radials designed to be used all year
around. In some extreme climates you
may find it necessary t o replace them with
snow tires during the winter months to
further improve traction on snow and ice
covered roads.
WA R N I N G
Use only the same size and type tires (snow,
radial, or non-radial) on all four wheels:
Using tires different in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehi cle's handling could
be greatly affected and result in an
accident.
CAUTION
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
Before Driving
Driving Tips
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NOTE
The tire pressure monitoring system may
not function correctly when using tires
with steel wire reinforcement in the
sidewalls (page 4-164).
▼ Tire Chains
Check local regulations before using tire
chains.
CAUTION
Chains may affect handling.
Do not go faster than 50 km/h (30 mph)
or the chain manufacturer's
recommended limit, whichever is lower.
Drive carefully and avoid bumps, holes,
and sharp turns.
Avoid locked-wheel braking.
Do not use chains on a temporary spare
tire; it may result in damage to the
vehicle and to the tire.
Do not use chains on roads that are free
of snow or ice. The tires and chains could
be damaged.
Chains may scratch or chip aluminum
wheels.
NOTE
•The tire pressure monitoring system may
not function correctly when using tire
chains.
Install the chains on the front tires only.
Do not use chains on the rear tires.
Please consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Installing the chains
1. Secure the chains on the front tires as tightly as possible.
Always follow the chain
manufacturer's instructions.
2. Retighten the chains after driving 1/2―1 km (1/4―1/2 mile).
Before Driving
Driving Tips
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Traction Control System(TCS)
The Traction Control System (TCS)
enhances traction and safety by controlling
engine torque and braking. When the TCS
detects driving wheel slippage, it lowers
engine torque and operates the brakes to
prevent loss of traction.
This means that on a slick surface, the
engine adjusts autom atically to provide
optimum power to th e drive wheels,
limiting wheel spin a nd loss of traction.
The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Indication/Warning
Lights on page 4-30.
WA R N I N G
Do not rely on the Traction Control System
(TCS) as a substitute for safe driving:
The Traction Control System (TCS) cannot
compensate for unsafe and reckless
driving, excessive speed, tailgating
(following another vehicle too closely), and
hydroplaning (reduced tire friction and
road contact because of water on the road
surface). You can still have an accident.
Use snow tires or tire chains and drive at
reduced speeds when roads are covered
with ice and/or snow:
Driving without proper traction devices on
snow and/or ice-covered roads is
dangerous. The Traction Control System
(TCS) alone cannot provide adequate
traction and you could still have an
accident.
NOTE
To turn off the TCS, press the TCS OFF
switch (page 4-77).
▼ TCS/DSC Indicator Light
This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched ON.
If the TCS or DSC is operating, the
indicator light flashes.
If the light stays on, the TCS, DSC or the
brake assist system may have a
malfunction and they may not operate
correctly. Take your vehicle to an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
•In addition to the indicator light
flashing, a slight lugging sound will
come from the engine. This indicates
that the TCS/DSC is operating properly.
•On slippery surfaces, such as fresh
snow, it will be impossible to achieve
high rpm when the TCS is on.
When Driving
ABS/TCS/DSC
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i-ACTIV AWD Operation*
AWD provides excellent drivability on
snow-covered and ice-packed roads, sand
and mud, as well as on steep slopes and
other slippery surfaces.
A system malfunction or operation
conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Warning Indication/Warning
Lights on page 4-30.
WA R N I N G
Never spin a wheel that is off the ground:
Spinning a wheel that is off the ground as a
result of the vehicle being stuck or in a
ditch is dangerous. The drive assembly
could be seriously damaged which could
lead to an accident or could even lead to
overheating, oil leakage, and a fire.
▼ AWD Driving
WA R N I N G
Avoid sharp turns, excessive speed and
abrupt maneuvers when driving this
vehicle:
Sharp turns, excessive speed and abrupt
maneuvering of this vehicle is dangerous
as it could result in the increased risk of loss
of vehicle control, vehicle roll-over,
personal injury or death.
This vehicle has a higher center of gravity.
Vehicles with a higher center of gravity
such as utility and AWD vehicles handle
differently than vehicles with a lower center
of gravity.
Utility and AWD vehicles are not designed
for cornering at high speeds any more than
low profile sports cars are designed to
perform satisfactorily under off-road
conditions. In addition, utility vehicles have
a significantly higher rollover rate than
other types of vehicles.
Drive carefully when the vehicle is loaded
by lowering vehicle speed and applying the
brakes earlier:
Abrupt maneuvering and sudden braking
when driving a loaded vehicle is dangerous
as the driving behavior of a vehicle with a
high center of gravity is different when it is
loaded compared to when it is not, and
could result in the loss of vehicle control
and an accident.
▼Tires and Tire Chains
The condition of the ti
res plays a large role
in the performance of the vehicle.
Moreover, to prevent adverse effects to the
drive assembly, please note the following:
Tires
•When replacing tires, always replace all
front and rear tires at the same time.
•All tires must be of the same size,
manufacture, brand and tread pattern.
Pay particular attention when equipping
snow or other types of winter tires.
•Do not mix tread-worn tires with normal
tires.
•Inspect tire inflation pressures at the
specified periods adjust to the specified
pressures.
When Driving
i-ACTIV AWD
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NOTE
Check the tire inflation pressure label
attached to driver's door frame for the
correct tire inflation pressure.
•Make sure to equip the vehicle with
genuine wheels of the specified size, on
all wheels. With AWD, the system is
calibrated for all four wheels being of
the same dimensions.
Tire chains
•Install tire chains to the front tires.
•Do not use tire chains on the rear
wheels.
•Do not drive the vehicle faster than 30
km/h (19 mph) with the tire chains
installed.
•Do not drive the vehicle with tire chains
on road conditions other than snow or
ice.
▼ To w i n g
If the vehicle requ
ires towing, have it
towed with all four wh eels completely off
the ground.
Refer to Towing Description on page 7-
20.
When Driving
i-ACTIV AWD
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▼System Error Activation
When the warning light flashes, there may
be a system malfunction. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
A system error activation may occur in the
following cases:
•When there is equipment or a device
near the vehicle using the same radio
frequency as that of the tire pressure
sensors.
•When a metallic device such as a
non-genuine navigation system is
equipped near the center of the
dashboard, which may block radio
signals from the tire pressure sensor to
the receiver unit.
•When using the following devices in the
vehicle that may cause radio
interference with the receiver unit.
•A digital device such as a personal
computer.
•A current converter device such as a
DC-AC converter.
•When excess snow or ice adheres to the
vehicle, especially around the wheels.
•When the tire pressu
re sensor batteries
are exhausted.
•When using a wheel with no tire
pressure sensor installed.
•When using tires with steel wire
reinforcement in the side walls.
•When using tire chains.
▼ Tires and Wheels
CAUTION
When inspecting or adjusting the tire air
pressures, do not apply excessive force to
the stem part of the wheel unit. The stem
part could be damaged.
Changing tires and wheels
The following procedure allows the TPMS
to recognize a tire pressure sensor's unique
ID signal code whenever tires or wheels
are changed, such as changing to and from
winter tires.
NOTE
Each tire pressure sensor has a unique ID
signal code. The signal code must be
registered with the TPMS before it can
work. The easiest way to
do it is to have
an Authorized Mazda Dealer change your
tire and complete ID signal code
registration.
When having tires changed at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer
When an Authorized Mazda Dealer
changes your vehicle's tires, they will
complete the tire pressure sensor ID signal
code registration.
When changing tires yourself
If you or someone else changes tires, you
or someone else can also undertake the
steps for the TPMS to complete the ID
signal code registration.
1. After tires have been changed, switch
the ignition ON, then back to ACC or
OFF.
2. Wait for about 15 minutes.
When Driving
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
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Rear View Monitor*
The rear view monitor provides visual images of the rear of the vehicle when reversing.
WA R N I N G
Always drive carefully
confirming the safety of the rear and the surrounding conditions by
looking directly with your eyes:
Reversing the vehicle by only looking at the screen is dangerous as it may cause an accident
or a collision with an object. The rear view monitor is only a visual assist device when
reversing the vehicle. The images on the screen may be different from the actual conditions.
CAUTION
Do not use the rear view monitor under the following conditions: Using the rear view
monitor under the following conditions is dang erous and could result in injury or vehicle
damage or both.
Icy or snow-covered roads.
Tire chains or a temporary spare tire is installed.
The liftgate is not fully closed.
The vehicle is on a road incline.
When the display is cold, images may course across the monitor or the screen and may be
dimmer than usual, which could cause difficul ty in confirming the surrounding conditions
of the vehicle. Always drive carefully confirm ing the safety of the rear and the surrounding
conditions by looking directly with your eyes.
Do not apply excessive force to the camera. The camera position and angle may deviate.
Do not disassemble, modify, or remove it as it may no longer be waterproof.
The camera cover is made of plastic. Do not apply degreasing agents, organic solvents,
wax, or glass coating agents to the camera co ver. If any are spilled on the cover, wipe off
with a soft cloth immediately.
Do not rub the camera cover forcefully with an abrasive or hard brush. The camera cover or
lens may be scratched which might affect the images.
NOTE
•If water, snow, or mud is stuck on the camera lens, wipe it off using a soft cloth. If it
cannot be wiped off, use a mild detergent.
•If the camera temperature changes rapidly (Hot to cold, cold to hot), the rear view
monitor may not ope rate correctly.
•When replacing the tires, consult an Author ized Mazda Dealer. Replacing the tires could
result in deviation of the guide lines which appear on the display.
When Driving
Rear View Monitor
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