Driving
•Your Mazda will handle differently with a trailer in tow, so practice turning, backing, and
stopping in a traffic-free area.
•Take time to get accustomed to the extra weight and length.
•Allow more room between your vehicle and the one in front becau se braking distance
increases with a trailer. For eac h 16 km/h (10 mph) of speed, a llow at least one vehicle
and trailer length between your Mazda and the vehicle ahead.
•Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
•Avoid sudden braking. It may cau se loss of control and result in jackknifing, especially so
on wet or slippery roads.
•Shift the selector lever to the D position when towing a traile r in hilly terrain or when
heavily loaded.
The D position will allow opera ting the vehicle without frequen t shifting.
Lane changes and turning
Avoid quick lane changes, sudden turns, and tight turns. Slow d own before turning to avoid
the need of sudden braking.
A turning trailer will make a tigh ter arc than the tow vehicle. Compensate with turns that are
larger than normal.
Passing
Plan well ahead to pass other vehicles, and provide plenty of r oom before changing lanes.
Crosswinds from passing vehicles, especially larger ones, and t he effects of rough roads will
affect handling.
If swaying occurs, fir mly grip the steering wheel and reduce speed immediately, but
gradually.
Steer straight ahead. If no extreme correction of steering or b raking is made, the
combination of less speed and firm steering will result in stab ility.
Backing up
Backing a vehicle with a trailer requires practice and patience . Back slowly, and have a
helper outside at the rear of th e trailer to reduce the risk of an accident.
To turn the trailer, place your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and turn it in the
direction you want the trailer to go. Make only slight movements to prevent sharp or
prolonged turning.
Ascending a hill
Shift into a lower gear to reduce the possibility of overloadin g or overheating the engine, or
both.
Before Driving
To w i n g
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Auto-wiper control
When the wiper lever is in the
position, the rain sensor senses the amount
of rainfall on the windshield and turns the
wipers on or off automatically
(off―intermittent―low speed―high
speed).
The sensitivity of the rain sensor can be
adjusted by turning the switch on the
wiper lever.
From the center position (normal), rotate
the switch upward for higher sensitivity
(faster response) or rotate it downward for
less sensitivity (slower response).
Higher sensitivity
Less sensitivitySwitch
Center
position
CAUTION
Do not shade the rain sensor by adhering
a sticker or a label on the windshield.
Otherwise the rain sensor will not
operate correctly.
When the wiper lever is in the
position and the ignition is switched ON,
the wipers may move automatically in
the following cases:
If the windshield above the rain sensor
is touched or wiped with a cloth.
If the windshield is struck with a hand
or other object from either outside or
inside the vehicle.
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 (when it is most likely that the
engine is left running) this is particularly
important when clearing ice and snow.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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Antilock Brake System(ABS)
The ABS control unit continuously
monitors the speed o f each wheel. If one
wheel is about to lock up, the ABS
responds by automatically releasing and
reapplying that wheel's brake.
The driver will feel a slight vibration in
the brake pedal and may hear a chattering
noise from the brake system. This is
normal ABS system operation. Continue
to depress the brak e pedal without
pumping the brakes.
The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Warning Indication/Warning
Lights on page 4-32.
WA R N I N G
Do not rely on ABS as a substitute for safe
driving:
The ABS cannot compensate for unsafe
and reckless driving, excessive speed,
tailgating (following another vehicle too
closely), driving on ice and snow, and
hydroplaning (reduced tire friction and
road contact because of water on the road
surface). You can still have an accident.
NOTE
•Braking distances may be longer on
loose surfaces (snow or gravel, for
example) which usually have a hard
foundation. A vehicle with a normal
braking system may require less
distance to stop under these conditions
because the tires wi ll build up a wedge
of surface layer when the wheels skid.
•The sound of the ABS operating may be
heard when starting the engine or
immediately after starting the vehicle,
however, it does not indicate a
malfunction.
When Driving
ABS/TCS/DSC/Trailer St ability Assist (TSA)
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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 enhanced. This provides
additional quick acceleration which may be needed to safely mak e maneuvers such as lane
changes, merging onto freeways, or passing other vehicles.
CAUTION
Do not use the sport mode when driving on slip pery 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
When Driving
Drive Selection
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Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)*
The BSM is designed to assist the driver in checking the area to the rear of the vehicle on
both sides during lane changes by notifying the driver of the p resence of vehicles
approaching from the rear in an adjacent lane.
The BSM detects vehicles approaching from the rear while travel ing in the forward
direction at a speed of 10 km/h (6.3 mph) or faster and notifie s the driver by turning on the
BSM warning indicator light and displaying the vehicle detectio n screen (vehicles with
multi-information display and active driving display).
If the turn signal lever is operated to signal a turn in the direction in which the BSM
warning indicator light is illumi nated while the approaching vehicle is detected, the BSM
notifies the driver of possible danger by turning on the BSM wa rning indicator light, and by
activating the warning sound and the warning screen indicator display (vehicles with
multi-information display and active driving display).
The detection area on this system covers the driving lanes on b oth sides of the vehicle and
from the rear part of the front d oors to about 50 m (164 ft) behind the vehicle.
Detection areas
Your vehicle
WA R N I N G
Always check the surrounding area visually before making an actual lane change:
The system is only designed to assist you in checking for vehicles at your rear when making a
lane change. Due to certain limitations with
the operation of this system, the BSM warning
indicator light, the warning sound and the warning screen indicator display may not activate
or they might be delayed even though a vehicle is in an adjacent driving lane. Always make it
your responsibility as a driver to check the rear.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
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Speed limit signs and do not enter signs
4040
Sign recognized
Sign displayed
Active driving display indication Active driving display indication
Stop sign
40
Sign recognized and
displayed at same time
Active driving display indication
WA R N I N G
Always check the traffic signs visually while driving.
The TSR helps prevent the driver from overlooking traffic signs and provides support for safer
driving. Depending on the weather conditions or problems with traffic signs, a traffic sign
may not be recognized or a traffic sign different from the actual traffic sign may be displayed.
Always make it your responsibility as a driver to check the actual traffic signs. Otherwise, it
could result in an accident.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
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The RCTA warning indication in the rearview monitor also synchronizes with the Blind
Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning ind icator light on the door mirrors.
WA R N I N G
Always check the surrounding area visually before actually putting the vehicle in reverse:
The system is only designed to assist you in ch ecking for vehicles at the rear when putting the
vehicle in reverse. Due to certain limitations wi th the operation of this system, the Blind Spot
Monitoring (BSM) warning indicator lights may not
flash or it might be delayed even though
a vehicle is behind your vehicle. Always make it your responsibility as a driver to check the
rear.
NOTE
•In the following cases, the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) OFF indicator light turns on and
operation of the system is stopped. If the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) OFF indicator
light remains illuminated, have the vehicle inspected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer as
soon as possible.
•Some problem with the system including the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning
indicator lights has occurred.
•A large deviation in the installation position of a radar sensor (rear) on the vehicle has
occurred.
•There is a large accumulation of snow or ice on the rear bumper near a radar sensor
(rear).
•Driving on snow-covered roads for long periods.
•The temperature near the radar sensors becomes extremely hot due to driving for long
periods on slopes during the summer.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
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Advanced Smart City Brake Support (Advanced SCBS)*
The Advanced SCBS alerts the driver of a possible collision using the display and a warning
sound when the Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) detects a vehicle a head or pedestrian and
determines that a collision with the object is unavoidable whil e the vehicle is driven at a
vehicle speed of about 4 to 80 k m/h (2 to 50 mph) if the object is a vehicle ahead and about
10 to 80 km/h (6.2 to 50 mph) if the object is a pedestrian. In addition, the system reduces
damage in the event of a collision by operating the brake contr ol (Advanced SCBS brake)
when the system determines that a collision is unavoidable. In addition, when the driver
depresses the brake pedal, the brakes are applied firmly and qu ickly to assist. (Brake Assist
(Advanced SCBS brake assist))
Forward Sensing
Camera (FSC)
WA R N I N G
Do not rely completely on the Advanced SCBS system:
The Advanced SCBS system is only designed to reduce damage in the event of a collision.
Over reliance on the system leading to the accelerator pedal or brake pedal being
mistakenly operated could result in an accident.
The Advanced SCBS system operates in respo nse to a vehicle ahead or a pedestrian. The
system does not operate in response to obstru ctions such as a wall, 2-wheeled vehicles, or
animals.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
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