ItemModel
SKYAC‐
TIV-G 2.0 SKYACTIV-G 2.5 SKYACTIV-G 2.5T
2WD 2WD AWD 2WD AWD
Manual
transaxle Automatic transaxle Automatic transaxle
TRAIL‐
ER-TONG
UE LOAD Tongue load
Tongue load/Trailer load × 100 = 10 % to 15 %
Trailer load
DISTRIBU‐
TION OF
TRAILER
LOADFront 60 %
Rear 40 %
*1 Check the maximum GAWR and the maximum GVWR on the Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Label posted on
the driver's door frame (page 9-2).
WA R N I N G
Always keep tow loads within specified limits as indicated in the Trailer Towing-Load Table:
Attempting to tow loads great er than those specified is dangerous as it may cause serious
handling and performance problems that could result in personal injury or vehicle damage,
or both.
Load your trailer with the weight about 60 % toward the front and 40 % toward the rear:
Loading the trailer with more weight in the rear than in the front is dangerous. Doing so could
cause you to lose control. The trailer tongue load must be 10 % ―15 % of the total trailer load
(sum of the weights of the trailer and cargo).
Always have the total trailer weight and tongue load determined prior to departure:
Attempting to tow loads withou t determining the total trailer weight and tongue load is
dangerous. Trailer sway from crosswinds, roug h roads or other causes could result in loss of
control and a serious accident.
CAUTION
The total trailer weight and tongue load ca n be determined by weighing the trailer on
platform scales at a highway weight station or a trucking company.
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▼Trailer Hitch
Use only a hitch ball recommended by the trailer manufacturer t
hat conforms to the gross
trailer weight requirement.
When not towing a trailer, remov e the trailer hitch (if detachable) to reduce the possibility of
damage as a result of the vehicle being rear-ended.
WA R N I N G
Always make sure the trailer hitch is securely attached before departure:
An unsecured trailer hitch is dangerous as it causes greater trailer sway from crosswinds,
rough roads or other causes, resulting in loss of control and a serious accident.
Examine all trailer-hitch mounting bolts regularly and tighten any that are loose. If the hitch
is removed, seal any open mounting holes to prevent exhaust, dust, water, dirt and other
foreign elements from filtering in, possibly en dangering personal safety and damaging your
vehicle.
Do not install a hitch that stiffens the bumper as it will reduce the bumper's performance.
Make sure there are no exhaust gas leaks into the passenger compartment if any mounting
bolts are connected to the body:
Modifying your vehicle exhaust system is dang erous. Exhaust gas entering the vehicle could
cause loss of consciousness or even death.
When mounting the trailer hitch, make no modifications to the vehicle exhaust system.
CAUTION
Make all hitch adjustments with actual loads. Do not load and unload vehicle while
adjusting hitch. This action wi ll change the vehicle height.
Do not use an axle-mounted hitch. This may damage the axle and related parts.
▼ Tires
When towing a trailer, make sure
all tires are inflated to the recommended cold-tire
pressure, as indicated on the ti re pressure chart on the driver's door frame. Trailer tire size,
load rating, and inflation pressures should conform to tire man ufacturer specifications.
WA R N I N G
Never use the temporary spare tire when towing:
Using the temporary spare tire on your vehicle when towing a trailer is dangerous as it could
result in tire failure, loss of control, and injury to vehicle occupants.
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▼Safety Chains
Safety chains must be used as a
precautionary measure should th e trailer become
unintentionally unhitched. They should cross under the trailer tongue and attach to the hitch.
Leave enough slack to allow ful l turns. Consult literature published by your trailer or hitch
manufacturer for more details.
WA R N I N G
Make sure the safety chain is securely attached to both the trailer and the vehicle prior to
departure:
Towing a trailer without using a safety chain securely attached to both the trailer and the
vehicle is dangerous. If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch ball, the trailer could
wander into another lane and cause a collision.
▼ Trailer Lights
Trailer lights must comply with a
ll federal, state, and local regulations. Equip your trailer as
required before towing it day or night.
CAUTION
Do not connect a trailer lighting system directly to the lighting system of your Mazda. This
may damage your vehicle's electrical system an d lighting systems. Have a recreational vehicle
dealer or trailer rental agency connect the system, and inspect the brake lights and turn
signals yourself before each trip.
▼ Trailer Brakes
If the total trailer weight exc
eeds 450 kg (1,000 lb), trailer brakes are required. If your trailer
has brakes, make sure they compl y with all federal, state, and local regulations.
WA R N I N G
Do not connect a hydraulic trailer-brake system to your vehicle's brake system:
Connecting a hydraulic trailer-brake system direc tly to the vehicle brake system is dangerous
and will result in inadequate braking and possible injury.
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▼Trailer Towing Tips
Verify that your Mazda maintains a near-normal attitude when a
loaded or unloaded trailer
is connected. Do not drive if it h as an abnormal front-up or front-down position. Inspect
for incorrect tongue load, worn suspension parts, and trailer o verloading.
Make sure the trailer is properly loaded and the cargo is secur e to prevent it from shifting.
Make sure the mirrors conform to all government regulations. If they do not, install
required rear view mirrors appropriate for towing purposes.
The three main causes of vehicle-trailer accidents are driver e rror, excessive speed, and
improper trailer loading.
Before driving
Have your cooling and braking sy stem checked by an Authorized M azda Dealer.
Before starting out, inspect the operation of all vehicle and t railer lights and all
vehicle-to-trailer connections. Stop and re-inspect all lights and connections after driving
a short distance.
Driving
Your Mazda will handle differentl y 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 each 16 km/h (10 mph) of speed, a llow at least one vehicle
and trailer length between your M azda and the vehicle ahead.
Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
Avoid sudden braking. It may cause loss of control and result i n jackknifing, especially so
on wet or slippery roads.
Shift the selector lever to the D position when towing a trailer in hilly terrain or when
heavily loaded.
The D position will allow operating 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 tighter arc than the tow vehicle. Compensate with turns that are
larger than normal.
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Parking
Always make sure the tires of the trailer and the tow vehicle are blocked while parked.
Apply the parking brake firmly and put the transaxle in P.
Avoid parking on an incline, but if you must, follow these instructions:
1. Depress and hold down the brake pedal.
2. Have a helper put wheel blocks against the downhill side of a ll vehicle and trailer tires.
3. Then release the brake pedal slowly until the blocks bear the load.
If the grade is downhill, turn the steering wheel so that the front of the front tires face
the curb.
If it is uphill, face the rear of the front tires against the curb.
4. Firmly apply t he parking brake.
5. Shift the transaxle into P, and stop the engine.
To restart after parking on an incline:
1. With the transaxle in P, start the engine. (Be sure to depres s and hold the brake pedal.)
2. Shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake (also the foot brake) and pull away from the wheel blocks.
Stop; apply the parking brake and shift into P.
4. Have a helper retrieve the wheel blocks.
Fuel consumption
Trailer towing causes higher fuel consumption.
Maintenance
If you tow a trailer frequently, have your vehicle serviced as shown in Scheduled
Maintenance (page 6-4).
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Recreational Towing
An example of "recreational towing" is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transaxle is not designed for towing
this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to
"Towing Description" (page 7-20) and
"Tiedown Hooks" (page 7-21) and
carefully follow the instructions.
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▼Headlight High-Low Beam
The headlights switch between high and
low beams by moving the lever forward or
backward.
High beam
Low beam
When the headlight high-beams are on, the
headlight high-beam indicator light is
turned on.
▼Flashing the Headlights
Can be used when the ignition is switched
ON.
To flash the headlights
, pull the lever fully
towards you (the headlight switch does not
need to be on).
OFF
Headlight
flashing
The headlight high-b eam indicator light in
the instrument cluster illuminates
simultaneously. The lever will return to
the normal position when released.
▼ Coming Home Light
The coming home light turns on the
headlights (low beam
s) when the lever is
operated.
To turn on the lights
When the lever is pulled with the ignition
switched to ACC or OFF, the low beam
headlights turn on.
The headlights turn o ff after a certain
period of time has elapsed after the doors
are closed.
NOTE
The time until the headlights turn off
after all of the doors are closed can be
changed.
Refer to Personalization Features on
page 9-12.
If no operations are done for 3 minutes
after the lever is pu lled, the headlights
turn off.
The headlights turn off if the lever is
pulled again while the headlights are
illuminated.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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Turn and Lane-ChangeSignals
The ignition must be switched ON to use
the turn and lane-change signals.
▼Tu r n S i g n a l s
Move the signal lever down (for a left
turn) or up (for a right turn) to the stop
position. The signal will self-cancel after
the turn is completed.
If the indicator light continues to flash
after a turn, ma
nually return the lever to its
original position.
Right turn
Left turn
Right lane change
Left lane change OFF
The turn signal indicators in the
instrument cluster flash according to the
operation of the turn
signal lever to show
which signal is working.
NOTE
If an indicator light stays on without
flashing or if it flashes abnormally, one
of the turn signal bulbs may be burned
out.
A personalized function is available to
change the turn indicator sound volume.
(page 9-12)
▼ Lane-Change Signals
Move the lever halfway toward the
direction of the lane change―until the
indicator flashes― and hold it there. It
will return to the off position when
released.
▼Three-Flash Turn Signal
After releasing the turn signal lever, the
turn signal indicator flashes 3 times. The
operation can be cancelled by moving the
lever in the direction opposite to which it
was operated.
NOTE
The three-flash turn signal function can be
switched to operable/inoperable using the
personalization function.
Refer to Personalization Features on page
9-12.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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