Make sure the lever returns to its original position and the seat is locked in place by
attempting to push it forward and backward.
(Power Seat)
To slide the seat, move the slide lifter switch on the outside of the seat to the front or back
and hold it. Release the switch at the desired position.
Height Adjustment
(Manual Seat)
To adjust the seat height, move the lever up or down.
(Power Seat)
To adjust the seat height, move the switch up or down.
Height Adjustment for Front Edge of Seat Bottom (Power Seat)*
To adjust the front height of th e seat bottom, raise or lower the front of the slide lifter
switch.
Seat Recline
(Manual Seat)
To change the seatback angle, lean forward slightly while raisi ng the lever. Then lean back
to the desired position and release the lever.
Make sure the lever returns to i ts original position and the seatback is locked in place by
attempting to push it forward and backward.
(Power Seat)
To change the seatback angle, pr ess the front or rear side of the reclining switch. Release the
switch at the de sired position.
Lumbar Support Adjustment (Power Seat)*
To increase the seat firmness, p ress and hold the front part of the switch to the desired
position, then release it.
Press the rear part of the switch to decrease firmness.
Before making adjustments to the driving position recommended by Mazda
Before making adjustments, move the steering wheel and seat to their default positions.
How to move the steering wheel to its default position
WA R N I N G
Never adjust the steering wheel while the vehicle is moving:
Adjusting the steering wheel while the vehicle is moving is dangerous. Moving it can very
easily cause the driver to abruptly turn to the left or right. This can lead to loss of control or an
accident.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
2-6*Some models.
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Seat Warmer*
The front/second-row seats are electrically
heated. The ignition must be switched ON.
Press the seat warmer switch while the
ignition is switched ON to operate the seat
warmer. The indicator lights turn on to
indicate that the seat warmer is operating.
The mode changes as follows each time
the seat warmer switch is pressed.
Front
OFF
High Mid
Low
Second-row seat*
OFF
High
Mid
Low
WA R N I N G
Be careful when using the seat warmer:
The heat from the seat warmer may be too
hot for some people, as indicated as
follows, and could cause a
low-temperature burn.
Infants, small children, elderly people,
and physically challenged people
People with delicate skin
People who are excessively fatigued
People who are intoxicated
People who have taken sleep-inducing
medicine such as sleeping pills or cold
medicine
Do not use the seat warmer with anything
having high moisture-retention ability such
as a blanket or cushion on the seat:
The seat may be heated excessively and
cause a low-temperature burn.
Do not use the seat warmer even when
taking a short nap in the vehicle:
The seat may be heated excessively and
cause a low-temperature burn.
Do not place heavy objects with sharp
projections on the seat, or insert needles or
pins into it:
This could cause the seat to become
excessively heated and result in injury from
a minor burn.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Warmer/Seat Ventilation/Heated Steering Wheel
2-24*Some models.
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CAUTION
(Second-row seat)
Before folding a second-row seatback,
make sure that the second-row seat
warmer switch is off. If a second-row
seatback is folded while the second-row
seat warmer is in operation, it may heat
the seat excessively and damage the seat
surface.
Do not use organic solvents to clean the
seat. It may damage the seat surface and
the heater.
NOTE
Use the seat warmer when the engine is
running. Leaving the seat warmer on for
long periods with the engine not running
could cause the battery power to be
depleted.
When the engine is stopped while the
seat warmers are operating and then the
ignition is switched ON, the seat
warmers will not turn back on
automatically. To tu rn the seat warmer
back on, press the switch. In addition,
the second-row seat warmer operation
stops automatically after the seat
warmers have operated for about 90
minutes.
The temperature of the seat warmer
cannot be adjusted beyond High, Mid
and Low because the seat warmer is
controlled by a thermostat.
(Vehicles with seat ventilation)
The front seat warmer cannot be used at
the same time as the seat ventilation.
Seat Ventilation*
The seat ventilation uses the fans installed
on the seats to draw air around the seat
surface and ventilate them. The ignition
must be switched ON.
Press the seat ventila tion switch while the
ignition is switched ON to operate the seat
ventilation. The indicator lights turn on to
indicate that the seat ventilation is
operating. The mode changes as follows
each time the seat ventilation switch is
pressed.
OFF
High Mid
Low
CAUTION
Do not use organic solvents to clean the
seat. It may damage the seat surface and
the seat ventilation parts.
Do not place heavy objects with sharp
projections on the seat, or insert needles
or pins into it.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Warmer/Seat Ventilation/Heated St eering Wheel
*Some models.2-25
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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 4-94.
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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Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
Avoid sudden braking. It may cause 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 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.
Passing
Plan well ahead to pass other v ehicles, 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, firmly grip the steering wheel and reduce sp eed immediately, but
gradually.
Steer straight ahead. If no extr eme 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 traile r 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 ha nd at the bottom of the steering wheel and turn it in the
direction you want the trailer to go. Make only slight movement s to prevent sharp or
prolonged turning.
Ascending a hill
Shift into a lower gear to redu ce the possibility of overloadin g or overheating the engine, or
both.
Descending a hill
Shift into a lower gear and use engine compression as a braking effect.
Before Driving
To w i n g
3-60
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▼Active Adaptive Shift (AAS)
Active Adaptive Shift (AAS)
automatically control
s the transaxle shift
points to best suit the road conditions and
driver input. This improves driving feel.
The transaxle may switch to AAS mode
when driving up and down slopes,
cornering, driving at high elevations, or
depressing the accelerator pedal quickly
while the selector lever is in the D
position. Depending on the road and
driving conditions/vehicle operations, gear
shifting could be delayed or not occur,
however, this does not indicate a problem
because the AAS mode will maintain the
optimum gear position.
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.
▼ Indicators
Manual shift mode indication
In manual shift mode,
the “M” of the shift
position indication in the instrument panel
illuminates.
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
4-62
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Dynamic Stability Control(DSC)
The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
automatically controls braking and engine
torque in conjunction with systems such as
ABS and TCS to help control side slip
when driving on slippery surfaces, or
during sudden or evasive maneuvering,
enhancing vehicle safety.
Refer to ABS (page 4 -94) and TCS (page
4-95).
DSC operation is possible at speeds
greater than 20 km/h (12 mph).
The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction.
Refer to Contact Authorized Mazda
Dealer and Have Vehicle Inspected on
page 7-31.
WA R N I N G
Do not rely on the Dynamic Stability
Control as a substitute for safe driving:
The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
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.
CAUTION
The DSC may not operate correctly
unless the following are observed:
Use tires of the correct size specified for
your Mazda on all 4 wheels.
Use tires of the same manufacturer,
brand and tread pattern on all 4
wheels.
Do not mix worn tires.
The DSC may not operate correctly when
tire chains are used or a temporary spare
tire is installed because the tire diameter
changes.
▼ TCS/DSC Indicator Light
This indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched ON.
If the TCS, DSC or the Trailer Stability
Control (TSC) is ope
rating, 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.
When Driving
ABS/TCS/DSC/Trailer St ability Control (TSC)
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Trailer Stability Control(TSC)
If the vehicle sways while being driven
and towing a trailer, the Trailer Stability
Control (TSC) automatically controls
braking and engine torque to suppress the
swaying and enhance vehicle stability.
The Trailer Stabili ty Control (TSC) is
operable at a vehicle speed of about 65
km/h (40 mph) or more.
When the Trailer Sta bility Control (TSC)
operates while driving the vehicle, the
TCS/DSC indicator light flashes.
Refer to TCS/DSC Indicator Light on page
4-97.
WA R N I N G
Do not rely solely on the Trailer Stability
Control (TSC)
Assured vehicle stability is limited even if
the Trailer Stability Control (TSC) is
operating. Drive carefully to prevent
accidents.
In particular, if the TCS/DSC indicator light
is flashing, drive the vehicle carefully as it is
in a less stable condition and could sway
more easily. Drive with caution and in
accordance with the road, vehicle and
trailer conditions.
CAUTION
The Trailer Stability Control (TSC) may
not operate correctly unless the
following are observed:
Use tires of the correct size
specified for
your Mazda on all four wheels.
Use tires of the same manufacturer,
brand and tread pattern on all four
wheels.
Do not mix worn tires.
The Trailer Stability Control (TSC) may
not operate correctly when tire chains
are used or a temp orary spare tire is
installed because the tire diameter
changes.
NOTE
The Trailer Stability Control (TSC) uses
the TCS/DSC functions. The Trailer
Stability Control (TSC) does not operate
if there is a malfunction in the TCS/DSC
(the TCS/DSC indicator light turns on).
When the Trailer Stability Control (TSC)
is operating, the brake lights may turn
on.
For information regarding trailer
towing, refer to Trailer Towing (U.S.A.
and Canada) on page 3-55.
When Driving
ABS/TCS/DSC/Trailer Stability Control (TSC)
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