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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 transmission 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 DSC 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 grades 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 theload 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. Desce nd slowly, using the
brakes only occasionally to prevent them
from overheating.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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Horn
To sound the horn, press the mark on
the steering wheel.
Hazard Warning Flasher
The hazard warning lights should always
be used when you stop on or near a
roadway in an emergency.
The hazard warning lights warn other
drivers that your vehicle is a traffic hazard
and that they must take extreme caution
when near it.
Depress the hazard warning flasher and all
the turn signals will flash. The hazard
warning indicator lights in the instrument
cluster flash simultaneously.
NOTE
The turn signals do not work when the
hazard warning lights are on.
Check local regulations about the use of
hazard warning lights while the vehicle
is being towed to verify that it is not in
violation of the law.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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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
Cruise control is operating.
Steering wheel is being operated abruptly
▼ Drive Selection Switch
Press the drive selection switch forward
(“
”) to select the sport mode.
Pull the drive selection switch back
(“
”) to cancel the sport mode.
NOTE
When the ignition is switched off, the
sport mode is canceled.
Depending on the driving conditions
when sport mode is selected, the vehicle
may perform shift-down or slightly
accelerate.
When Driving
Drive Selection
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Power Steering
Power steering is only operable when
the engine is running. If the engine is off
or if the power steering system is
inoperable, you can still steer, but it
requires more physical effort.
If the steering feels stiffer than usual
during normal driving or the steering
vibrates, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
The warning light notifies the driver of
system abnormalities and operation
conditions.
Refer to Warning Indication/Warning
Lights on page 4-26.
CAUTION
Never hold the steering wheel to the
extreme left or right for more than 5
seconds with the engine running. This
could damage the power steering system.
When Driving
Power Steering
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Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS)*
The adaptive front lighting system (AFS) automatically adjusts the headlight beams to the
left or right in conjunction with the operation of the steering wheel after the headlights have
been turned on.
A system malfunction or operation conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Contact Authorized Mazda Dealer and Have Vehicle Inspected on page 7-36.
NOTE
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).
The Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) function can be switched to operable/
inoperable using the personalization function.
Refer to Personalization Features on page 9-9.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
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The functions of the LDWS have limitations:
Always stay on course using the steering wheel and drive with care. The system is not
designed to compensate for a driver’s lack of caution and if you rely too much on the LDWS it
could lead to an accident. The driver is resp onsible for assuring lane changes and other
maneuvers. Always pay attention to the directi on in which the vehicle is traveling and the
vehicle’s surroundings.
CAUTION
Do not modify the suspension. If the vehicle he ight or the damping force of the suspensions is
changed, the LDWS may not operate correctly.
NOTE
If your vehicle deviates from its traffic lane, the LDWS operates (warning sound and
indicator light). Steer the vehicle adequately to drive the vehicle to the center of the lane.
When the turn signal lever is operated for a lane change, the LDWS warning is
automatically canceled. The LDWS warning becomes operable when the turn signal lever
is returned and the system detects the white or yellow lines.
If the steering wheel, accelerator pedal, or brake pedal is operated abruptly and the
vehicle moves close to a white or yellow line, the system determines that the driver is
making a lane change and the LDWS warning is automatically canceled.
The LDWS may not operate during the period immediately after the vehicle has deviated
from its lane and the LDWS has operated, or the vehicle deviates from its lane repeatedly
within a short period of time.
The LDWS does not operate if it does not det ect the white or yellow lines of the traffic
lane.
Under the following conditions, the LDWS may not be able to detect white or yellow lines
correctly and the LDWS may not operate correctly.
If an object placed on the dashboard is reflected in the windshield and picked up by the
camera.
Heavy luggage is loaded in the luggage compartment the vehicle is inclined.
The tire pressures are not adjusted to the specified pressure.
When the vehicle is driven on the entry and exit to or from the rest area or tollgate of a
highway.
The white or yellow lines are less visi ble because of dirt or paint flaking.
The vehicle ahead is running near a white or yellow line and the line is less visible.
A white or yellow line is less visible be cause of bad weather (rain, fog, or snow).
The vehicle is driven on a temporary lane or section with a closed lane due to
construction.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
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Auto cancel
In the following cases, the LDWS cancels
automatically and the LDWS warning
light in the instrument cluster turns on.
The temperature inside the camera is
high or low.
The windshield around the camera is
foggy.
The windshield around the camera is
blocked by an obstruction, causing poor
forward visibility.
The LDWS is enabled automatically when
the operation conditions are met, and the
LDWS warning light turns off.
Auto cancel warning
When the following operations are
performed, the LDWS determines that the
driver intends to make a lane change and
the LDWS warning is canceled
automatically. The LDWS is enabled
automatically after the driver performs the
operation.
The steering wheel is operated abruptly.
The brake pedal is depressed abruptly.
The accelerator pedal is depressed
abruptly.
The turn signal lever is operated (after
the turn signal lever is returned, the
LDWS may not operate for about 3
seconds which is the period of time
required to make a lane correction).
NOTE
After about 30 seconds have elapsed with
the turn signal lever left operating, the
LDWS warning may operate if the vehicle
is close to a white or yellow line.
▼ Canceling the System
Press the LDWS OFF switch to cancel the
LDWS. The LDWS OFF indicator light
turns on.
Vehicle lane display (vehicles with
multi-information display)
The vehicle lane lines are no longer
indicated in the multi-information display
when the LDWS is canceled.
NOTE
When the ignition is switched OFF, the
system status before it was turned off is
maintained. For example, if the ignition is
switched OFF with the LDWS operable,
the system will be operable when the
ignition is switched ON the next time.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
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▼LDWS Warning
If the system determines that there is the
possibility of a lane
departure, the LDWS
warning beep activates and the LDWS
warning light flashes. Operate the steering
wheel appropriately and steer the vehicle
to the center of the lane.
For vehicles equipped with the
multi-information display, the color of the
lane line in the direction which the system
determined that the vehicle may be
deviating from its lane changes from white
to amber and the vehicle lane line flashes.
Indication on display
NOTE
If the LDWS warning sound is set to
rumble
*1, the sound will be heard from
the vehicle speaker on the side which the
system determined the vehicle may be
deviating from its lane.
It may be difficult to hear the LDWS
warning beep depending on the
surrounding conditions such as outside
noise.
The volume of the LDWS warning sound
can be changed.
Refer to Personalization Features on
page 9-9.
The type of warning sound (rumble*1/
beep) on the LDWS can be changed.
Refer to Personalization Features on
page 9-9.
*1 A rumble strip is a series of grooves in the road pavement surface positioned
at specific intervals, and when the
vehicle passes over it a vibration and
rumble sound is produced which alerts
the driver that the vehicle is departing
from the lane.
The rumble sound is a reproduction of
the sound which occurs when a vehicle
passes over a rumble strip.
Rumble
Groove
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
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