2020 MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK Owners Manual (in English)

▼Recommendations for Shifting
Upshifting
For normal acceleration and cruising, Mazda recommends these sh
ift points:
(U.S.A. and Canada)
Gear Vehicle speed*1
M1 to M224 km/h (15 mph)
M2 to M3 40 km/h (25 mph)
M3 to M4 65 km/h (40 mph)
M4 to M5 73 km/h (45 mph)
M5 to M6 81 km/h (50 mph)
*1 Always observe local speed limit regulations.
Downshifting
When you must slow down in heavy traffic or on a steep upgrade, downshift before the
engine starts to overwork. This gives better acceleration when you need more speed.

On a steep downgrade, downshifting helps maintain safe speed an d prolongs brake life.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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Direct Mode*
▼Direct Mode
Direct mode can be u
sed for temporarily
switching gears by operating the steering
shift switch while the vehicle is being
driven with the selector lever in the D
position.
While in direct mode, the D and M
indication illuminate a nd the gear position
in use is illuminated.
1. Direct mode indication
2. Gear position indication

Direct mode is canceled (released) under
the following conditions.
The UP switch (+/OFF) is pulled
rearward for a certain amount of time or
longer.
The vehicle is driven for a certain
amount of time or longer (time differs
depending on the driving conditions
while operating).
The vehicle is stopped or moving at a
slow speed.

NOTE
Shifting up and down while in direct mode
may not be possible depending on the
vehicle speed. In addition, because direct
mode is canceled (released) depending on
the rate of acceleration or if the
accelerator is fully depressed, use of the
manual shift mode is recommended if you
need to drive the ve hicle in a particular
gear for long periods.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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Driving Tips
▼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 the load 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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Lighting Control
▼Headlights
Turn the headlight switch to tur
n the headlights and other exterior lights on or off.
When the taillights, parking lights, licen se plate lights, and the side-marker lights are turned
on, the lights-on indicator light in the instrument cluster tur ns on.

NOTE
If the light switch is left on, the lights will automatically switch off approximately 30
seconds after switching the ignition off.
The time setting can be changed.
Refer to the Settings section in the Mazda Connect Owner's Manual.
To prevent discharging the battery, do not leave the lights on while th e engine is off unless
safety requires them.
Without auto-light control
Switch Position OFF
Headlights OffOff
On*1
Daytime running lights On*2On*2Off
Taillights
Parking lights
License plate lights
Side-marker lights Off
On
*3On*1
*1 When the ignition is switched from ON to ACC or OFF, the headl ights turn off if the auto headlight off
function has been canceled. If the auto headlight off function is enabled, the lights turn on for the set period
using the auto headlight off function, and then they turn off.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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*2 When the light switch is switched to a different position from the OFF, position while the vehicle is
stopped, the daytime running light s turn off. When starting to drive the vehicle, the daytime running lights turn
on again.
*3 When the ignition is switched fr om ON to ACC or OFF, the headlights remain on if the auto headlight off
function has been canceled. If the auto headlight off function is enabled, the lights turn on for the set period
using the auto headlight off function, and then they turn off.
With auto-light control
Switch Position OFF*1
AUTO
Surround‐
ings are
bright
*2
Surround‐ ings are
dark
*3
Surround‐ ings are
bright
*2
Surround‐ ings are
dark
*3
Headlights Off Off On Off
On*4*5On*6
Daytime running lightsOff
On*7OffOn*8Off Off
Taillights
Parking lights
License plate lights
Side-marker lights Off Off On
On
*9On*9On*6
*1 When the light switch is switched to OFF while the vehicle is stopped, the lights turn off. The light switch
returns automatically to the AUTO position and the headlights c hange to AUTO operation when you start
driving the vehicle.
*2 The level of brightness around the vehicle is of a sufficient level.*3 The level of brightness around the vehicle is of an insufficie nt level.*4 The daytime running lights can be disabled using the personali zation features (page 4-49). If the daytime
running lights are disabled, the headlights turn off directly a fter starting the engine. The headlights turn on
when you begin driving the vehicle.
*5 When the light switch is sw itched from the OFF, AUTO, or position to the position while the
vehicle is stopped, the headlight s turn off. When starting to drive the vehicle, the headlights turn on again.
*6 When the ignition is switched fr om ON to ACC or OFF, the headlights turn off if the auto headlight off
function has been canceled. If the auto headlight off function is enabled, the lights turn on for the set period
using the auto headlight off function, and then they turn off.
*7 When the light switch is switche d to a different position from the AUTO position while the vehicle is stopped,
the daytime running lights turn off. When starting to drive the vehicle, the daytime running lights turn on
again.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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*8 If one of the following operations is done from the position while the vehicle is stopped, the daytime
running lights turn off.
Switch the light switch to the OFF position.
Switch the light switch to the AUTO position, and then to the position again.
Switch the light switch to the position.
When starting to drive the vehic le, the daytime running lights turn on again.
*9 When the ignition is switched from ON to ACC or OFF, the headl ights remain on if the auto headlight off
function has been canceled. If the auto headlight off function is enabled, the lights turn on for the set period
using the auto headlight off function, and then they turn off.
Auto-light control
When the headlight switch is in the AUTO position and the ignit ion is switched ON, the
light sensor senses the surrounding lightness or darkness and a utomatically turns the
headlights and other exterior lights on or off.
CAUTION
 Do not shade the light sensor by adhering a st icker or a label on the windshield. Otherwise
the light sensor will not operate correctly.
 The light sensor also works as a rain sensor for the auto-wiper control. Keep hands and
scrapers clear of the windshield when the wiper lever is in the AUTO position and the
ignition is switched ON as fingers could be pinched or the wipers and wiper blades could be
damaged when the wipers activate automaticall y. If you are going to clean the windshield,
be sure the wipers are turned off completely when it is partic
ularly tempting to leave the
engine running. This is particularly important when clearing ice and snow.
NOTE
The headlights and other exterior lights may not turn off immediately even if the
surrounding area becomes well-lit because the light sensor determines that it is night time
if the surrounding area is continuously dark for several minutes such as inside long
tunnels, traffic jams inside tunnels, or in indoor parking lots.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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If the headlight switch and the windshield wiper switch are in AUTO, and the wipers are
operated at low or high speed by the auto wiper control for several seconds, bad weather
conditions are determined and the headlights may be turned on.
The sensitivity of the auto-light control may be changed.
Refer to the Settings section in the Mazda Connect Owner's Manual.
▼Headlight High-Low Beam
The headlights switch between high and
low beams by moving the lever forward or
backward.

1. High beam
2. Low beam

When the headlight high-beams are on, the
headlight high-beam indicator light is
turned on.

▼Flashing the Headlights
The headlights can be flashed with the
ignition switched to ON.
To flash the headlights, pull the lever fully
towards you (the headlight switch does not
need to be on).

1. OFF
2. Headlight flashing

The headlight high-beam indicator light in
the instrument cluster illuminates
simultaneously. The lever will return to
the normal position when released.

When Driving
Switches and Controls
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▼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 off after a certain
period of time has elapsed after all of the
doors are closed.
NOTE
The time until the he adlights turn off
after all of the doors are closed can be
changed.
Refer to the Settings section in the
Mazda Connect Owner's Manual.
If no operations are done for 3 minutes
after the lever is pulled, the headlights
turn off.
The headlights turn off if the lever is
pulled again while the headlights are
illuminated.
▼ Leaving Home Light
The leaving home light turns on the lights
when the transmitte
r unlock button is
pressed while away from the vehicle.
The following light s turn on when the
leaving home light is operated.
Low beams, Parking lights, Taillights,
License plate lights.
To turn on the lights
When the ignition switch and the headlight
switch are in the following conditions, the
headlights will ill uminate when the
transmitter unlock button is pressed and
the vehicle receives the transmitter signal.
The headlights turn o ff after a certain
period of time has elapsed (30 seconds).
Ignition switch: off
Headlight switch: AUTO, , or
1. Lock button
2. Unlock button
NOTE
Operation of the leaving home light can
be turned on or off.
Refer to the Settings section in the
Mazda Connect Owner's Manual.
When the transmitter lock button is
pressed and the vehicle receives the
transmitter signal, the headlights turn
off.
When the headlight switch is turned to
the OFF position, the headlights turn
off.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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