2021 MAZDA MODEL CX-5 tow

ItemModel
SKYACTIV-G 2.5 SKYACTIV-G 2.5T SKYACTIV-D 2.2 FWD AWD FWD AWD FWD AWD
Automatic transaxle Automatic transaxle Automatic transaxle
TRAIL‐
ER-TON
GUE
LOAD Tongue
load
Tongue load/Trailer load
× 100 = 10 % to 15 %
Trailer
load
DISTRI ‐
BUTION
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 greater than those sp ecified is dangerous as it may cause serious
handling and performance problems that could res ult 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 tr ailer 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 without determining the total trailer weight and tongue load is
dangerous. Trailer sway from crosswinds, rough 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.
▼ Trailer Hitch
Use only a hitch ball recommended by the trailer manufacturer that conforms to the gross
trailer weight requirement.
Before Driving
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When not towing a trailer, remove the trailer hitch (if detachable) to reduce the possibility of
damage as a result of the vehicle being rear-ended.
WARNING
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 dangerous. 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 load s. Do not load and unload vehicle while
adjusting hitch. This action w ill 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 tire pressure chart on the driver's door frame. Trailer tire size,
load rating, and inflation pres sures should conform to tire manufacturer specifications.
WARNING
Never use the temporary spare tire when towing:
Using the temporary spare tire on your vehicle wh en towing a trailer is dangerous as it could
result in tire failure, loss of control, and injury to vehicle occupants.
▼ Safety Chains
Safety chains must be used as a precautionary measure should the trailer become
unintentionally unhitched. They should cross under the trailer tongue and attach to the hitch.
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Leave enough slack to allow full 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 all federal, st
ate, and local regulations. Equip your trailer as
required before towing it day or night.
CAUTION
Do not connect a trailer lighting system directl y 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 exceeds 450 kg (1,000
lb), trailer brakes are required. If your trailer
has brakes, make sure they comply 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.
▼ 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 has an abnor
mal front-up or front-down position. Inspect
for incorrect tongue load, worn suspension parts, and trailer overloading.
Make sure the trailer is properly loaded and th e cargo is secure 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.
Before Driving
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The three main causes of vehicle-trailer accidents are driver error, excessive speed, and
improper trailer loading.
Before driving
Have your cooling and braking system checked by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Before starting out, inspect the operation of all vehicle and trailer lights and all
vehicle-to-trailer connections. Stop and re-inspec t all lights and connections after driving
a short distance.
Driving
Your Mazda will handle differently with a traile r 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 because braking distance
increases with a trailer. For each 16 km/h (10 mph) of speed, allow 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 cause loss of co ntrol and result in jackknifing, especially so
on wet or slippery roads.
Shift the selector lever to the D position wh en towing a trailer in hilly terrain or when
heavily loaded.
The D position will allow operating th e vehicle without frequent shifting.
Lane changes and turning
Avoid quick lane changes, sudden turns, and tight turns. Slow down before turning to avoid
the need of sudden braking.
A turning trailer will make a tighter arc than th e tow vehicle. Compensate with turns that are
larger than normal.
Passing
Plan well ahead to pass other vehicles, and provide plenty of room before changing lanes.
Crosswinds from passing vehicles, especially larger ones, and the effects of rough roads will
affect handling.
If swaying occurs, firmly grip the steering wheel and reduce speed immediately, but
gradually.
Steer straight ahead. If no extreme correction of steering or braking is made, the
combination of less speed and firm steering will result in stability.
Backing up
Backing a vehicle with a trailer requires practice and patience. Back slowly, and have a
helper outside at the rear of the trailer to reduce the risk of an accident.
Before Driving
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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 redu ce the possibility of overloading or overheating the engine, or
both.
Descending a hill
Shift into a lower gear and use engine compression as a braking effect.
WA R N I N G
Always use lower gears to reduce speed:
Holding the brake pedal down too long or too f requently is dangerous as it could cause the
brakes to overheat and lose power, resulting in loss of control and a serious accident. Use
lower gears to help reduce speed. Pull off th e road and allow brakes to cool down whenever
braking performance feels reduced.
Overheated engine
The extra weight of the trailer may strain the engine on hot days and on long or steep
upgrades.
If the temperature gauge indicates overheating, turn off the air conditioner, drive safely to
the side of the road, park of f the right-of-way and wait for engine to cool. Refer to
Overheating on page 7-18.
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 inc line, 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 all 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 the parking brake.
5. Shift the transaxle into P, and stop the engine.
Before Driving
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To restart after parking on an incline:
1. With the transaxle in P, start the engine. (Be sure to depress 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).
Before Driving
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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.
Before Driving
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Gear position indication
The numeral for the selected gear
illuminates.

Manual shift mode
indication
Gear position
indication
Manual shift mode
indication
Gear position
indication
Instrument Cluster (Type A)
Instrument Cluster (Type B/C)
NOTE
If the gears cannot be shifted down
when driving at higher speeds, the gear
position indication will flash twice to
signal that the gears cannot be shifted
down (to protect the transaxle).
If the automatic transaxle fluid (ATF)
temperature becomes too high, there is
the possibility that the transaxle will
switch to automatic shift mode,
canceling manual shift mode and
turning off the gear position indication
illumination. This is a normal function
to protect the AT. After the ATF
temperature has decreased, the gear
position indication illumination turns
back on and driving in manual shift
mode is restored.
▼ Manually Shifting Up
You can shift gears up by operating the
selector lever or the steering shift
switches
*.
M1
→ M2 → M3 → M4 → M5 → M6
Using selector lever
To shift up to a higher gear, tap the
selector lever back
once.

Using steering shift switch*
To shift up to a higher gear with the
steering shift switches, pull the UP switch
(
) toward you once with your
fingers.

UP switch (+/OFF)
WA R N I N G
Keep your hands on the steering wheel rim
when using fingers on the steering shift
switches:
Putting your hands inside the rim of the
steering wheel when using the steering
shift switches is dangerous. If the driver's
air bag were to deploy in a collision, your
hands could be impacted causing injury.
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
*Some models.4-67
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