2022 MAZDA MODEL 3 SEDAN Owners Manual

WARNING
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.
NOTE
When driving slowly, the gears may
not shift up.
Do not drive the vehicle with the
tachometer needle in the RED ZONE
while in manual shift mode. In
addition, manual shift mode
switches to automatic shift mode
while the accelerator pedal is
completely depressed.
This function is canceled while the
DSC is turned off or the Off-Road
Traction Assist is turned on.
However, if the vehicle is
continuously driven at a high rpm,
the gears may automatically shift up
to protect the engine.
The steering shift switch can be used
temporarily even if the selector lever
is in the D position while driving. In
addition, it returns to automatic shift
mode when the UP switch (+/OFF)
is pulled rearward for a sufficient
amount of time.
▼ Manually Shifting Down
You can shift gears down by operating
the selector lever or the steering shift
switches
*.
M6 → M5 → M4 → M3 → M2 → M1
Using selector lever
To shift down to a lower gear, tap the
selector lever forward – once.

Using steering shift switch*
To shift down to a lower gear with the
steering shift switches, pull the DOWN
switch (–) toward you once with your
fingers.

1. DOWN switch (–)
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
4-46*Some models.
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WARNING
Do not use engine braking on slippery
road surfaces or at high speeds:
Shifting down while driving on wet,
snowy, or frozen roads, or while
driving at high speeds causes sudden
engine braking, which 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.
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.
NOTE
When driving at high speeds, the
gear may not shift down.
During deceleration, the gear may
automatically shift down depending
on vehicle speed.
When depressing the accelerator
fully, the transmission will shift to a
lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed. However, the transmission
does not kickdown while the DSC is
turned off or the Off-Road Traction
Assist is operating.
▼Second Gear Fixed Mode
When the selector lever is moved back
+ while the vehicle speed is about 10
km/h (6.2 mph) or less, the
transmission is set in the second gear
fixed mode. The gear is fixed in second
while in this mode for easier
acceleration from a stop and driving on
slippery roads such as snow-covered
roads.
If the selector lever is moved back + or
forward – while in the second gear
fixed mode, the mode will be
canceled.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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▼Shift Gear (Shifting) Speed Limit
For each gear position while in the manual
mode, the speed limit is set as follows:
When the selector lever is operated within the range of the speed limit, the gear is
shifted.

1. 1st
2. 2nd
3. 3rd
4. 4th
5. 5th
6. 6th
Shift up
The gear does not shift up while the vehi cle speed is lower than the speed limit.
Shift down
The gear does not shift down while th e vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit.
If the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limi t and the gear does not shift down, the
gear position indication flashes 2 times to notify the driver that the gear cannot be
shifted.
Kickdown
When the accelerator pedal is depressed fu lly while driving, the gear shifts down.
However, the transmission does not kick down while the DSC is turned off or the
Off-Road Traction Assist is operating.
NOTE
The gear also shifts down using kickdown
while in the second gear fixed mode.
Auto-shift down
The gear shifts down automatically depending on the vehicle speed during
deceleration.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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NOTE
If the vehicle comes to a stop while in the second gear fixed mode, the gear remains
in second.
▼Recommendations for Shifting
Upshifting
For normal acceleration and cruising, Mazda recommends these shift 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 ma intain safe speed and prolongs brake
life.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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Direct Mode*
▼Direct Mode
Direct mode can be used 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 and 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 vehicle in a particular gear for
long periods.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
4-50*Some models.
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Driving Tips
▼Driving Tips
WARNING
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.
Pa s s i n g
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.
The manual shift
mode does not
switch to automatic shift mode while
the DSC is turned off or the
Off-Road Traction Assist is turned on
when the selector lever is in the M
position. Shift 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. Descend
slowly, using the brakes only
occasionally to prevent them from
overheating.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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M Hybrid*
▼M Hybrid
M Hybrid uses the Integrated Starter-Generator (ISG) with excellent power
generation efficiency to generate electricity from the kinetic energy generated when
the vehicle decelerates. The system uses the electrical power stored in the M Hybrid
battery, which is a large-capacity battery to
improve driveability and fuel economy by
reducing engine load and providing motor a ssist. In addition, the ISG provides quiet
engine restarting after the engine is stop ped by the i-stop function (idling stop).
1. ISG
2.
DC-DC Converter
3. M Hybrid battery
CAUTION
 The following parts are extremely hot and have high-current electricity flowing
through them, therefore do not touch them.
 ISG
 DC-DC Converter
 M Hybrid battery
 If the driver's door is opened under the following conditions, the vehicle
determines that the driver is trying to leave the driver's seat, a warning sound
notifying the driver of possible danger is activated, and the warning indication is
displayed.
When Driving
M Hybrid
4-52*Some models.
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The engine is running.
 The selector lever is in a position other than P or N.
 If there is a problem with M Hybrid, a warning indication is displayed.
 M Hybrid operation status is displayed on the system operation status display of
the fuel efficiency monitor.
Refer to the Information section in the Mazda Connect Owner's Manual.
▼Unique M Hybrid Handling
M Hybrid vehicles have a unique
sound and vibration which differ from
normal vehicles. The following may
occur, however, this is unique to M
Hybrid and it does not indicate a
problem.
Characteristic Occurrence status/loca-
tion
Operation sound of
deceleration regen-
eration An operational sound
can be heard from the
engine compartment
during deceleration.
Relay operation
sound of M Hybrid
battery An operational sound
can be heard from the
vehicle underfloor when
the engine is started and
stopped.
Operation sound of
brake system Sound can be heard from
the front of the vehicle
under the following con-
ditions:
The driver's door is
opened.
The ignition is switch-
ed ON.
The brake pedal is op-
erated.
The brake system op-
erates automatically.
Several minutes have
passed since the en-
gine was stopped.
Characteristic
Occurrence status/loca-
tion
Operational feed-
back through brake
pedal Operational feedback
through brake pedal
might be felt under the
following conditions.
The ignition is switch-
ed ON.
The brake pedal is op-
erated.
▼
M Hybrid battery
M Hybrid is equipped with a special
battery.
WARNING
Heed the following cautions to
prevent burns and electrical shock:

Never remove and disassemble the
brackets and connectors securing the
terminal part, wiring harness, and
the M Hybrid battery.
 Never touch the M Hybrid battery
because it becomes extremely hot
under direct sunlight or after driving.
 Because the M Hybrid battery is
especially dangerous when wet,
never touch it.
NOTE
The M Hybrid battery has a certain
battery life. Battery life
differs
depending on how the vehicle is used
and the driving conditions.
When Driving
M Hybrid
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