2023 MAZDA CX5 trailer

▼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 abnormal front-up or
front-down position. Inspect for incorrec
t tongue load, worn suspension parts,
and trailer overloading.
Make sure the trailer is properly loaded and the cargo is secure to prevent it from
shifting.
Make sure the mirrors conform to all govern ment regulations. If they do not, install
required rear view mirrors appropriate for towing purposes.
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-inspect all lights and connections after
driving a short distance.
Driving
Your Mazda will handle differently with a trailer 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 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 frequent shifting.
Lane changes and turning
Avoid quick lane changes, su dden turns, and tight turns. Slow down 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.
Pa s s i n g
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.
Before Driving
To w i n g
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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 trai ler to reduce the risk of an accident.
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 reduce 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.
WARNING
Always use lower gears to reduce speed:
Holding the brake pedal down too long or too frequently 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 the 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 off the right-of-way and wait for engine to cool.
Refer to Overheating on page 7-15.
Pa r k i n g
Always make sure the tires of the trailer and the tow vehicle are blocked while
parked.
Apply the parking brake firmly and put the transmission in P.
Avoid parking on an incline, 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.
Before Driving
Towing
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4. Firmly apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transmission into P, and stop the engine.
To restart after parking on an incline:
1. With the transmission in P, start the engine. (Be sure to depress and hold thebrake 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
To w i n g
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NOTE
If the Mi-Drive cannot be switched to
sport mode, the select mode indicator
light flashes to notify the driver.Mazda intelligent Drive
Select (Mi-Drive) (AWD)
*
▼ Mazda intelligent Drive Select
(Mi-Drive)
Mi-drive is a system that switches the
drive modes depending on the driving
conditions, road conditions and
vehicle conditions.
The mode can be switched from
normal to sport, off-road or towing.
Sport mode
This mode enhances vehicle
responsiveness when the accelerator
pedal is depressed.
This provides additional quick
acceleration which may be needed to
safely make maneuvers such as lane
changes, merging onto freeways, or
passing other vehicles.
Off-road mode
This mode helps prevent drive-wheel
spinning during off-road driving and
improves driving performance.
Use this mode to drive the vehicle on
slippery roads such as muddy, sandy,
or deep-snowy roads.
Towing mode (SKYACTIV-G 2.5T)
This mode suppresses the reduction of
driving performance due to increased
weight during trailer towing and
promotes vehicle stability.
Use this mode when towing a trailer.
Warnings and cautions when using
Mi-Drive
WARNING

Do not rely completely on the
Mi-Drive system.
When Driving
Mazda intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive)
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Vehicle stability is limited even when
Mi-drive is activated.
 Always drive the vehicle safely. Do
not drive the vehicle recklessly,
otherwise it may result in an
accident.
CAUTION
Do not use the sport mode when
driving on slippery roads such as wet
or snow-covered roads. It may cause
tire slipping.
 Heed the following cautions so that
the system can operate normally.
 Always use tires of the specified
size, same manufacturer, brand,
and pattern (tread pattern) for the
front and rear wheels.
 Do not use tires with significantly
different wear patterns on the
same vehicle.
 Do not use the sport mode when
driving on slippery roads such as wet
or snow-covered roads. It may cause
tire slipping.
 Drive carefully when using tire
chains.
Because the diameter of the tires
differs, the system may not operate
normally.
How to use Mi-Drive
1. Push the Mi-Drive switch forward
or pull it toward you.
2. While checking the list displayed inthe instrument cluster, push the
Mi-Drive switch forward or pull it
toward you to select a drive mode.
Trailer is not connected
Tra i l e r i s co n n e c te d
When Driving
Mazda intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive)
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When the drive mode is set, the
display in the instrument cluster
changes.
Refer to Mazda intelligent Drive
Select (Mi-Drive) Display on page
4-20.
NOTE
Depending on the driving conditions
when sport mode is selected, the
vehicle may perform shift-down or
slightly accelerate.
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.
Towing mode can be selected only
when a trailer is connected.
The driving mode in which the
display in the instrument cluster is
grayed out cannot be selected.
Towing mode can be selected only
when electrically connected to the
trailer using a Mazda genuine trailer
hitch. In addition, it may take some
time until the connection is detected
and towing mode is displayed.
When towing mode is selectable,
sport mode cannot be selected.
When the ignition is switched OFF,
the mode returns to normal mode.
However, towing mode before
switching the ignition OFF is
maintained only when the trailer is
connected in towing mode.
When Driving
Mazda intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive)
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The BSM warning indicator light may
turn on and the vehicle detection
screen may be displayed in the
display in reaction to stationary
objects (guardrails, tunnels,
sidewalls, and parked vehicles) on
the road or the roadside.
1. Objects such as guardrails andconcrete walls running alongside
the vehicle.

1. Places where the width between
guardrails or walls on each side of
the vehicle narrows.

1. The walls at the entrance and exits of tunnels, turnouts.

A BSM warning indicator light mayflash or the warning beep may be
activated several times when making
a turn at a city intersection.
Turn off the BSM while pulling a
trailer or while an accessory such as a
bicycle carrier is installed to the rear
of the vehicle. Otherwise, the radar’s
radio waves will be blocked causing
the system to not operate normally.
If a Mazda genuine trailer hitch is
used, the BSM is automatically
turned off.
In the following cases, it may be difficult to view the illumination/
flashing of the BSM warning
indicator lights equipped on the
door mirrors.
Snow or ice is adhering to the door
mirrors.
The front door glass is fogged or
covered in snow, frost or dirt.
The rear side radar sensor of the BSM
may be regulated under the radio
wave related laws of the country
where the vehicle is driven. If this
system is used abroad, it may be
necessary to turn off the system.
Refer to Rear Side Radar Sensor on
page 4-195.
The system switches to the Rear
Cross Tra ffi c Alert (RCTA) function
when the selector lever is shifted to
the reverse (R) position.
Refer to Rear Cross Traffic Alert
(RCTA) on page 4-113.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
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In the following cases, it may bedifficult to view the illumination/
flashing of the Blind Spot Monitoring
(BSM) warning indicator lights
equipped on the door mirrors.
Snow or ice adheres to the door
mirrors.
The front door glass is fogged or
covered in snow, frost or dirt.
Turn off the RCTA system while
pulling a trailer or while an accessory
such as a bicycle carrier is installed to
the rear of the vehicle. Otherwise,
the radio waves emitted by the radar
will be blocked causing the system to
not operate normally.
The rear side radar sensor of the
RCTA may be regulated under the
radio wave related laws of the
country where the vehicle is driven. If
this system is used abroad, it may be
necessary to turn off the system.
Refer to Rear Side Radar Sensor on
page 4-195.
If a Mazda genuine trailer hitch is
used, the RCTA is automatically
turned off.
▼ Canceling Operation of Rear Cross
Traffic Alert (RCTA)
The RCTA can be set to inoperable.
(If only the RCTA is turned
off)
Refer to the Settings section in the
Mazda Connect Owner's Manual.
(If the RCTA is turned off by
operating the i-ACTIVSENSE OFF
switch)
Refer to i-ACTIVSENSE OFF Switch
on page 4-92.
NOTE
If the ignition is switched OFF while
you have canceled the system using the
i-ACTIVSENSE OFF switch, the system
is automatically enabled the next time
the ignition is switched ON. However,
if the system is canceled using the
personalization features, the system is
not automatically enabled.
When Driving
i-ACTIVSENSE
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