Never install any front-end equipment
to your vehicle:
Installation of front-end equipment,
such as frontal protection bar
(kangaroo bar, bull bar, push bar, or
other similar devices), snowplow, or
winches, is dangerous. The air bag
crash sensor system could be affected.
This could cause air bags to inflate
unexpectedly, or it could prevent the
air bags from inflating during an
accident. Front occupants could be
seriously injured.
Do not modify the suspension:
Modifying the vehicle suspension is
dangerous. If the vehicle's height or
the suspension is modified, the vehicle
will be unable to accurately detect a
collision or roll-over accident resulting
in incorrect or unexpected air bag
deployment and the possibility of
serious injuries.
To prevent false detection by the air
bag sensor system, heed the
following:
Do not use tires or wheels other than
those specified for your Mazda:
Use of any tire or wheel other than
those specified for your Mazda (page
9-7) is dangerous. Use of such
wheels will prevent the vehicle's
accident detections system from
accurately detecting a collision or
roll-over accident resulting in
incorrect or unexpected air bag
deployment and the possibility of
serious injuries.
Do not overload your vehicle:Overloading your vehicle is
dangerous as it could prevent the air
bag crash sensor system from
accurately detecting a collision or
roll-over accident resulting in
incorrect or unexpected air bag
deployment and the possibility of
serious injuries. The gross axle
weight rating (GAWR) and the gross
vehicle weight rating (GVWR) for
your vehicle are on the Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard Label on the
driver's door frame. Do not exceed
these ratings.
Do not modify a front door or leave
any damage unrepaired. Always have
an Authorized Mazda Dealer inspect a
damaged front door:
Modifying a front door or leaving any
damage unrepaired is dangerous. Each
front door has a side crash sensor as a
component of the supplemental
restraint system. If holes are drilled in a
front door, a door speaker is left
removed, or a damaged door is left
unrepaired, the sensor could be
adversely affected causing it to not
detect the pressure of an impact
correctly during a si de collision. If a
sensor does not detect a side impact
correctly, the side and curtain air bags
and the front seat belt pretensioner
may not operate normally which could
result in serious injury to occupants.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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Break-In Period
▼Break-In Period
No special break-in is necessary, but a
few precautions in the
first 1,000 km
(600 miles) may add to the
performance, economy, and life of the
vehicle.
Do not race the engine.Do not maintain one constant
speed, either slow or fast, for a long
period of time.
Do not drive constantly at
full-throttle or high engine rpm for
extended periods of time.
Avoid unnecessary hard stops.Avoid full-throttle starts.Do not tow a trailer.
Saving Fuel and
Protection of the Environment
▼ Saving Fuel and Protection of the
Environment
How you operate your Mazda
determines how far it will travel on a
tank of fuel. Use these suggestions to
help save fuel and reduce CO
2.
Avoid long warm-ups. Once the
engine runs smoothly, begin driving.
Avoid fast starts.Drive at lower speeds.Anticipate when to apply the brakes
(avoid sudden braking).
Follow the maintenance schedule
and have an Authorized Mazda
Dealer perform inspections and
servicing.
Refer to Scheduled Maintenance
(U.S.A. and Puerto Rico) on page
6-4.
Refer to Scheduled Maintenance
(Canada) on page 6-6.
Refer to Scheduled Maintenance
(Mexico) on page 6-8.
Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
Slow down on rough roads.Keep the tires properly inflated.Do not carry unnecessary weight.Do not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving.
Keep the wheels in correct
alignment.
Keep windows closed at high
speeds.
Slow down when driving in
crosswinds and headwinds.
Before Driving
Driving Tips
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WARNING
Never stop the engine when going
down a hill:
Stopping the engine when going down
a hill is dangerous. This causes the loss
of power steering and power brake
control, and may cause damage to the
drivetrain. Any loss of steering or
braking control could cause an
accident.
Hazardous Driving
▼Hazardous Driving
WARNING
Be extremely careful if it is necessary
to downshift on slippery surfaces:
Downshifting into lower gear while
driving on slippery surfaces 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.
Avoid sharp turns, excessive speed
and abrupt maneuvers when driving
this vehicle:
Sharp turns, excessive speed and
abrupt maneuvering of this vehicle are
dangerous as it could result in the
increased risk of loss of vehicle control,
vehicle roll-over, personal injury or
death.
This vehicle has a higher center of
gravity. Vehicles with a higher center of
gravity such as util
ity vehicles handle
differently than vehicles with a lower
center of gravity.
Utility vehicles are not designed for
cornering at high speeds any more
than low profile sports cars are
designed to perfo rm satisfactorily
under off-road conditions.
In addition, utility vehicles have a
significantly higher rollover rate than
other types of vehicles.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person
is significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt.
When driving on ice or in water, snow,
mud, sand, or similar hazards:
Be cautious and allow extra distance
for braking.
Before Driving
Driving Tips
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Drive slowly. Braking performance
can be adversely affected if snow or
ice adheres to the brake
components. If this situation occurs,
drive the vehicle slowly, releasing the
accelerator pedal and lightly applying
the brakes several times until the
brake performance returns to
normal.
▼ Snow Tires
Use snow tires on all 4 wheels
Do not go faster than 120 km/h (75
mph) while driving with snow tires.
Inflate
snow tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm
2,
4.3 psi) more than recommended on
the tire pressure label (driver's door
frame), but never more than the
maximum cold-tire pressure shown on
the tires.
The vehicle is orig inally equipped with
all season radials designed to be used
all year around. In some extreme
climates you may find it necessary to
replace them with snow tires during
the winter months to further improve
traction on snow and ice covered
roads.
WARNING
Use only the same size and type tires
(snow, radial, or non-radial) on all 4
wheels:
Using tires different in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle's handling
could be greatly affected and result in
an accident.
CAUTION
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
NOTE
The tire pressure monitoring system
may not function correctly when using
tires with steel wire reinforcement in
the sidewalls (page 4-203).
▼ Tire Chains
Check local regulations before using
tire chains.
CAUTION
Chains may affect handling.
Do not go faster than 50 km/h (30
mph) or the chain manufacturer's
recommended limit, whichever is
lower.
Drive carefully and avoid bumps,
holes, and sharp turns.
Avoid locked-wheel braking.
Do not use chains on a temporary
spare tire; it may result in damage to
the vehicle and to the tire.
Do not use chains on roads that are
free of snow or ice. The tires and
chains could be damaged.
Chains may scratch or chip
aluminum wheels.
NOTE
The tire pressure monitoring system
may not function correctly when
using tire chains.
Install the chains on the front tires only.
Do not use chains on the rear tires.
Please consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Installing the chains
1. Secure the chains on the front tires as tightly as possible.
Always follow the chain
manufacturer's instructions.
2. Retighten the chains after driving 1/2 ―1 km (1/4 ―1/2 mile).
Before Driving
Driving Tips
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Driving on Uneven Road
▼Driving on Uneven Road
Your vehicle's suspension and
underbody can be damaged if driven
on rough/uneven roads or over speed
bumps at excessive speeds. Use care
and reduce speed when traveling on
rough/uneven roads or over speed
bumps.
Use care not to damage the vehicle's
underbody, bumpers or
muffler(s)
when driving under the following
conditions:
Ascending or descending a slope
with a sharp transition angle
Ascending or descending a driveway
or trailer ramp with a sharp transition
angle
This vehicle is equipped with low
profile tires allowing class-leading
performance and handling. As a result,
the sidewall of the tires are very thin
and the tires and wheels can be
damaged if driven through potholes or
on rough/uneven roads at excessive
speeds. Use care and reduce speed
when traveling on rough/uneven roads
or through potholes.
Turbocharger Information (SKYACTIV-G 2.5T)
▼Turbocharger Information
(SKYACTIV-G
2.5T)
CAUTION
After driving at freeway speeds or up
a long hill, trailer towing for a long
time, idle the engine at least 30
seconds before stopping it.
Otherwise, the turbocharger could
be damaged. However, when i-stop
operates, idling is unnecessary.
Racing or over-revving the engine,
particularly after it's just been
started, can damage the
turbocharger.
To protect the engine from damage,
the engine is designed so that it
cannot be raced just after starting it
in extremely cold weather.
The turbocharger greatly enhances
engine power. Its advanced design
provides improved operation and
requires minimum maintenance.
To get the most from it, observe the
following.
1. Change engine oil and filter according to Scheduled
Maintenance.
Refer to Scheduled Maintenance
(U.S.A. and Puerto Rico) on page
6-4.
Refer to Scheduled Maintenance
(Canada) on page 6-6.
Refer to Scheduled Maintenance
(Mexico) on page 6-8.
2. Use only recommended engine oil (page 6-16). Extra additives are
NOT recommended.
Before Driving
Driving Tips
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▼Tra i l e r H i tc h
Use only a hitch ball recommended by the trailer manufacturer that conforms to the
gross trailer weight requirement.
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 fil
tering in, possibly endangering 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 loads. Do not load and unload vehicle
while adjusting hitch. This action will 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 pressures should conform to tire manufacturer
specifications.
WARNING
Never use the temporary spare tire when towing:
Using the temporary spare tire on your vehicle when towing a trailer is dangerous as
it could result in tire failure, loss of control, and injury to vehicle occupants.
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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▼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 (–)
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 transmissi on will shift to a
lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed. However, the transmission
does not kickdown while the TCS is
turned off.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
*Some models.4-43
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