Mazda 3 Hatchback (2022 year). Manual in english

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Gear Shift Indicator (GSI)

The GSI supports you to obtain
optimum fuel economy and smooth
driving. It displays the selected gear
position in the instrument cluster as
well as notiﬁes the driver to change to
the most suitable gear position
corresponding to the actual driving
condition.

1. Selected gear position
2. Suitable gear position

Indication

Condition

Numeral

The selected gear position is
displayed.

and numer-

Shift up or down to the indi-
cated gear position is recom-
mended.

CAUTION

Do not rely solely on the shift-up/
shift-down recommendations by
indications. The actual driving situation
might require shift operations different
from indication. To avoid the risk of
accidents, the road and traffic
conditions have to be judged correctly
by the driver before shifting.

NOTE

The GSI turns off when the following
operations are performed.

The vehicle is stopped.

The vehicle is put in neutral.

The vehicle is driven in reverse.

The clutch is not fully engaged when
accelerating from a stop.

The clutch pedal remains depressed
for 2 seconds or longer while driving.

▼

Recommendations for Shifting

Upshifting

For normal acceleration, Mazda
recommends these shift points:

(U.S.A. and Canada)

Gear

Vehicle speed

1 to 2

24 km/h (15 mph)

2 to 3

42 km/h (26 mph)

3 to 4

60 km/h (37 mph)

4 to 5

75 km/h (46 mph)

5 to 6

79 km/h (49 mph)

For cruising, Mazda recommends these
shift points:

(U.S.A. and Canada)

Gear

Vehicle speed

1 to 2

13 km/h (8 mph)

2 to 3

29 km/h (18 mph)

3 to 4

49 km/h (30 mph)

4 to 5

63 km/h (39 mph)

5 to 6

70 km/h (43 mph)

Downshifting

When you must slow down in heavy
traffic or on a steep

upgrade

downshift before the engine starts to
overwork. This reduces the chance of
stalling and gives better acceleration
when you need more speed.
On a steep

downgrade

, downshifting

helps maintain safe speed and
prolongs brake life.

When Driving

Manual Transmission Operation

4-40

Automatic Transmission Controls

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Automatic Transmission Controls

1. Lock-release button
2. Selector lever

Indication

Various Lockouts

Indicates that you must depress
the brake pedal and hold in the
lock-release button to shift (The ig-
nition must be switched ON).

Indicates the selector lever can be
shifted freely into any position.

Indicates that you must hold in the
lock-release button to shift.

NOTE

The Sport AT has an option that is not
included in the traditional automatic
transmission that gives the driver the
option of selecting each gear instead of
leaving it to the transmission to shift
gears. Even if you intend to use the
automatic transmission functions as a
traditional automatic, you should also
be aware that you can inadvertently
shift into manual shift mode and an
inappropriate gear may be retained as
the vehicle speed increases. If you
notice the engine speed going higher
or hear the engine racing, conﬁrm you
have not accidentally slipped into
manual shift mode (page 4-44).

When Driving

Automatic Transmission

4-41

Shift-Lock System

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Shift-Lock System

The shift-lock system prevents shifting
out of P unless the brake pedal is
depressed.

To shift from P:
1. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Press and hold the lock-release

button.

4. Move the selector lever.

NOTE

When the ignition is switched to
ACC or the ignition is switched off,
the selector lever cannot be shifted
from P position.

The ignition cannot be switched to
OFF if the selector lever is not in P
position.

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Shift-Lock Override

If the selector lever will not move from
P position using the proper shift
procedure, continue to hold down the
brake pedal.
1. Remove the shift-lock override

cover using a cloth-wrapped ﬂat
head screwdriver.

2. Insert a ﬂat screwdriver and push it

down.

1. Cover

3. Press and hold the lock-release

button.

4. Move the selector lever.
Take the vehicle to an Authorized
Mazda Dealer to have the system
checked.

When Driving

Automatic Transmission

4-42

Transmission Ranges

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Transmission Ranges

The shift position indication in the
instrument cluster illuminates.
Refer to Shift Position Indication on
page 4-44.

Shift the selector lever to the P or N
position to start the engine.

P (Park)

P locks the transmission and prevents
the front wheels from rotating.

WARNING

Always set the selector lever to P
position and set the parking brake:

Only setting the selector lever to the P
position without using the parking
brake to hold the vehicle is dangerous.
If P fails to hold, the vehicle could
move and cause an accident.

CAUTION

Shifting into P, N or R while the
vehicle is moving can damage your
transmission.

Shifting into a driving gear or reverse
when the engine is running faster
than idle can damage the
transmission.

R (Reverse)

In position R, the vehicle moves only
backward. You must be at a complete
stop before shifting to or from R,
except under rare circumstances as
explained in Rocking the Vehicle (page
3-48).

N (Neutral)

In N, the wheels and transmission are
not locked. The vehicle will roll freely
even on the slightest incline unless the
parking brake or brakes are on.

WARNING

If the engine is running faster than
idle, do not shift from N or P into a
driving gear:

It's dangerous to shift from N or P into
a driving gear when the engine is
running faster than idle. If this is done,
the vehicle could move suddenly,
causing an accident or serious injury.

Do not shift into N when driving the
vehicle:

Shifting into N while driving is
dangerous. Engine braking cannot be
applied when decelerating which
could lead to an accident or serious
injury.

CAUTION

Do not shift into N when driving the
vehicle. Doing so can cause
transmission damage.

NOTE

Apply the parking brake or depress the
brake pedal before moving the selector
lever from N position to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.

D (Drive)

D is the normal driving position. From
a stop, the transmission will
automatically shift through a 6-gear
sequence.

When Driving

Automatic Transmission

4-43

M (Manual)

M is the manual shift mode position.
Gears can be shifted up or down by
operating the selector lever.
Refer to Manual Shift Mode on page
4-44.

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Shift Position Indication

1. Shift position indication

The selector position is indicated when
the ignition is switched ON.

Gear position indication

In manual shift mode, the “M” of the
shift position indication illuminates
and the numeral for the selected gear
is displayed.

▼

Active Adaptive Shift (AAS)

Active Adaptive Shift (AAS)
automatically controls the transmission
shift points to best suit the road
conditions and driver input. This
improves driving feel. The transmission
may switch to AAS mode when driving
up and down slopes, cornering, driving
at high elevations, or depressing the
accelerator pedal quickly while the
selector lever is in the D position.
Depending on the road and driving
conditions/vehicle operations, gear
shifting could be delayed or not occur,
however, this does not indicate a
problem because the AAS mode will
maintain the optimum gear position.

Manual Shift Mode

▼

Manual Shift Mode

The manual shift mode gives you the
feel of driving a manual transmission
vehicle by allowing you to operate the
selector lever manually. This allows you
to control engine rpm and torque to
the drive wheels much like a manual
transmission when more control is
desired.
To change to manual shift mode, shift
the lever from D to M.

NOTE

Changing to manual shift mode
while driving will not damage the
transmission.

If you change to manual shift mode
when the vehicle is stopped, the gear
will shift to M1.

If you change to manual shift mode
without depressing the accelerator
pedal when driving in D range, 5th
gear/6th gear, the gear will shift to
M4/M5.

To return to automatic shift mode, shift
the lever from M to D.

When Driving

Automatic Transmission

4-44

▼

Indications

1. Manual shift mode indication
2. Gear position indication

Manual shift mode indication

In manual shift mode, the “M” of the
shift position indication in the
instrument panel illuminates.

Gear position indication

The numeral for the selected gear
illuminates.

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
transmission).

If the automatic transmission ﬂuid
(ATF) temperature becomes too
high, there is the possibility that the
transmission 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

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 (+/OFF) toward you once with
your ﬁngers.

1. UP switch (+/OFF)

When Driving

Automatic Transmission

*Some models.

4-45

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

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.

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:

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

4-47

▼

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 vehicle speed is lower than the speed limit.

Shift down

The gear does not shift down while the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit.
If the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit 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 fully while driving, the gear shifts down.
However, the transmission does not kickdown 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

4-48

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

M1 to M2

24 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)

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 and prolongs brake
life.

When Driving

Automatic Transmission

4-49

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.

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.

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.

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

4-51

M Hybrid

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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 assist. In addition, the ISG provides quiet
engine restarting after the engine is stopped 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.

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

4-53

Charging the M Hybrid battery

The M Hybrid battery is charged
automatically during engine operation
and by deceleration regeneration.
Therefore, it is not necessary to charge
the battery from outside of the vehicle.

CAUTION

Drive the vehicle for about 30 minutes
once every few months because
self-discharge occurs gradually if the
vehicle is not driven for a long period
of time. If the M Hybrid battery
becomes completely discharged and
M Hybrid cannot be activated, contact
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.

▼

M Hybrid Precautions

For vehicle maintenance or repairs, or
when scrapping the vehicle, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.

Handling the M Hybrid battery

Technical knowledge and skill are
necessary in handling the M Hybrid
battery.

WARNING

To ensure safe and correct handling of
the M Hybrid battery, always heed the
following precautions:

Do not remove the M Hybrid battery.

Do not resell, transfer, or modify the
M Hybrid battery.

Do not use the battery on vehicles
other than those equipped with the
M Hybrid battery.

If the M Hybrid battery is not handled
properly, the following may occur and
cause serious injury:

Touching an unattended or illegally
abandoned M Hybrid battery may
cause electrocution.

If the M Hybrid battery is used on a
vehicle other than one equipped
with M Hybrid (including modiﬁed
vehicles), accidents such as
electrocution, heat generation,
smoking, combustion, and
explosions, or an electrolyte leakage
may occur.

Scrapping Your Vehicle and Disposing
of the M Hybrid battery

The M Hybrid battery must be recycled
to prevent accidents involving it. When
scrapping your vehicle, replacing the M
Hybrid battery, or disposing of the M
Hybrid battery, consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer. Please cooperate in
ensuring that the vehicle's M Hybrid
battery is recycled.

WARNING

Dispose of the M Hybrid battery
appropriately:

If the M Hybrid battery is not recycled
appropriately, such as by leaving it
unattended or illegally abandoning it,
some other person may touch it which
could cause electrocution leading to
serious injury.

If an Accident Occurs

If the vehicle is involved in a collision,
M Hybrid may stop operating. In this
case, the charging system warning light
turns on and M Hybrid cannot activate.
Park the vehicle in a safe place
immediately and contact an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.

When Driving

M Hybrid

4-54

WARNING

Never touch the areas where high
current is ﬂowing:

Never touch a M Hybrid related part.
Otherwise, it could lead to an
electrical shock or burns causing
serious injury.

Never touch electrical wiring that may
be protruding into or outside of the
cabin:

Otherwise, it could lead to an
electrical shock or burns causing
serious injury.

Never touch any area where
electrolyte is visible or electrolyte is
leaking from the area:

If any electrolyte from the M Hybrid
battery gets in the eyes or on the skin,
it could cause loss of vision or skin
reactions. In the unlikely event that
electrolyte comes into contact with the
eyes or skin, ﬂush with large quantities
of water immediately and seek
immediate medical attention.

Do not come near the vehicle if
electrolyte is leaking from the M
Hybrid battery:

Even if the M Hybrid battery is
damaged, large quantities of
electrolyte will not ﬂow out due to the
internal structure of the battery,
however, in the unlikely event that it
does, it will produce steam. The steam
contains properties that can irritate the
eyes and skin, and could cause acute
poisoning if absorbed.

Never approach objects that are on
ﬁre or extremely hot:

Electrolyte in the M Hybrid battery may
cause a ﬁre.

If the vehicle catches ﬁre, extinguish
the ﬁre using an ABC ﬁre
extinguisher:

Only extinguish a ﬁre with water when
a high volume of water is available
such as from a ﬁre hydrant.

▼

M Hybrid Control Status Display

The driver is notiﬁed of the M Hybrid
operation status by the control status
display.

Control status display (vehicles with
type B audio)

The M Hybrid operation status is
displayed in the center display.
Refer to the Information section in the
Mazda Connect Owner's Manual.

When Driving

M Hybrid

4-55

Mazda 3 Hatchback (2022 year). Manual in english - page 12