Driving Your Mazda; Driving Tips; Starting and Driving- Page 130

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Driving Your Mazda

Starting and Driving

Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

If the vehicle is kicked down at the 
following speeds or lower, the gears shift 
down automatically:

Recommendations for shifting

Upshifting

For normal acceleration and cruising, we 
recommend these shift points.

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.

▼

Driving Tips

Passing

For extra power when passing another 
vehicle or climbing steep grades, depress 
the accelerator fully. The transaxle will 
shift to a lower gear, depending on vehicle 
speed.

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 all brakes 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.

NOTE

If the vehicle is driven at a low speed 
from a standing start while in M2, the 
gear may not shift down to M1 
automatically.

Gear

Vehicle speed

M4

→

M3

135 km/h (83 mph)

M3

→

M2

64 km/h (39 mph)

M1 to M2

24 km/h (15 mph)

M2 to M3

40 km/h (25 mph)

M3 to M4

65 km/h (40 mph)

J48C_8S18-EA-03I_Edition3.book  Page 16  Monday, February 9, 2004  8:41 PM

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