5-15
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Shifting specification
Shifting up
If the vehicle speed is lower than the
speed specified for each gear, the gear
cannot be shifted up to a higher gear.
Shifting down
If the vehicle speed is higher than the
speed specified for each gear, the gear
cannot be shifted down to a lower gear.
During deceleration, the gears shift down
automatically when speed is reduced to
the following:
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 transmission
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.
Gear Vehicle speed
M1
→
M2
You can shift up to M2
whether the vehicle is
stopped or moving.
M2
→
M3 20 km/h (12 mph)
M3
→
M4 20 km/h (12 mph)
Gear Vehicle speed
M4
→
M3 163 km/h (101 mph)
M3
→
M2 112 km/h (70 mph)
M2
→
M1 45 km/h (28 mph)
Gear Vehicle speed
M4
→
M3 31 km/h (19 mph)
M3 or M2
→
M1 8 km/h (5 mph)
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 149 km/h (93 mph)
M4
→
M2 56 km/h (35 mph)
M3
→
M2 56 km/h (35 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)
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 15 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM