weight MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK 2018 Owners Manual (in English)

Child-Restraint System Installation
▼Categories of Child-Restraint Systems
NOTE
When purchasing, ask the manufacturer of the child-restraint system which type of
child-restraint system is appropriate for your child and vehicle.
(Mexico)
Child-restraint systems are clas
sified into the following 5 groups according to the UNECE
44 regulation.
Group Age Weight
0 Up to about 9 months old Up to 10 kg (up to 22 lb)
0
Up to about 2 years old Up to 13 kg (up to 29 lb)
1 About 8 months to 4 years old 9 kg ― 18 kg (20 lb ― 40 lb)
2 About 3 to 7 years old 15 kg ― 25 kg (33 lb ― 55 lb)
3 About 6 to 12 years old 22 kg ― 36 kg (48 lb ― 79 lb)
(Except Mexico)
Please comply with the legal regulations concerning the use of child-restraint systems in
your country.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child-Restraint
2-25
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21

Seat belt-secured child-restraint systems
System group Age group Weight groupChild-restraint
system type Front pas-
sengerseat Rear seat
(outboard) Rear seat
(center)
GROUP 0 Up to about 9
months old Up to 10 kg (up
to 22 lb) Infant seat X U
L
*1
GROUP 0Up to about 2
years old Up to 13 kg (up
to 29 lb) Infant seat X U
L*1
GROUP 1About 8 months
to 4 years old 9 kg ― 18 kg (20
lb ― 40 lb) Child seat
L*2UX
GROUP 2 About 3 to 7
years old 15 kg ― 25 kg
(33 lb ― 55 lb) Booster seat
L
*2UX
GROUP 3 About 6 to 12
years old 22 kg ― 36 kg
(48 lb ― 79 lb) Booster seat
L
*2UX
Key of letters to be inserted in the above table:
U = Suitable for “univ ersal” category restraints approved for u se in this mass group.
L = A Mazda genuine child-restrai nt system can be installed. Regarding child-restraint systems which can be
installed, refer to the accessories catalog.
X = Seat position not suitable for children in this mass group.
*1 When a child-restraint system is installed to the rear center seat, do not seat occupants in the rear right
outboard seat position.
*2 When installing a child-restraint system to the front passenge r seat, adjust the seat slide position as far back as
possible. Adjust the se at bottom to the highest position so tha t the seat belt can securely fasten the
child-restraint system.
Refer to Seat Operation on page 2-5.
NOTE
When installing a child-restraint system, the following points must be observed:
Always remove the head restraint before installing a child-restraint system. However,
when installing a backless booster seat, always install the vehicle head restraint to the
seat where the backless booster seat is instal led. In addition, always use a tether strap
and attach it securely. Refer to Head Restraints on page 2-10.
When installing a child-restraint system to the rear seat, adjust the front seat position so
that the front seat does not contact the child-restraint system. Refer to Seat Operation 2-5.
(Except Mexico)
Please comply with the legal regulations concerning the use of child-restraint systems in
your country.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child-Restraint
2-30
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21

Do not allow a child or anyone to lean over
or against the side window of a vehicle
with side and curtain air bags:
It is dangerous to allow anyone to lean over
or against the side window, the area of the
front passenger seat, the front and rear
window pillars and the roof edge along
both sides from which the side and curtain
air bags deploy, even if a child-restraint
system is used. The impact of inflation from
a side or curtain air bag could cause serious
injury or death to an out of position child.
Furthermore, leaning over or against the
front door could block the side and curtain
air bags and eliminate the advantages of
supplemental protection. With the front air
bag and the additional side air bag that
comes out of the front seat, the rear seat is
always a better location for children. Take
special care not to allow a child to lean
over or against the side window, even if the
child is seated in a child-restraint system.
Always remove the head restraint and
install child-restraint system (except when
installing a backless booster seat):
Installing a child-restraint system without
removing the head restraint is dangerous.
The child-restraint system cannot be
installed correctly which may result in
death or injury to the child in a collision.
Always install the head restraint and adjust
it to the appropriate position after
removing the child-restraint system:
Driving with the head restraint removed is
dangerous as impact to the occupant's
head cannot be prevented during
emergency braking or in a collision, which
could result in a serious accident, injury or
death.
Refer to Head Restraints on page 2-10.Front Passenger's S eat Child-Restraint
System Installation (With Front
Passenger Occupant Classification
System)
1. Make sure the ignition is switched off.
2. Slide the seat as far back as possible.
3. Remove the head restraint. However,
when installing a backless booster seat,
always install the vehicle head restraint
to the seat where the backless booster
seat is installed.
4. Place the child-restraint system on the seat without putting your weight on the
seat and fasten the seat belt. See the
manufacturer's instructions on the
child-restraint system for belt routing
instructions.
5. To get the retractor into the automatic
locking mode, pull the shoulder belt
portion of the seat belt until the entire
length of the belt is out of the retractor.
6. Push the child-restraint system firmly into the vehicle seat. Be sure the belt
retracts as snugly as possible. A
clicking noise from the retractor will
be heard during retraction if the system
is in automatic lo cking mode. If the
belt does not lock the seat down tight,
repeat the previous step and also this
one.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child-Restraint
2-37
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21

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 9-10) is
dangerous. Use of such wheels will prevent th e 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 possibili ty 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 drive the vehicle off-road:
Driving your Mazda off-road is dangerous beca use the vehicle has not been designed to do
so. Driving the vehicle off-road could prev ent 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.
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 un repaired is dangerous. Each front door has a
side crash sensor as a component of the suppleme ntal 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 side collision. If a sensor does not detect a side impact correctly, the side and curtain air
bags and the front seat belt pretensioner ma y not operate normally which could result in
serious injury to occupants.
Do not modify the supplemental restraint system:
Modifying the components or wiring of the supplemental restraint system is dangerous. You
could accidentally activate it or make it inoperable. Do not make any modifications to the
supplemental restraint system. This includes inst alling trim, badges, or anything else over the
air bag modules. It also includes installing extra electrical equipment on or near system
components or wiring. An Authorized Mazda Dealer can provide the special care needed in
the removal and installation of front seats. It is important to protect the air bag wiring and
connections to assure that the bags do not accidentally deploy, and that the front passenger
occupant classification system and the seats retain an undamaged air bag connection.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-48
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1
2017-4-7 11:59:21

Liftgate/Trunk Lid
WA R N I N G
Never allow a person to ride in the luggage
compartment/trunk:
Allowing a person to ride in the luggage
compartment/trunk is dangerous. The
person in the luggage compartment/trunk
could be seriously injured or killed during
sudden braking or a collision.
Do not drive with the liftgate/trunk lid
open:
Exhaust gas in the cabin of a vehicle is
dangerous. An open liftgate/trunk lid in a
moving vehicle will cause exhaust gas to be
drawn into the cabin. This gas contains CO
(carbon monoxide), which is colorless,
odorless, and highly poisonous, and it can
cause loss of consciousness and death.
Moreover, an open liftgate/trunk lid could
cause occupants to fall out in an accident.
Do not stack or leave loaded luggage
unsecured in the luggage compartment:
Otherwise, the luggage may move or
collapse, resulting in injury or an accident.
In addition, do not load luggage higher
than the seatbacks. It may affect the side or
rear field of view.
CAUTION
 Before opening the liftgate/trunk lid,
remove any snow and ice accumulation
on it. Otherwise, the liftgate/trunk lid
could close under the weight of the snow
and ice resulting in injury.
Be careful when opening/closing the
liftgate/trunk lid during strong winds. If a
strong gust blows against the liftgate/
trunk lid, it could close suddenly resulting
in injury.
 Fully open the liftgate/trunk lid and
make sure that it stays open. If the
liftgate/trunk lid is only opened partially,
it could slam shut by vibration or wind
gusts resulting in injury.
 When loading or unloading luggage in
the luggage compartment/trunk, turn
off
the engine. Otherwise, you could get
burned by the heat of the exhaust gas.
 Be careful not to apply excessive force to
the damper stay on the liftgate such as
by putting your hand on the stay.
Otherwise, the damper stay may bend
and
affect the liftgate operation.
Damper stay

Do not modify or replace the liftgate
damper stay. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer if a liftgate damper stay is
deformed or damaged for reasons such
as a collision or if there is some other
problem.
Before Driving
Doors and Locks
3-20
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21

▼Luggage Compartment
Luggage compartment cover (5-door)
WA R N I N G
Do not place anything on top of the cover:
Placing luggage or other cargo on top of
the luggage compartment cover is
dangerous. During sudden braking or a
collision, the cargo could become a
projectile that could hit and injure
someone. The vehicle has a light weight
luggage compartment cover to keep the
contents of your luggage area out of sight;
it will not retain heavy objects that are not
tied down in an accident such as a rollover.
Tie down all heavy objects, whether
luggage or cargo, using the tie down
hooks.
Make sure luggage and cargo are secured
before driving:
Not securing cargo while driving is
dangerous as it could move or be crushed
during sudden braking or a collision and
cause injury.
CAUTION

Make sure the luggage compartment
cover is firmly secured. If it is not firmly
secured, it could unexpectedly disengage
resulting in injury.
The luggage compartment can be accessed
by opening the liftgate when the straps are
attached to the sides of the liftgate.

Strap
Removing the cover
This cover can be re moved for more room.
1. Remove the straps from the hooks.
2. Lift the end of the luggage compartment cover a little, pull it
outward, and remove it from the pins.
Pin
Pin
3. Lift the front end of the luggagecompartment cover and remove it.
Before Driving
Doors and Locks
3-23
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21

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.
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 (page
6-4) and have an Authorized Mazda
Dealer perform inspections and
servicing.
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.
WA R N I N G
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.
Before Driving
Driving Tips
3-45
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21

Driving In Flooded Area
WA R N I N G
Dry off brakes that have become wet by
driving slowly, releasing the accelerator
pedal and lightly applying the brakes
several times until the brake performance
returns to normal:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the vehicle
pulling to one side when braking could
result in a serious accident. Light braking
will indicate whether the brakes have been
affected.
CAUTION
Do not drive the vehicle on flooded roads
as it could cause short circuiting of
electrical/electronic parts, or engine
damage or stalling from water absorption.
If the vehicle has been immersed in water,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Overloading
WA R N I N G
Be careful not to overload your vehicle:
The gross axle weight rating (GAWR) and
the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of
the vehicle are on the Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard Label on the driver's door frame.
Exceeding these ratings can cause an
accident or vehicle damage. You can
estimate the weight of the load by
weighing the items (or people) before
putting them in the vehicle.
Before Driving
Driving Tips
3-50
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21

Driving Tips
WA R N I N G
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 transaxle will
shift to a lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed.
NOTE
(Some models)
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.
While the selector lever is in the M
position and the DSC is turned off,
manual shift mode does not switch to
automatic shift mode even if the
accelerator pedal is completely
depressed. Operate the selector lever.
Climbing steep gra des 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 Transaxle
4-42
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21

The headlights turn off if the lever is
pulled again while the headlights are
illuminated.
▼Leaving Home Light
The leaving home light turns on the lights
when the transmitter unlock button is
pressed while away from the vehicle.
The following lights turn on when the
leaving home light is operated.
Low beams, Parking lights, Taillights,
License plate lights.
To turn on the lights
When the ignition swi
tch and the headlight
switch are in the following conditions, the
headlights will illuminate when the
transmitter unlock button is pressed and
the vehicle receives the transmitter signal.
The headlights turn off after a certain
period of time has elapsed (30 seconds).
Ignition switch: off
Headlight switch: , , or
Lock button
Unlock
button
NOTE
Operation of the leaving home light can
be turned on or off.
Refer to Personalization Features on
page 9-12.
When the transmitter lock button is
pressed and the vehicle receives the
transmitter signal, the headlights turn
off.
When the headlight switch is turned to
the
position, the headlights turn off.
▼ Headlight Leveling*
The number of passengers and weight of
cargo in the luggage compartment change
the angle of the headlights.

The angle of the headlights will be
automatically adjusted when turning on
the headlights.
▼Daytime Running Lights
Some countries require moving vehicles to
have their lights on (daytime running
lights) during the daytime.

The daytime running lights turn on
automatically when the vehicle starts
moving.
They turn off when the parking brake is
operated or the shift lever is shifted to the
P position (automatic transaxle vehicle).
NOTE
(Except Canada)
The daytime running lights can be
deactivated.
Refer to Personalization Features on page
9-12.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
*Some models.4-47
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1
2017-4-7 11:59:21