MAZDA MODEL 6 2021 Owners Manual

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 transaxle will shift to a lower gear,
depending on vehicle speed. However,
the gears do not kickdown while the
DSC is turned off.
▼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 transaxle 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 se cond gear fixed
mode, the mode will be canceled.
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
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▼Shift Gear (Shifting) Speed Limit
For each gear position
while in the manual mode, the speed limi t is set as follows: When the
selector lever is operated within the range of the speed limit, the gear is shifted.

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 wh ile the vehicle speed exceeds th e speed limit.
If the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit and the gear does not shift down, the gear
position indication flashes 2 tim es to notify the driver that the gear cannot be shifted.
Kickdown
When the accelerator pedal is depressed fully while driving, th e gear shifts down.
However, the gears do not kickdown while the DSC is turned off.
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 spe ed during deceleration.
NOTE
If the vehicle comes to a stop while in the second gear fixed mode, the gear remains in
second.
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
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▼Recommendations for Shifting
Upshifting
For normal acceleration and cruising, Mazda recommends these sh
ift points:
(U.S.A. and Canada)
Gear Vehicle speed*1
M1 to M224 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)
*1 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 an d prolongs brake life.
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
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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 a nd the gear position
in use is illuminated.
Direct mode is canceled (released) under
the following conditions.
The UP switch () 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.

Direct mode
indicationGear position
indication
Direct mode
indicationGear position
indication
Instrument Cluster (Type A)
Instrument Cluster (Type B)
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 ve hicle in a particular
gear for long periods.
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
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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 transaxle 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.
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 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. Desce nd slowly, using the
brakes only occasionally to prevent them
from overheating.
When Driving
Automatic Transaxle
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Lighting Control
▼Headlights
Turn the headlight switch to tur
n the headlights and other exterior lights on or off.
When the lights are turned on, the lights-on indicator light in the instrument cluster turns on.

NOTE
If the light switch is left on, the lights will automatically switch off approximately 30
seconds after switching the ignition off.
The time setting can be changed.
Refer to the Settings section in the Mazda Connect Owner's Manual.
To prevent discharging the battery, do not leave the lights on while th e engine is off unless
safety requires them.
Without auto-light control
Switch Position OFF
Ignition PositionONACC or
OFF ONACC or
OFF ONACC or
OFF
Headlights Off Off Off Off On
On
*2
Daytime running lightsOn*1OffOn*1Off Off Off
Taillights
Parking lights
License plate lights
Side-marker lights Off Off On
On
*2OnOn*2
*1 The lights are turned on wh ile the vehicle is driven.*2 The lights are turned on for th e specified period by the auto headlight off function.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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With auto-light control
(Except Canada)
Switch PositionOFFAUTO
Ignition Position ONACC or
OFF ONACC or
OFF ONACC or
OFF ONACC or
OFF
Headlights Off Off
Auto
*2Auto*4Off Off On On*4
Daytime running lights On*1OffOn*3OffOn*1Off Off Off
Taillights
Parking lights
License plate lights
Side-marker lights Off Off
Auto
*2Auto*4OnOn*4OnOn*4
*1 The lights are turned on wh ile the vehicle is driven.*2 The lights are turned on by the auto light function.*3 The lights are turned on while t he vehicle is driven, and turned off when the headlights are turned on by the
auto light function.
*4 The lights are turned on for the specified period by the auto headlight off function.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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(Canada)
Ignition PositionACC or OFF ON
Switch Position OFF
*1AUTOOFF*1AUTO
Headlights Off Off Off Off
Auto
*2*4Auto*3*4
On
Daytime running
lights Off Off Off Off
Off
Taillights
Parking lights
License plate lights
Side-marker lights Off
On
*5OnOn*5On
*1 The light switch returns to t he AUTO position automatically.*2 During the daytime, the daytime running lights turn on automat ically. During the nighttime, the headlights,
parking lights, taillights, and the license plate lights turn o n automatically.
*3 During the daytime, the daytime running lights, parking lights , taillights, and the license plate lights turn on
automatically. During the nighttime, the headlights, parking lights, taillights, and the lic ense plate lights turn
on automatically.
*4 When the light switch is switched to the OFF position while th e vehicle is stopped, all of the lights that are
turned on turn off. When the li ght switch is switched from a po sition other than
to the position
while the vehicle is stopped, the daytime running lights or the headlights turn off. When starting to drive the
vehicle, the lights that are turned off turn on again.
*5 The lights are turned on for th e specified period by the auto headlight off function.
Auto-light control*
(Except Cnnada)
When the headlight switch is in the AUTO position and the ignit ion is switched ON, the
light sensor senses the surrounding lightness or darkness and a utomatically turns the
headlights and other exterior lights on or off.
(Canada)
When the headlight switch is in a position other than
and the ignition is switched ON, the
light sensor senses the surrounding lightness or darkness and a utomatically turns the
headlights and other exterior lights on or off.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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CAUTION
Do not shade the light sensor by adhering a st icker or a label on the windshield. Otherwise
the light sensor will not operate correctly.
 The light sensor also works as a rain sensor for the auto-wiper control. Keep hands and
scrapers clear of the windshield when the wi per lever is in the AUTO position and the
ignition is switched ON as fingers could be pinched or the wipers and wiper blades could be
damaged when the wipers activa te automatically. If you are going to clean the windshield,
be sure the wipers are turned off completely wh en it is particularly tempting to leave the
engine running. This is particularly important when clearing ice and snow.
NOTE
The headlights and other exterior lights may not turn off immediately even if the
surrounding area becomes well-lit because the light sensor determines that it is night time
if the surrounding area is continuously dark for several minute s such as inside long
tunnels, traffic jams inside tunn els, or in indoor parking lots.
In this case, the ligh ts turn off if the light switch is turned to the OFF position.
If the headlight switch and the windshield wiper switch are in AUTO, and the wipers are
operated at low or high speed by the auto wi per control for several seconds, bad weather
conditions are determined and the headlights may be turned on.
The sensitivity of the auto-light control may be changed.
Refer to the Settings section in the Mazda Connect Owner's Manual.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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▼Headlight High-Low Beam
The headlights switch between high and
low beams by moving the lever forward or
backward.

High beam
Low beam
When the headlight high-beams are on, the
headlight high-beam indicator light is
turned on.

▼ Flashing the Headlights
Can be used when the ignition is switched
ON.
To flash the headlights
, pull the lever fully
towards you (the headlight switch does not
need to be on).

OFF
Headlight
flashing
The headlight high-b eam indicator light in
the instrument cluster illuminates
simultaneously. The lever will return to
the normal position when released.

▼ Coming Home Light
The coming home light turns on the
headlights (low beam
s) when the lever is
operated.
To turn on the lights
When the lever is pulled with the ignition
switched to ACC or OFF, the low beam
headlights turn on.
The headlights turn o ff after a certain
period of time has elapsed after all of the
doors are closed.
NOTE
The time until the headlights turn off
after all of the doors are closed can be
changed.
Refer to the Settings section in the
Mazda Connect Owner's Manual.
If no operations are done for 3 minutes
after the lever is pu lled, the headlights
turn off.
The headlights turn off if the lever is
pulled again while the headlights are
illuminated.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
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