2016-2026 Mazda Mx-5 SUV When Driving -> Manual Shift Mode User Manual
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When Driving -> Manual Shift Mode for Your Mazda Mx-5 SUV Fourth Generation (2016-2026)

When Driving  
Automatic Transmission  
Gear position indication  
Manual Shift Mode  
The numeral for the selected gear  
illuminates.  
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.  
Manual shift mode indication  
To change to manual shift mode, shift the  
lever from D to M.  
Gear position indication  
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).  
NOTE  
Changing to manual shift mode while  
driving will not damage the transmission.  
Manually Shifting Up  
You can shift gears up by operating the  
selector lever or the steering shift  
switches .  
To return to automatic shift mode, shift the  
lever from M to D.  
*
NOTE  
M1 → M2 → M3 → M4 → M5 → M6  
If you change to manual shift mode  
Using selector lever  
when the vehicle is stopped, the gear  
will shift to M1.  
If you change to manual shift mode  
To shift up to a higher gear, tap the  
selector lever back once.  
without depressing the accelerator pedal  
when driving in D range, 5th gear/6th  
gear, the gear will shift to M4/M5.  
Indicators  
Manual shift mode indication  
In manual shift mode, the “M” of the shift  
position indication in the instrument panel  
illuminates.  
*Some models.  
4-38  
When Driving  
Automatic Transmission  
*
This function is canceled while the DSC  
is turned off. 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  
Using steering shift switch  
To shift up to a higher gear with the  
steering shift switches, pull the UP switch  
(
) toward you once with your  
fingers.  
UP switch (+/OFF)  
mode when the UP switch (  
) 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 .  
M6 → M5 → M4 → M3 → M2→ M1  
WARNING  
Using selector lever  
To shift down to a lower gear, tap the  
selector lever forward once.  
Keep your hands on the steering wheel rim  
when using ꢀngers 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.  
*Some models.  
4-39  
When Driving  
Automatic Transmission  
*
Keep your hands on the steering wheel rim  
when using ꢀngers on the steering shift  
switches:  
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.  
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.  
DOWN switch (-)  
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 gears do not kickdown  
while the DSC is turned off.  
WARNING  
Do not use engine braking on slippery road  
surfaces or at high speeds:  
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.  
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.  
If the selector lever is moved back or  
forward while in the second gear fixed  
mode, the mode will be canceled.  
*Some models.  
4-40  
When Driving  
Automatic Transmission  
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.  
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 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 speed during deceleration.  
NOTE  
If the vehicle comes to a stop while in the second gear fixed mode, the gear remains in  
second.  
4-41  
When Driving  
Automatic Transmission  
Recommendations for Shifting  
Upshifting  
For normal acceleration and cruising, Mazda recommends these shift points:  
*1  
Gear  
Vehicle speed  
M1 to M2  
M2 to M3  
M3 to M4  
M4 to M5  
M5 to M6  
24 km/h (15 mph)  
40 km/h (25 mph)  
65 km/h (40 mph)  
73 km/h (45 mph)  
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 and prolongs brake life.  
4-42  

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