Mazda 2013 Mazda3 Owner's Manual page 165

CAUTION
Ø Keep your foot off the clutch pedal
except when shifting gears. Also,
do not use the clutch to hold the
vehicle on an upgrade. Riding the
clutch will cause needless clutch
wear and damage.
Ø Do not apply any excessive lateral
force to the gear lever when
changing from 5th to 4th gear.
This could lead to the accidental
selection of 2nd gear, which can
result in damage to the transaxle.
Ø Make sure the vehicle comes to a
complete stop before shifting to R.
Shifting to R while the vehicle is
still moving may damage the
transaxle.
NOTE
If shifting to R is difficult, shift back into
neutral, release the clutch pedal, and try
again.
qRecommendations for Shifting
Upshifting
For normal acceleration, we recommend these shift
points.
Gear 5-speed transaxle 6-speed transaxle
1 to 2 21 km/h (13 mph) 24 km/h (15 mph)
2 to 3 39 km/h (24 mph) 43 km/h (27 mph)
3 to 4 55 km/h (34 mph) 56 km/h (35 mph)
4 to 5 78 km/h (49 mph) 72 km/h (45 mph)
5 to 6
For cruising
Gear 5-speed transaxle 6-speed transaxle
1 to 2 18 km/h (11 mph) 16 km/h (10 mph)
2 to 3 29 km/h (18 mph) 32 km/h (20 mph)
3 to 4 47 km/h (29 mph) 48 km/h (30 mph)
4 to 5 68 km/h (42 mph) 60 km/h (37 mph)
5 to 6
90 km/h (56 mph)
71 km/h (44 mph)
Starting and Driving
Downshifting
When you must slow down in heavy
traffic or on a steep upgrade, downshift
before the engine starts to overwork. This
reduces the chance of stalling and gives
better acceleration when you need more
speed.
On a steep downgrade, downshifting
helps maintain safe speed and prolongs
brake life.
Driving Your Mazda
5-11