Manual Transaxle Operation
Manual Transaxle Shift Pattern
The vehicle is equipped with either a 5- speed or 6-speed manual transaxle. The shift pattern for each is shown above.
Depress the clutch pedal all the way down while shifting; then release it slowly.
(5-speed transaxle)
A safety feature prevents accidental shifting from 5 to R (reverse). The shift lever must be put in neutral before being shifted to R.
(6-speed transaxle)
Vehicles with 6-speed transaxle are equipped with a device to prevent shifting to R (reverse) by mistake. Push the shift lever downward and shift to R.
WARNING:
Do not use sudden engine braking on
slippery road surfaces or at high
speeds:
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.
Be sure to leave the shift lever in 1 or R position and set the parking brake when leaving the vehicle unattended: Otherwise the vehicle could move and cause an accident.
CAUTION:
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.
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.
Recommendations for Shifting
Upshifting
For normal acceleration, we recommend these shift points.
For cruising
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.
See also:
Revised Six-Speed Manual Transmission
This is particularly true when this engine is combined with the revised
six-speed manual transmission. Its optimised synchronisation allows shifting
gears even more quickly and smoothly than befor ...
Recreational Towing
An example of “recreational towing” is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transaxle is not designed for towing
this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to
“Towi ...
Driving Impressions
The Mazda6 is pleasant to drive and sportier than some of its rivals. This
sedan takes curves confidently with modest body lean and satisfying grip.
Moderate steering effort is accompanied by good ...