Mazda 3 Owners Manual: Cruise Control

With cruise control, you can set and automatically maintain any speed of more than about 25 km/h (16 mph).

Cruise Control Switch

Cruise Main Indicator Light (Amber)/Cruise Set Indicator Light (Green)

The indicator light has two colors.

Cruise Main Indicator Light (Amber)

The indicator light illuminates amber when the cruise control system is activated.

Cruise Set Indicator Light (Green)

The indicator light illuminates green when a cruising speed has been set.

Activation/Deactivation

To activate the system, press the ON switch. The cruise main indicator light (Amber) illuminates.

To deactivate the system, press the OFF switch.

The cruise main indicator light (Amber) turns off.

NOTE When the ignition is switched OFF, the system status before it was turned off is maintained. For example, if the ignition is switched OFF with the cruise control system operable, the system will be operable when the ignition is switched ON the next time.

To Set Speed

1. Activate the cruise control system by pressing the ON switch. The cruise main indicator light (Amber) illuminates.
2. Accelerate to the desired speed, which must be more than 25 km/h (16 mph).
3. Set the cruise control by pressing the SET + or SET - switch at the desired speed. The cruise control is set at the moment the SET + or SET - switch is pressed. Release the accelerator pedal simultaneously. The cruise set indicator light (Green) illuminates.

NOTE

• The cruise control speed setting cannot be performed under the following conditions:
• (Automatic transaxle) The selector lever is in the P or N position.
• (Manual transaxle) The shift lever is in the neutral position.
• The parking brake is applied.
• Release the SET + or SET - switch at the desired speed, otherwise the speed will continue increasing while the SET + switch is pressed and held, and continue decreasing while the SET - switch is pressed and held (except when the accelerator pedal is depressed).
• On a steep grade, the vehicle may momentarily slow down while ascending, or speed up while descending.
• Cruise control will cancel if the vehicle speed decreases below 21 km/h (13 mph) when cruise is activated, such as when climbing a steep grade.
• Cruise control may cancel at about 15 km/h (9 mph) below the preset speed, such as when climbing a long, steep grade.

To Increase Cruising Speed

Follow either of these procedures.

To increase speed using cruise control switch

Press the SET + switch and hold it. Your vehicle will accelerate. Release the switch at the speed you want.

Press the SET - switch and release it immediately to adjust the preset speed.

Multiple operations will increase the preset speed according to the number of times it is operated.

Increasing speed with a single SET + switch operation

Meter display for vehicle speed indicated in km/h: 1 km/h (0.6 mph) Meter display for vehicle speed indicated in mph: 1 mph (1.6 km/h)

To increase speed using accelerator pedal

Depress the accelerator pedal to accelerate to the desired speed. Press the SET + or SET - switch and release it immediately.

NOTE Accelerate if you want to speed up temporarily when the cruise control is on.

Greater speed will not interfere with or change the set speed. Take your foot off the accelerator to return to the set speed.

To Decrease Cruising Speed

Press the SET - switch and hold it. The vehicle will gradually slow.

Release the switch at the speed you want.

Press the SET - switch and release it immediately to adjust the preset speed.

Multiple operations will decrease the preset speed according to the number of times it is operated.

Decreasing speed with a single SET - switch operation

Meter display for vehicle speed indicated in km/h: 1 km/h (0.6 mph) Meter display for vehicle speed indicated in mph: 1 mph (1.6 km/h)

To Resume Cruising Speed at More Than 25 km/h (16 mph)

If some other method besides the OFF switch was used to cancel cruising speed (such as applying the brake pedal) and the system is still activated, the most recent set speed will automatically resume when the RESUME switch is pressed.

If vehicle speed is below 25 km/h (16 mph), increase the vehicle speed up to 25 km/h (16 mph) or more and press the RESUME switch.

To Temporarily Cancel

To temporarily cancel the system, use one of these methods:

• Slightly depress the brake pedal.
• (Manual transaxle) Depress the clutch pedal.
• Press the CANCEL switch.

  If the RESUME switch is pressed when the vehicle speed is 25 km/h (16 mph) or higher, the system reverts to the previously set speed.

NOTE

• If any of the following conditions occur, the cruise control system is temporarily canceled.

• The parking brake is applied.
• (Automatic transaxle) The selector lever is in the P or N position.
• (Manual transaxle) The shift lever is in the neutral position.

• When the cruise control system is temporarily canceled by even one of the applicable cancel conditions, the speed cannot be re-set.
• (Automatic transaxle) The cruise control cannot be cancelled while driving in manual mode (selector lever shifted from D to M position).

  Therefore, engine braking will not be applied even if the transaxle is shifted down to a lower gear. If deceleration is required, lower the set speed or depress the brake pedal.

To Deactivate

To deactivate the system, press the OFF switch.