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Mazdas i-stop saves fuel by automatically switching off the engine while you’re stopped.
When the engine is it an operating temperature and you come to a complete stop, i-stop will automatically switch off the engine.
The system keeps the engine ready to ignite, so when you lift your foot off the brakes the engine restarts almost instantly and you’re ready to go.
To temporarily deactivated i-stop, press the i-stop off switch. Note the system reactivates each time you turn off the car.
SKYACTIV technology not only helps with fuel efficiency but lessens your carbon footprint as well because one of the key aspects of SKYACTIV technology is i-stop.
Say you’re traveling along and you’re stuck in a traffic jam, approaching an intersection or set of lights. Simply put your foot on the brake, and i-stop automatically kills the engine.
Without touching the steering wheel, turning your keys or hitting the start/stop button.
Simply take your foot off the brake, i-stop switches the engine back on and you’re off.
Mazdas i-stop uses combustion to restart the engine in roughly half the time of other conventional systems. That’s pretty impressive.
There’s a lot of smarts behind i-stop and it’s all there in your owner’s manual but here’s a few things to keep in mind.
I-stop needs a base amount of charge to function, so it becomes operational after the engines warmed up. I-stop is ready when its indicator light eliminates green in the dash.
The other thing to remember is that i-stop only works when you’ve applied the brake and you’re holding it down.
The steering wheel needs to be reasonably straight if you turn the wheel significantly when pulling up i-stop won’t cut the engine out.
Also, if you got the air conditioning on maximum settings i-stop won’t work. It also won’t work if you’re on an incline, if you’re in reverse, if the doors are open or if the driver’s seat belt is unfastened.
If you decide at any stage that you want to override the i-stop system, you just simply press the button on the right-hand side of the dash and the engine operates as per normal.
Again, check the owner’s manual for all the details on i-stop functionality.
I-stop is a part of Mazdas SKYACTIV technology and is available in Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda6, CX-3 SUV, CX-5 SUV, CX-9 SUV.
Note: The system reactivates every time you turn off the car.
This has been a frequently asked for many years now. And I would love to show you exactly how to do it! But, unfortunately, I can’t. Well, at least not at this point in time.
Currently, there is no way to permanently disable the idle stop function, at least there isn’t a genuine “Mazda” way to disable it…
I have heard several theories as to why, such as “it’s a safety function”. But my personal opinion ( this is just a theory, I have no actual evidence to prove this ) is that, due to more stringent government fuel economy and emissions regulations, car manufacturers practically have to install the function and have it defaulted to on in order to pass inspections.
But I have a solution! Thankfully there are many smart and savvy people out there getting creative with their own solutions. Now I don’t recommend any of these online solutions as I just don’t know if they have any side effects, cause any damage to the car or even void warranties, but some of the community over at Mazda 3 Revolution have some simple ideas you might want to check out. Just do plenty of research before attempting anything.
Mazda’s require (prefer) a specific Skyactiv battery, this is a heavier grade or known as a deep-cycle battery designed to handle more varying loads due to i-stop’s regular start/stop function. It’s similar to the idea of a regular battery and an alkaline battery.
Newer car technologies are becoming more electronics based which in turn puts a heavier load on the car’s battery.
Mazda has created a great solution to help counteract this referred to as i-Eloop, this feature is currently only available in Mazda 6. Read more about i-Eloop.
Over 95 percent in the world uses petrol and diesel combustion engines now and even by 2020, ninety percent still will be, that leaves only ten percent using alternatives.
Car’s that run on electric, hydrogen and biofuels have potential, and we’re working on alternatives to. But the solutions most car makers have come up with so far, either offer up the driving exhilaration of a couple of squirrels on a treadmill, or are so expensive they’re just not realistic for most people.
To really affect global fuel consumption and emissions right now, you have to use something the globe actually uses right now.
Rethink the combustion engine, make it better and accessible to everyone, and you make a difference, a big difference.
How big? Consider that current combustion engines waste about 70 percent of the fuel’s potential energy. That’s a lot of room for improvement.
Our overall goal was to get 15 percent better fuel economy and a 15 percent improvement in low midrange talk from the same engine, all on regular fuel.
Two enormous guerrillas stood in our way. The First was figuring out how to capture more energy from the fuel.
To achieve this, we knew we had to raise the compression ratio which gives this a bigger power stroke in the combustion chamber.
The higher the compression ratio, the more energy you get from the combustion. But a high compression ratio usually ends up causing knock, which is when the air/fuel mixture ignites too soon, because it’s too hot inside the Chamber, so we had to cool things off.
Using some huge engineering muscle we came up with innovative solutions to do just that. Like a high-pressure 6 hold direct fuel injector, that fires petrol into the cylinder in stages for more stable air/fuel mixture, and a little volcano like pocket in the piston that gives the early part of the explosion a place to go without heating up the top of the piston.
To get all the hot exhaust out without shooting into the other cylinders which only heats things up again, we added a longer exhaust manifold used in racecars called a header.
Everyday cars don’t use headers because of the emission problems they create, but our advanced direct injection system solved that issue too.
That’s how we got more energy from the fuel.
The second gorilla was making sure we weren’t losing any of those improvements on the way to the wheels. So we reduced friction inside the engine by a whopping thirty percent. How? by sweating every little detail.
We improved oil pump efficiency by 74 percent and water pump efficiency by 31 percent, reduced friction from the moving parts like the pistons, rods and crank shaft by 25 percent.
Reduced valve train friction by 54 percent, and even reduce the effort the engine exerts to suck in fresh air by 13 percent.
When it was all over, we had done what couldn’t be done, achieving more talk better, performance and higher efficiency.
Congratulations Rudolf Diesel, the engine you invented in 1893 has come a long way. No longer sootie clattering workhorses, today’s diesel engines are quiet, durable and cleaner than ever.
They’re also around 30 percent more fuel-efficient than comparable petrol engines, yet deliver much more talk and power.
With these improvements came compromises. To run their high combustion pressures, conventional diesels need heavy, industrial strength parts that sap driving performance. And cleaning up their nitrogen oxide emissions often requires costly aftertreatment systems.
So we saw a big opportunity to create more torque, better fuel economy, less weight and lower emissions.
First we dropped the compression ratio to the lowest in the world for a diesel, 14:1 this delays combustion by just half a millisecond, which is enough time for the air and fuel to mix more thoroughly, reducing hot spots of oxygen and fuel that would otherwise turn into pollutants.
Bingo, our combustion is so clean that we meet the toughest emission standards without an expensive nitrogen oxide aftertreatment system.
And while low compression would normally mean a loss in efficiency, we actually improved it, because our clean slate approach allows us to optimize the combustion timing which gives us a longer effected expansion stroke.
Another challenge with low compression diesels is getting ignition going when the engine is not warmed up, so we use ultra-high pressure piezo fuel injectors that are so fast and powerful they create a rich air fuel mixture that’s easier to ignite. Then, a patented variable valve lift system recycles hot exhaust gases back into the combustion chamber to quickly warm the engine up.
Best of all, our engines low compression ratio doesn’t require the usual heavy industrial grade parts. As a result the engines weight was slashed by 10 percent.
By using a lighter crank and pistons, and an aluminium block rather than cast iron. This allows us to build lighter, more balanced vehicles with much better handling.
Mechanical friction was also decreased, resulting in lower fuel consumption and an exceptionally high red line of 5200 rpm.
When we were done we, had created a beast with much more torque at low and high speeds, yet twenty percent lower fuel consumption than its predecessor.
The SKYACTIV-D 2.2 liter twin-turbo diesel, delivers the driving performance of a 4 litre V8, the cleanliness of the latest clean petrol engines, and the fuel economy a hybrid.
With such dramatic improvements, Mr Diesel himself might not recognize it, but no doubt, he’d love to drive it.
IMPORTANT UPDATE! Due to there being several updates by Mazda regarding how to update your sat nav. We will be completely rewriting and updating this article in the coming weeks to reflect Mazda’s current systems and provide a more detailed explanation of both current and older models. Please bookmark this page and check back soon, or join our email list to stay informed.
Mazda’s new MZD Connect satellite navigation system is industry leading, boasting highest quality and accuracy while easier to use than ever before.
3 years of free map updates are provided by Mazda, providing you with the most accurate and enjoyable driving experience.
Map updates are released twice a year, once in the months between March to May and September to November.
Related: Mazda Satellite Navigation (GPS) – MZD Connect
This will show you how to update the maps of the MZD connect system.
To complete this update you will need, the SD card from your Mazda, a computer, and an SDHC compatible card reader.
In your vehicle, remove the SD card that stores the map files. Go to mazda.com.au, select owners in the top menu, scroll down and select MZD connect.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and select navigation, select update my maps. Download the Mazda toolbox application, and install.
Open Mazda toolbox, insert the SD card into the SDHC card reader.
Register your details in your Mazda toolbox. Once successful, you’ll receive an email to confirm your registration.
Returned back to your Mazda toolbox and click on available updates, then select Install. Enter a name to backup your data. Mazda toolbox will then download and update the maps on the SD card.
When your SD card has been successfully updated, please insert your SD card back into your vehicle to enjoy Mazda’s latest map updates.
Smart City Brake Support is an intelligent system designed by Mazda to help prevent or reduce the impact and damage to your vehicle during low-speed accidents.
Altho we are all amazing driver’s, distractions arise and accidents, especially in traffic at low speeds. It can be as little as your foot slipping of the pedal, a child screaming or the car in front braking suddenly.
SCBS offers that added security for you, your family and your car.
Mazda’s Smart City Brake Support, or SCBS helps to prevent or soften the impact of low-speed collisions. SCBS operates between speeds of 4 and 30 kilometers per hour.
A laser sensor at the top of the windscreen detects vehicles up to 6 metres in front, if it detects a high-risk of impact, this system will prime the brakes to help you stop more quickly. If you don’t brake, SCBS will apply the brakes to prevent or lessen the impact.
Smart City Brake Support, part of Mazda’s iACTIVESENSE safety technology.
Mazda’s Smart City Brake Support Reverse helps to prevent low-speed collisions when you’re reversing. At speeds between 2 to 8 kilometers per hour ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper monitor behind your car.
If the system determines that a collision is unavoidable, it will alert you with a warning in the cabin and automatically apply the brakes. This helps to prevent or reduce the impact of a collision.
Smart City brake Support Reverse, part of Mazda’s iACTIVESENSE safety technology.
Smart City Brake Support is a driver assist technology only and should not be used in place of skilled and safe driving practices. It is the driver’s sole responsibility to constantly monitor vehicle surroundings and conditions at all times.
The genuine Mazda audio retractable lightning cable, allows you to play music from your iPhone or iPod, through your Mazdas audio system.
The cable streams track data, so you can easily see track and artist information on your MZD connect screen.
You can safely store your device in the centre console, and use the car’s controls to navigate through your music library.
This makes it easy to select specific playlists, artists, albums or songs while driving.
The cable automatically charges your device when the car is running.
A similar cable is also available with a micro USB for Android Phones. The retractable design of the cable keeps it neat and tangle-free, covered by Mazda warranty.
Mazdas USB audio cable is a must for music enthusiasts as cable connection offers higher quality audio than Bluetooth streaming.
Safety of both passengers and their driver is a topic becoming more and more important when deciding on which new car to purchase. With tens of thousands of people injured in car accidents every year in NSW alone, it’s good to know Mazda have taken driving safety seriously.
Mazda pride themselves on owning some of the safest car on the international market, and understanding just how Mazda’s Advanced Impact Distribution and Absorption System works will put you at ease no matter where you are driving or the conditions you may encounter.
A carefully engineered and successfully tested safety system used in applicable Mazda vehicles offering superior safety to all occupants. This highly intelligent system contributes to Mazda’s renowned 5 star ANCAP rating, and is a contributing factor to Mazda’s No.1 sales by retail units.
The system uses a triple-H frame design incorporated into the car’s body to create a “built-in roll cage”, and features high tensile steels which are both stronger and lighter than standard.
During a collision, impact forces can damage a vehicle’s structure, causing serious injury to occupants. The purpose of MAIDAS is to resist cabin deformation while absorbing and distributing these impact forces away from occupants. Protecting them from possible injury.
So, how does it work? In the cabin, three high tensile steel frames, connect to form the triple-H occupant safety cell. This structure is further strengthened by underfloor cross members and roof reinforcements.
This structure redirects front, side and rear impact forces away from occupants, and resist deformation during rollover. In the event a frontal collision, the steering column collapses, while an intrusion minimizing brake pedal swings forward, towards the front of the vehicle.
These mechanisms increase the cabin survival space, and reduce the chance of occupant injury.
During frontal collisions, a perimeter frame absorbs and redirects forces to the triple-H occupant safety cell, and away from occupants.
During side collisions, impact bars and the triple-H occupant safety cell in the B pillars and floor also absorb and redirect impact force away from occupants.
MZD connect features the latest Mazda satellite navigation. To set a destination simply select navigation on the screen or press the NAV button on the commander. Select new destination from the menu at the bottom of the screen, then, find address.
Enter the town, suburb or postcode then street name and number. If you’d like to navigate to the town center without selecting a street name and number, select the town centre option. You can also navigate to businesses and services nearby.
To do this, select new destination, then find places and enter the business name or browse through the categories and then select a destination.
Related: How To Update Mazda Satellite Navigation Maps
To save a destination as a favourite, first select new destination and enter the address by selecting find address, and then enter the address. Use the touchscreen or rotate the commander dial to scroll down to add to favourites.
To save the address of one of your phone contacts as a favourite, first you need to pair your phone via bluetooth then select new destination, favourites, add navigation favourites, add from contact, select the contact you’d like to use then confirm the address and select save as favourite.
To navigate to the address of one of your phone contacts first, select communication, then select contacts. Scroll to the contact and select their address.
Note that your contacts address will need to be saved into your phone for that option to be available, but for more information on using your phone, navigation and the MZD connect system see your owner’s manual.
Mazda Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system is designed to assist the driver by monitoring the rear blind spots on both sides of the vehicle, in certain situations, such as when changing lanes on roads and freeways.
The BSM system uses radar sensors which monitor the detection areas on both rear sides of the vehicle, when the vehicle speed is approx. 32 km/h or more, it then notifies the driver of any vehicles in the detection area by illuminating the BSM warning light.
Working at a distance of up to 8 metres behind the vehicle, when the system detects a car in your hazard zones or “blind spots”, it displays a solid indication lamp on the side mirror associated to the side the hazard is on.
If you indicate to change lanes, you will be alerted by a warning beep set off by the system and the indication light in the side mirror will begin to flash, warning that it is unsafe to change lanes.
The alert beep volume can be adjusted or turned off via settings in the MZD connect system. Simply go to the settings application, scroll across to the safety tab and select Blind Spot Monitoring Volume from the list. This will allow you to set to high, low or switch off.
If you would like to switch off the Blind Spot Monitoring System completely. This can be done by pressing the button on the lower right hand side of the dash as shown in the image. Pressing again will turn BSM on again.
With Mazda taking a serious focus on safety, the Blind Spot Monitoring System is a well crafted feature. Offering peace of mind when driving in high traffic or low visibility areas.
I have also had feedback from customers who have experienced assistance from BSM in severe weather such as rains and fog.
Currently the feature is a standard in certain top of the range models such as Mazda 3 Astina, Mazda 6 Atenza, CX-3 Akari, CX-5 Akera and CX-9 Grand Touring. Blind Spot Monitoring is also available as a safety pack option on other models of the Mazda 3, 6, CX-3 and CX-5 range.
When it comes to car technologies, I can't help but think of Back To The Future. Unfortunately, we're not quite there, but so far 2015 has offered some pretty cool features. And the keyless engine start is definitely one of them.
In the recent years, automotive technology has become more sophisticated than ever. With features such as keyless entry and engine start, and touch screen displays as a standard in most cars.
While everyone contributes to the development and growth, Mazda is a clear industry leader with some of the most reliable and user friendly systems around.
This article will cover exactly how to use Mazda's new push-button engine start to give a better understanding for those interested in newer model Mazda.
For the car to start, first the proximity key MUST be located within the boundaries of the cars body frame / pillars. For example, if you have the key sitting in the armrest or pocket of the door and the door is open, the car will not start.
Next apply pressure to the brake in an automatic or push the clutch all the way in if driving a manual car. This will de-activate the cars immobiliser and allow you to to start the engine. When the light on the button is illuminated green the car is ready to be started.
Now simply press the button once (no need to hold it) and the car will start. Once the car is started you can release your foot from the brake or clutch, just don't leave it in gear...
Simple as that! And once you are used to it you will realise how much quicker and easier it is then fiddling around with keys.
Jade! what if I want to listen to the radio while I'm waiting for someone but don't want to have the car running? Not a problem.
To operate just the infotainment system on its own. Once again make sure the proximity key is inside the car, but this time make sure you are NOT applying pressure to the brake or clutch. Now pressing the ignition button once will activate the infotainment system and the button will illuminate orange.
Pressing the button a second time will turn on your dash accessories, and pressing it a third time will turn everything off again.
You can start the car at any point in this process by simply applying pressure to the brake or clutch and pressing the button.
Altho a great feature on its own. Combining keyless engine start with features like advanced keyless entry and walk away lock, offered in higher range models, presents a much easier and secure way of life. Without ever needing to take your key out of your pocket or bag and knowing your car is always secure.
