Mazda 3 Owners Manual: Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC)

The Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system is designed to maintain headway control *1 according to the vehicle speed using a radar sensor (front) to detect the distance to a vehicle ahead, and by presetting the vehicle speed between 30 km/h (19 mph) and 145 km/h (90 mph), the driver is freed from having to constantly use the accelerator or brake pedals.

*1 Headway Control: Control of the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead detected by the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system.

Additionally, if your vehicle starts closing in on the vehicle ahead because, for example, the vehicle ahead brakes suddenly, a warning sound and a warning indication in the display are activated simultaneously to alert you to maintain a sufficient distance between the vehicles.

Use the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system on expressway

For the purposes of safety, switch the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system off when it is not being used.

NOTE

• The Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system operates when all of the following conditions are met.

• The vehicle speed is about 30 km/h (19 mph) to 145 km/h (90 mph).
• The Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system is turned on.
• The parking brake is not applied.
• The Forward Obstruction Warning (FOW) warning light (amber) does not illuminate.
• The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) is operating normally.

• (Manual transaxle)

• The shift lever is in a position other than reverse (R) or neutral (N).
• The clutch pedal is not depressed.

• (Automatic transaxle)

• The selector lever is in the drive (D) position or manual (M) position (manual mode).

• In the following cases, the warnings may not activate even if your vehicle starts closing in on the vehicle ahead.

• You are driving at the same speed as the vehicle ahead.
• Directly after the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system has been set.
• When the accelerator pedal is depressed or directly after the accelerator pedal is released.
• Another vehicle cuts into the driving lane.

• The following are not detected as physical objects.

• Vehicles approaching in the opposite direction
• Pedestrians
• Stationary objects (stopped vehicles, obstructions)

• If a vehicle ahead is traveling at an extremely low speed, the system may not detect it correctly.
• During headway control travel, do not set the system on two-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles and bicycles.
• Do not use the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system under conditions in which the close proximity warnings are frequently activated.
• During headway control travel, the system accelerates and decelerates your vehicle in conjunction with the speed of the vehicle ahead. However, if it is necessary to accelerate for a lane change or if the vehicle ahead brakes suddenly causing you to close in on the vehicle rapidly, accelerate using the accelerator pedal or decelerate using the brake pedal depending on the conditions.
• While the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system is in use, it does not cancel even if the selector lever (automatic transaxle)/shift lever (manual transaxle) is operated and any intended engine braking will not occur. If deceleration is required, lower the vehicle speed setting or depress the brake pedal.
• The brake lights are illuminated while the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) automatic braking is operating.
• The Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) warning light (amber) turns on when the system has a malfunction.

  Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on .

Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) Display Indication

The setting status and operation conditions of the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system are indicated in the active driving display.

Close Proximity Warning

If your vehicle rapidly closes in on the vehicle ahead because the vehicle applies the brakes suddenly while you are traveling in headway control, the warning sound activates and the brake warning is indicated in the display. Always verify the safety of the surrounding area and depress the brake pedal while keeping a safer distance from the vehicle ahead.

Additionally, always keep a safer distance from the vehicles behind you.

Setting the System

When the ON switch is pressed, the vehicle speed and the distance between vehicles while in headway control can be set. The Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) indication is shown in the active driving display.

NOTE Whben the ignition is switched to ACC or OFF while the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) is ON, the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) remains ON automatically.

How to Set the Speed

1. Adjust the vehicle speed to the desired setting using the accelerator pedal.
2. Headway control begins when the SET or SET switch is pressed. The set speed and the inter-vehicle distance display filled with white lines are displayed. The Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) indicator light (green) is indicated simultaneously.

NOTE

• If a vehicle ahead is detected while traveling at a constant speed, the vehicle-ahead indication is displayed and headway control is performed.

  Additionally, when a vehicle ahead is no longer detected, the vehicle-ahead indication turns off and the system switches back to travel at constant speed.

• If you are driving the vehicle at a speed faster than the set speed, headway control on the vehicle ahead is not possible Adjust the system to the desired vehicle speed using the accelerator pedal.

How to Set the Distance Between Vehicles During Headway Control

The distance between vehicles is set to a shorter distance each time the switch is pressed. The distance between vehicles is set to a longer distance by pressing the switch. The distance-between-vehicles can be set to 4 levels; Long, medium, short, and extremely short distance.

NOTE

• The distance between vehicles differs depending on the vehicle speed, and the slower the vehicle speed, the shorter the distance.
• When the ignition is switched to ACC or OFF and then the engine is started again, the system automatically sets the distance between vehicles to the previous setting.

Changing the Set Vehicle Speed

Changing the set vehicle speed using the SET switch

Press the SET switch to accelerate.

Press the SET switch to decelerate.

The set vehicle speed changes as follows each time the SET switch is pressed.

NOTE For example, the set vehicle speed is changed by pressing the SET switch four times as follows: The vehicle speed accelerates or decelerates by 4 km/h (4 mph).

To accelerate using the accelerator pedal

Depress the accelerator pedal and press and release the SET or SET switch at the desired speed. If a switch cannot be operated, the system returns to the set speed when you release your foot from the accelerator pedal.

NOTE

• When accelerating using the SET switch while in headway control, the set vehicle speed can be adjusted but acceleration is not possible. If there is no longer a vehicle ahead, acceleration continues until reaching the set vehicle speed. Check the set vehicle speed by viewing the set vehicle speed display in the active driving display.
• When depressing the accelerator pedal, the inter-vehicle distance display in the active driving display changes to the white-line display.
• The minimum settable speed is 30 km/h (19 mph). If the set vehicle speed reaches 30 km/h (19 mph) using the switch operation, constant speed travel is maintained at about 30 km/h (19 mph) even if the SET switch is pressed. The Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system is not canceled.

To Deactivate

The Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) is canceled when the OFF switch is pressed.

When the system is temporarily canceled

In the following cases, the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system is temporarily canceled and the “MRCC Cancelled” indication is displayed in the display in the instrument cluster.

The Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) indicator light (green) turns off simultaneously.

• The CANCEL switch is pressed.
• The brake pedal is depressed.
• The parking brake is applied.
• (Automatic transaxle) The selector lever is shifted to park (P), neutral (N) or reverse (R).
• (Manual transaxle) The shift lever is in the reverse (R) position .

• In the following cases, the ”MRCC Cancelled” indication is displayed and the beep sounds one time.

• The vehicle speed decreases to less than 25 km (16 mph).
• The DSC has operated.
• The TCS has operated for a certain period of time.
• The Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) has operated.
• When traveling on a down slope for a long period of time.
• There is a problem with the system.

• (Manual transaxle)

• The shift lever is shifted to neutral (N) for a certain period of time.
• The clutch is depressed for a certain period of time.
• The engine stalls.

NOTE

• The Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system may be canceled during rain, fog, snow or other inclement weather conditions, or the front surface of the radiator grille is dirty.
• If the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system has been temporarily canceled, you can return to the previously set vehicle speed by pressing the RESUME switch after the following conditions have been met.

• All of the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) operation conditions have been met.
• A certain period of time has elapsed since the system was automatically canceled while driving for a long time on a down slope.

• If the SET /SET or RESUME switch is pressed before a certain period of time has elapsed since the system was automatically canceled while driving for a long time on a down slope, “MRCC Not available” is displayed in the display.
• If the OFF switch is pressed to cancel the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC), the system does not return to the previously set speed even if the RES switch is pressed.

Shift-up/Shift-down Request Display (Manual Transaxle)

The shift-up or shift-down request display in the active driving display may be displayed while the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system is operating.

When this occurs, shift gears because the gear position is not appropriate.

NOTE

• If the gears are not shifted up even though the shift-up request indication is displayed, load will be applied to the engine and the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system may be automatically canceled or engine damage could occur.
• If the gears are not shifted down even though the shift-down request indication is displayed, the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system may be automatically canceled or engine stalling could occur.