How to Prepare Your Mazda for Winter: A Simple Seasonal Checklist

Winter asks a lot of any vehicle. Cold mornings are hard on batteries, slush and road salt are hard on wipers and washer fluid, and slippery roads put your tires to the test. The good news is that a little preparation in the fall goes a long way.

Your Mazda already has features that make cold-weather driving easier. This guide covers the steps worth taking before the first snowfall, explains the winter tools built into your vehicle, and shows how Mazda Roadside Assistance can help if something goes wrong.

Start With Your Tires

Tires are the only part of your Mazda that touches the road, so they come first. Winter tires use a rubber compound and tread pattern made for cold pavement, snow and ice. All-wheel drive helps you get moving, and winter tires help you steer and stop, so the two work best together. Have all four tires checked for tread depth and wear, and swap to your winter set before temperatures drop for good.

Cold air also lowers tire pressure. Your Mazda has a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and on models with the Mazda Connect vehicle status monitor you can see the pressure of each tire on the centre display. Select "Information" on the home screen, then "Vehicle Status Monitor." A tire shown in blue is at the correct pressure. A tire shown in yellow is low and needs air.

Have the Battery Tested

A battery that worked fine in July can struggle in January. Cold weather reduces the power a battery can deliver at the same time the engine needs more of it to start. A quick battery test during a fall service visit tells you where yours stands. If it is near the end of its life, replacing it before winter is far easier than dealing with a no-start on a freezing morning.

Check Fluids, Wipers and Lights

Clear vision matters most when the days are short and the roads are messy. A few small items make a big difference:

• Fill the washer reservoir with winter-rated washer fluid and keep a spare jug in the cargo area
• Replace wiper blades that streak, skip or chatter
• Confirm that all exterior lights work, including brake lights and signals
• Have the coolant and engine oil checked during your seasonal service

Your Mazda helps here too. The maintenance screen in Mazda Connect shows the distance remaining until your next oil change. Many trims include rain-sensing wipers and heated exterior mirrors, and certain trims add a front wiper de-icer that warms the base of the windshield where the wipers rest.

Know Your Mazda's Winter Features

Mazda engineers its vehicles with Canadian winters in mind. It is worth taking a few minutes to learn what your model has, so you are ready to use it.

i-Activ AWD is standard on every CX-30, CX-5, CX-70 and CX-90, and it is available on the Mazda3 and Mazda3 Sport. The system monitors how the vehicle's weight is distributed and shifts power to the wheels that can use it. G-Vectoring Control Plus works alongside it. It manages the load on each tire and adds a light touch of braking control, which helps the vehicle stay stable and predictable on snowy roads and during lane changes.

Comfort features help as well. Three-setting heated front seats are standard on the CX-30 and CX-5. A heated steering wheel is included from the GS trim on both models, and the CX-5 GT adds heated rear outboard seats.

A Note for Plug-In Hybrid Owners

If you drive a CX-70 PHEV or CX-90 PHEV, two cold-weather points are good to know. First, the gas engine can start in low temperatures even with a fully charged battery, because it is needed to heat the cabin properly. Keep fuel in the tank through the winter. Second, charging takes longer when the battery and the outside air are cold, so plan a little extra time.

Pack a Winter Kit and Save the Roadside Number

A small kit in the cargo area can turn a stressful delay into a minor one. Consider packing:

• An ice scraper and snow brush
• A warm blanket, gloves and a hat
• A flashlight and a phone charging cable
• A small shovel and extra washer fluid

Mazda Roadside Assistance is there as a backup. New Mazda vehicles include 3 years of roadside assistance with unlimited mileage. Services include a battery boost if your vehicle will not start, fuel delivery of up to 5 litres if you run out, a spare tire installation for a flat, and winching if your vehicle is stuck in a ditch, mud or snow on or beside a regularly travelled road. Winching does not apply to a snow-covered driveway or parking lot. To request help, call 1 877 756-2932 and stay with your vehicle until service arrives.

Winter Prep at a Glance

Get Winter-Ready With Metrotown Mazda

Winter driving is easier when you know your vehicle has been looked over by people who know it well. The service team at Metrotown Mazda in Burnaby can check your tires, battery and fluids and answer any questions about your Mazda's cold-weather features. Reach out to our service department to arrange a seasonal visit, and head into winter with one less thing on your mind.