Mazda's Latest Achievement Is A Warning To Rivals

Mazda is a brand that doesn't receive enough attention. The Japanese automaker has a long track record of building fun-to-drive and reliable sedans, crossovers, and one very famous roadster. It's all known for its rotary engine past. But there's another vital area where Mazda shines: safety. The carmaker has announced that every 2022 model tested has earned the fully independent, non-governmental Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) top award, the Top Safety Pick +.

These models include the Mazda3 sedan and hatchback, CX-30, CX-5, and CX-9. Notably absent are the MX-5 Miata and the all-new MX-30 EV. The latter is currently available only in California. This is the third year in a row every tested Mazda has earned this distinction.

"Achieving the IIHS Top Safety Pick + Award is a reflection of Mazda's commitment to providing advanced safety technologies that our owners expect," said Mazda North American Operations President and CEO Jeff Guyton. "Our wide range of safety technologies are designed to support, not replace the driver, which results in a more confident and enjoyable driving experience."

Earning a Top Safety Pick + is not easy. Vehicles tested must earn good ratings in every single one of the private agency's crash evaluations. These include the moderate overlap front, driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint tests. Mazda's lineup further received advanced or superior ratings in the front crash prevention test as well as the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations.