Testing from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) and HLDI (Highway Loss Data Institute) this year gave every Mazda car tested a top safety score. On February 23rd, 2023, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announced the 2023 top safety award winners. Every single tested Mazda vehicle made the list. Those include the Mazda3 Hatchback, Mazda CX-5, the CX-9, CX-30, and the Mazda CX-50. These same Mazda vehicles also won the 2022 awards.
There were several tests that had been updated, making the difficulty higher in order to pass. Those updates included better side crash protection, improved pedestrian crash prevention systems, and superior headlight performance. The Mazda3, CX-5, and CX-9 stood out on top overall.
So who decides what's safe and what doesn't meet the bar? The IIHS is a scientific educational organization founded in 1959. Their main goal is to reduce death, injuries, and property damage from motorized vehicles on the road. They do this with research and evaluation of consumers, policymakers, and safety professionals.
What exactly do they look at? Human factors such as problems associated with teenage drivers, alcohol-impaired driving, truck driver fatigue, and seatbelt use. The physical environment, an example from iihs.org is “Assessment of roadway designs to reduce runoff the road crashes and eliminate roadside hazards”. Their research mainly revolves around crash avoidance and crashworthiness
Mazda Safety says “Active safety technology helps the driver prevent accidents by supporting his or her ability to predict and avoid hazards through visual and auditory alerts.” This pre-collision safety technology helps to reduce the severity of a collision when one becomes unavoidable. This can include things like a body with a ring structure, seat belts with pre-tensioner and load limiter, anti-intrusion brake pedals, SRS airbag systems, and more to help protect occupants and reduce damage in the event of a collision. Have you seen that video where a little girl sneaks into her mom's car and starts driving? If the mom wasn't able to jump in and stop that car, those technologies would be a lifesaver.
Now that you know who's picking the safety awards and what they do, you might become an Orange County Mazda fan! Not only are they safe but they are very well-put-together cars. Both the outside and inside looks are unique to every car/SUV but are proud to demonstrate a very beautiful design. They have high-tech safety features, a chic exterior and interior look, and amazing quality sound systems.
How safe are they under conditions other than a crash testing industry? They are able to drive through any kind of weather conditions and ground. Mazda completes exhausted tests and their safety designs thrive in any harsh weather and/or roads. Due to the systems created, Mazda provides the best possible traction in snow and ice conditions. They have AWD and amazing traction control. AWD (all-wheel drive) gives the vehicle maximum forward traction while accelerating. It really comes in handy when driving on slushy roads and/or off-road. It also helps you to start and continue moving in mud/snow. The car utilizes power distribution instead of braking for control. Mazdas are in the top 10 list for the best cars to drive in the sand. So if you want to go and relax on the beach or go on a beach drive, Mazdas are one of the best.
Come to your Tustin Mazda Dealership in Orange County. With strengthened requirements this year, you can trust that these vehicles are going to keep both you and your family safe and on the road for years to come.