Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2017 Mazda CX-9

midsize SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights built after November 2016

2017 Mazda CX-9 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Side: updated test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system
Superior
Optional system
Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Optional lane departure warning
  • Optional lane departure prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2017-23 models built after November 2016

Tested vehicle: 2017 Mazda CX-9 Touring 4-door 4wd

The Mazda CX-9 was redesigned for the 2016 model year. Beginning with 2017 models built after November 2016, the deployment pattern of the side curtain airbags was modified to improve occupant protection in side impact, small overlap frontal, and moderate overlap frontal crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

The driver's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1712
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 8
Footrest (cm) 3
Left toepan (cm) 4
Brake pedal (cm) 8
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 5
Upper dash (cm) 5
Lower instrument panel (cm) 6

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1712
Head
HIC-15 158
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 17
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 27
Femur (kN)
Left 1.3
Right 0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.37
Right 0.44
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.8
Right 0.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 51
Right 61

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2017-23 models built after November 2016

Tested vehicle: 2018 Mazda CX-9 Touring 4-door 4wd

The Mazda CX-9 was redesigned for the 2016 model year. Beginning with 2017 models built after November 2016, the deployment pattern of the side curtain airbags was modified to improve occupant protection in side impact, small overlap frontal, and moderate overlap frontal crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Mazda of a CX-9 with the modifications.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP1721
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 5
Footrest (cm) 4
Right toepan (cm) 2
Center toepan (cm) 1
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Upper dash (cm) 4
Right lower dash (cm) 4

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1721
Head
HIC-15 152
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 29
Maximum Nij 0.34
Chest maximum compression (mm) 22
Femur (kN)
Left 0.5
Right 0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.43
Right 0.47
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.9
Right 1.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 38
Right 36

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1721
Head
HIC-15 53
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 19
Maximum Nij 0.26
Chest maximum compression (mm) 30
Femur (kN)
Left 0.4
Right 0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.50
Right 0.21
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.4
Right 0.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 80
Right 37

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2017-23 models built after November 2016

Tested vehicle: 2017 Mazda CX-9 4-door 4wd

The Mazda CX-9 was redesigned for the 2016 model year. Beginning with 2017 models built after November 2016, the deployment pattern of the side curtain airbags was modified to improve occupant protection in side impact, small overlap frontal, and moderate overlap frontal crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Mazda of a CX-9 with the modifications.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1705
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 1
Left (cm) 1
Center (cm) 1
Right (cm) 4
Brake pedal (cm) 4
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -2
Rearward (cm) 0
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1705
Head
HIC-15 111
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 15
Maximum Nij 0.22
Chest maximum compression (mm) 33
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.3
Femur force - right (kN) 0.7
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1
Maximum tibia index - left 0.52
Maximum tibia index - right 0.55
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.5
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 1.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 52
Right 91

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2017-23 models built after November 2016

Tested vehicle: 2017 Mazda CX-9 Touring 4-door 4wd

The Mazda CX-9 was redesigned for the 2016 model year. Beginning with 2017 models built after November 2016, the deployment pattern of the side curtain airbags was modified to improve occupant protection in side impact, small overlap frontal, and moderate overlap frontal crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Mazda of a CX-9 with the modifications.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1703
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -22.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1703
Head HIC-15 143
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 28
Lateral force (kN) 1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 31
Average deflection (mm) 27
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.44
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.29
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.9
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.2
Combined force (kN) 2.1
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.5
L-M moment (Nm) 55
A-P moment (Nm) 84

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1703
Head HIC-15 98
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.1
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 31
Lateral force (kN) 1.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 22
Average deflection (mm) 16
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.02
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.28
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.2
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.4
Combined force (kN) 1.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.2
L-M moment (Nm) 18
A-P moment (Nm) 84

About the original side crash test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2017-23 models built after November 2016

Tested vehicle: 2021 Mazda CX-9 Touring 4-door 4wd

The Mazda CX-9 was redesigned for the 2016 model year. Beginning with 2017 models built after November 2016, the deployment pattern of the side curtain airbags was modified to improve occupant protection in side impact, small overlap frontal, and moderate overlap frontal crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES2203
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -25.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES2203
Head
HIC-15 106
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Compression (kN) 0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 18
Lateral force (kN) 0.9
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 29
Average deflection (mm) 24
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.06
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.31
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 2.9

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES2203
Head
HIC-15 236
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Compression (kN) 0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 38
Lateral force (kN) 1.9
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 27
Average deflection (mm) 22
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.40
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.27
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 2.8

About the side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2016-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Mazda CX-9 Sport 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight4,139 lbs
Peak force21,311 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.15

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leather seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 30
Distance below top of head (mm) 2
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 11.9
Head contact time (ms) 60
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 304

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • Grand Touring trim
  • Signature trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves, fair on the sharp left curve and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Grand Touring trim
  • Signature trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-18 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 93.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 46.6 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 85.3 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 46.7 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 75.3 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 45.8 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 141.1 m
Straightaway left edge 124.0 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 81.6 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 70.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 67.5 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 62.6 m

Trim level(s)

  • Sport trim
  • Touring trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Sport trim
  • Touring trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-18 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 94.2 m None
Straightaway left edge 45.2 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 70.8 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 43.7 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 55.5 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 41.3 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 143.6 m
Straightaway left edge 123.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 59.5 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 58.1 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 47.5 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 47.2 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

Ratings are given for 2 different trim variations available on this vehicle.

System details

  • Optional Smart Brake Support
  • optional Smart City Brake Support

Package name

  • Optional Grand Touring or Signature Trims

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2016-17 models

Superior
Superior
with optional equipment
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

System details

  • Optional Smart City Brake Support

Package name

  • Optional Touring Premium Package
  • standard on Grand Touring and Signature Trims

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2016-17 models

Advanced
Advanced
with optional equipment
  • This system does not meet the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2016-19 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimSport
Seat type cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors from the other seating positions.

Note: When anchors are borrowed, they aren't available to use in their designated positions.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimSport
Seat type cloth
1 2 3 6 4
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
hard-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
Can be borrowed from 1 and 3
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
4
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 28
Clearance angle (degrees) 84
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 21
Clearance angle (degrees) 83
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Lower anchor B
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Bottom seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 12
Clearance angle (degrees) 83
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 20
Clearance angle (degrees) 78
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 33

4

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation