2022 Top Safety Picks
Vehicles that perform best in our evaluations qualify for Top Safety Pick, which has been awarded since the 2006 model year, or Top Safety Pick+, which was inaugurated in 2013.
These awards identify the best vehicle choices for safety within size categories during a given year. Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford more protection than smaller, lighter ones. Thus, a small car that qualifies for an award might not protect its occupants as well as a bigger vehicle that doesn't earn the award.
Small cars
Top Safety Pick+
2022-23 Mazda 3 4-door hatchback
Top Safety Pick+
2022-23 Mazda 3 4-door sedan
Small SUVs
Top Safety Pick+
2022-23 Mazda CX-30 4-door SUV
Top Safety Pick+
2022-23 Mazda CX-5 4-door SUV
Top Safety Pick+
2023 Mazda CX-50 4-door SUV
Midsize SUVs
Top Safety Pick+
2022-23 Mazda CX-9 4-door SUV
2022 criteria
Top Safety Pick +
- G Good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, original moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests
- AdvancedSuperior Advanced or superior rating for available front crash prevention — vehicle-to-vehicle and daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations
- AGAcceptable or good headlights standard
Top Safety Pick
- G Good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, original moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests
- AdvancedSuperior Advanced or superior rating for available front crash prevention — vehicle-to-vehicle and daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations
- AGAcceptable or good headlights available