Top Safety Pick

2023 Mazda 3

small car / 4-door hatchback

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system	Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system	Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
LATCH ease of use	+

Other available safety features

Optional blind spot detection
Standard lane departure warning & prevention
Optional rear automatic braking

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 2019-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Mazda 3 4-door

The Mazda 3 was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Mazda. These ratings apply to both the sedan and hatchback versions of the Mazda 3.

Evaluation criteria	Rating

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

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN1905
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	3
Footrest (cm)	5
Left toepan (cm)	1
Brake pedal (cm)	3
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column	0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	1
Upper dash (cm)	2
Lower instrument panel (cm)	2

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN1905
Head
HIC-15	230
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.6
Extension bending moment (Nm)	14
Maximum Nij	0.27
Chest maximum compression (mm)	31
Femur (kN)
Left	0.7
Right	0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	1
Right	1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.43
Right	0.64
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	2.4
Right	1.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	64
Right	48

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Mazda 3 Preferred 4-door

The Mazda 3 was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Mazda. These ratings apply to both the sedan and hatchback versions of the Mazda 3.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1911
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	5
Footrest (cm)	5
Right toepan (cm)	3
Center toepan (cm)	3
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	0
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm)	2
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	5
Upper dash (cm)	7
Right lower dash (cm)	5

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1911
Head
HIC-15	172
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.5
Extension bending moment (Nm)	13
Maximum Nij	0.16
Chest maximum compression (mm)	19
Femur (kN)
Left	1.3
Right	1.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	2
Right	5
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.41
Right	0.69
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	3.5
Right	3.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	70
Right	71

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP1911
Head
HIC-15	94
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm)	10
Maximum Nij	0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm)	29
Femur (kN)
Left	0.3
Right	0.6
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0
Right	1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.38
Right	0.31
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	0.5
Right	2.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	40
Right	54

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Mazda 3 4-door

The Mazda 3 was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Mazda. These ratings apply to both the sedan and hatchback versions of the Mazda 3.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1909
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	1
Left (cm)	3
Center (cm)	3
Right (cm)	1
Brake pedal (cm)	3
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	0
Right (cm)	1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	1
Rearward (cm)	-4
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	0

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1909
Head
HIC-15	230
Peak gs at hard contact	15
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.6
Extension bending moment (Nm)	14
Maximum Nij	0.27
Chest maximum compression (mm)	31
Legs
Femur force - left (kN)	0.7
Femur force - right (kN)	0.3
Knee displacement - left (mm)	1
Knee displacement - right (mm)	1
Maximum tibia index - left	0.43
Maximum tibia index - right	0.64
Tibia axial force - left (kN)	2.4
Tibia axial force - right (kN)	1.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	64
Right	48

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2019-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Mazda 3 Select 4-door

The Mazda 3 was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Two side tests of the Mazda 3 were conducted, one by the Institute and the other by Mazda. Ratings are based on both tests and apply to both the sedan and hatchback versions of the Mazda 3.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

View of the vehicle and barrier just after the Institute's crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment (Institute test car shown).

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag in the Institute's test.

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

Technical measurements for this test

Test ID	CES1901	VTS1911
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-18.0	-19.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CES1901	VTS1911
Head HIC-15	264	333
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.8	0.7
Compression (kN)	0.4	0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	30	27
Lateral force (kN)	1.5	1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	39	42
Average deflection (mm)	35	35
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	5.90	7.41
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.76	0.60
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	1.7	1.4
Acetabulum force (kN)	0.3	1.3
Combined force (kN)	1.8	2.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.0	0.7
L-M moment (Nm)	59	62
A-P moment (Nm)	30	130

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CES1901	VTS1911
Head HIC-15	145	112
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.4	0.5
Compression (kN)	0.4	0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	39	46
Lateral force (kN)	1.7	1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	34	35
Average deflection (mm)	27	31
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	3.40	3.87
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.53	0.54
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	0.3	0.6
Acetabulum force (kN)	2.2	2.1
Combined force (kN)	2.3	2.5
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	1.2	0.8
L-M moment (Nm)	117	42
A-P moment (Nm)	-20	83

About the original side crash test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2023-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Mazda 3 4-door

The Mazda 3 was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Beginning with 2023 models, improvements were made to the front side airbag and a rear side airbag was added to improve occupant protection in side crashes. Side 2.0 ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2023 Mazda 3 conducted by Mazda. These ratings apply to both the sedan and hatchback versions of the Mazda 3.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS2221
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-16.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS2221
Head
HIC-15	122
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.1
Compression (kN)	0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	38
Lateral force (kN)	1.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	42
Average deflection (mm)	36
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	8.45
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.92
Pelvis
Combined force (kN)	4.5

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS2221
Head
HIC-15	156
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.5
Compression (kN)	0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	22
Lateral force (kN)	1.2
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	22
Average deflection (mm)	19
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	5.90
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.36
Pelvis
Combined force (kN)	1.5

About the side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2019-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Mazda 3 Select 4-door

Rating applies to both the Mazda 3 sedan (tested) and the structurally similar Mazda 3 hatchback.

Overall evaluation
Curb weight	3,029 lbs
Peak force	18,239 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio	6.02

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual leatherette seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry

Technical measurements for this test

Seat type	Manual leatherette seat
Geometry
Backset (mm)	29
Distance below top of head (mm)	0
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail	Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g)	11.8
Head contact time (ms)	55
Force rating	1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N)	0
Max neck tension (N)	282

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)

Premium trim
2.5 Turbo Premium Plus trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. 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 good on both sides of the road. 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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	Premium trim 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus trim
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2020-25 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	90.5 m	None
Straightaway left edge	49.2 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	88.5 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	45.8 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	79.6 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	46.3 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	147.6 m
Straightaway left edge	169.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	92.0 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	71.5 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	80.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	65.0 m

Trim level(s)

Select trim
Preferred trim
Carbon Edition trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux 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, 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 good on the left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate 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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	Select trim Preferred trim Carbon Edition trim
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2019-25 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	102.7 m	None
Straightaway left edge	52.6 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	71.9 m	None
250m radius left curve, right edge	44.5 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	56.7 m	None
150m radius left curve, right edge	47.6 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	131.7 m
Straightaway left edge	145.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	72.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	51.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	55.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	47.9 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

Standard Smart Brake Support

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2019-23 models

Superior

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.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

standard Smart Brake Support

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2019-23 models

Superior

Crossing child

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Crossing adult

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 37 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision. A warning was issued 1.8 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation	+ extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trim	Select
Seat type	leatherette

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

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.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation	+ extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trim	Select
Seat type	leatherette

Rating icon	Rating
G	Good
A	Acceptable
M	Marginal
P	Poor
	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

Position	Rating
1
1	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	not too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors
2
2	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	Can be borrowed from 1 and 3
3
3	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	not too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors

Technical measurements for this test

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	Yes
Depth	Visible
Force (lbs)	0
Clearance angle (degrees)	72
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	Yes
Depth	Visible
Force (lbs)	0
Clearance angle (degrees)	72
Tether anchor
Location	Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present	No
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

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	Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present	No
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

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	Yes
Depth	Visible
Force (lbs)	0
Clearance angle (degrees)	71
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	Yes
Depth	Visible
Force (lbs)	0
Clearance angle (degrees)	75
Tether anchor
Location	Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present	No
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

About the child seat anchor evaluation