Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2021 Mazda 3

small car / 4-door sedan

2021 Mazda 3 4-door sedan
2019 Mazda 3 shown

Crashworthiness

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

Crash avoidance & mitigation

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

LATCH ease of use
+

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning & 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 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.

Overall evaluation
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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

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

Driver injury measures

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.

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 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

Passenger injury measures

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

Driver injury measures

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.

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 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

Driver injury measures

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.

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

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.

Driver injury measures

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

Passenger injury measures

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

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 weight3,029 lbs
Peak force18,239 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio6.02

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 trim
  • 2.5 Turbo Premium 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 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
Trim level(s)
  • Premium trim
  • 2.5 Turbo trim
  • 2.5 Turbo Premium 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)

  • 2.0 trim
  • 2.5 S trim
  • Select trim
  • Preferred trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
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 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
Trim level(s)
  • 2.0 trim
  • 2.5 S trim
  • Select trim
  • Preferred 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
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
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

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trimSelect
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.

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trimSelect
Seat type leatherette
1 2 3
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
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
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
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

Seat position 21

3

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 Rear deck
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

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 Rear deck
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

Seat position 23

1

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 Rear deck
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