2003 Mazda 6
midsize car / 4-door sedan
Moderate overlap front: original test
Rating applies to 2003-08 models
Tested vehicle: 2003 Mazda 6i 4-door
The Mazda 6 was introduced in the 2003 model year as a replacement for the Mazda 626.
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Chest | |
| Leg/foot, left | |
| Leg/foot, right | |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics |
Action shot taken during the frontal offset crash test.
The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.
Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head hit the B-pillar, roof rail, and head restraint during rebound. Head acceleration from the B-pillar hit was high.
There was little change in the position of the dummy's feet following the crash test. Injury risk was low.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | CEF0311 |
|---|---|
| Footwell intrusion | |
| Footrest (cm) | 4 |
| Left (cm) | 6 |
| Center (cm) | 8 |
| Right (cm) | 7 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 2 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | |
| Left (cm) | 0 |
| Right (cm) | 0 |
| Steering column movement | |
| Upward (cm) | 0 |
| Rearward (cm) | -5 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 1 |
Driver injury measures
| Test ID | CEF0311 |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 240 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | 79 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 21 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.34 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 26 |
| Legs | |
| Femur force - left (kN) | 0.5 |
| Femur force - right (kN) | 2.8 |
| Knee displacement - left (mm) | 1 |
| Knee displacement - right (mm) | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index - left | 0.33 |
| Maximum tibia index - right | 0.42 |
| Tibia axial force - left (kN) | 2.4 |
| Tibia axial force - right (kN) | 4.0 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 39 |
| Right | 50 |
Side: original test
Rating applies to 2003-06 models
Tested vehicle: 2004 Mazda 6i 4-door without optional side airbags
The Mazda 6 was introduced in the 2003 model year as a replacement for the Mazda 626.
When side airbags are optional, as in this vehicle when it was tested, the Institute conducts the test without this option. If a manufacturer offering optional side airbags requests the Institute to conduct an additional test of a vehicle with this option and agrees to reimburse the cost of the vehicle, a second test is conducted. Mazda did not request such a test.
Beginning with 2007 models, side airbags were made standard, so these ratings do not apply to 2007 and later models.
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis/leg | |
| Driver head protection The dummy's head was hit by the intruding barrier, producing high head injury measures. |
|
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis/leg | |
| Rear passenger head protection The dummy's head was hit by the pillar behind the rear passenger door. This pillar is required by federal standard to provide some protection for occupants' heads. |
|
View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.
View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing damage to the occupant compartment.
Action shot taken during the side impact crash test showing the driver dummy's head being hit by the intruding barrier.
A prominent dent indicates where the driver dummy's head hit the barrier.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | CES0401 |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) | 1.0 |
| Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline. | |
Driver injury measures
| Test ID | CES0401 |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 2,165 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 2.1 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.0 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 47 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 3.3 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 50 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 37 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 5.14 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.99 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 5.4 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 2.5 |
| Combined force (kN) | 7.9 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 1.2 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 160 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 80 |
Passenger injury measures
| Test ID | CES0401 |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 384 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.3 |
| Compression (kN) | 1.0 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 40 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.8 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 57 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 42 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 4.94 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 1.11 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.8 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 1.9 |
| Combined force (kN) | 2.6 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.4 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 198 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 37 |
Head restraints & seats
Seat type: Seats without adjustable lumbar
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | |
| Seat/head restraint geometry |
| Seat type | Seats without adjustable lumbar |
|---|---|
| Geometry | |
| Backset (mm) | 50 |
| Distance below top of head (mm) | 58 |
| Seat design parameters | |
| Pass/fail | Fail |
| Max T1 acceleration (g) | 10.7 |
| Head contact time (ms) | 98 |
| Force rating | 2 |
| Neck forces | |
| Max neck shear force (N) | 151 |
| Max neck tension (N) | 966 |
Seat type: Seats with adjustable lumbar
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | |
| Seat/head restraint geometry |
| Seat type | Seats with adjustable lumbar |
|---|---|
| Geometry | |
| Backset (mm) | 35 |
| Distance below top of head (mm) | 68 |
| Seat design parameters | |
| Pass/fail | Fail |
| Max T1 acceleration (g) | 11.1 |
| Head contact time (ms) | 104 |
| Force rating | 3 |
| Neck forces | |
| Max neck shear force (N) | 192 |
| Max neck tension (N) | 1,178 |
About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.