Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2016 Mazda 6

midsize car / 4-door sedan

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention

2016 Mazda 6 4-door sedan

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
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

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 2016-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Mazda 6i Touring 4-door

The Mazda 6 was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Beginning with 2016 models, the side curtain airbags were lengthened and the deployment timing for both the frontal and side airbags was reprogrammed to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes. Because there were no structural changes, the structure rating is based on Institute tests of both the 2014 and 2016 models.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s movement was reasonably well controlled. The dummy’s head remained largely in contact with the frontal airbag during the crash, but its head still moved toward the A-pillar because the seat belt allowed excessive forward excursion of the dummy's head and torso. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag also deployed..

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test of the 2016 model Mazda 6.

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 well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked reasonably well together, but the seat belt allowed far too much forward movement of the dummy to the extent that its head came close to hitting the A-pillar.

Forces during the crash were just high enough to contribute to a moderate risk of injury to the dummy's right lower leg.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1503 CEN1305
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 13 13
Footrest (cm) 10 8
Left toepan (cm) 4 3
Brake pedal (cm) 4 8
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1 3
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 6 6
Upper dash (cm) 5 9
Lower instrument panel (cm) 8 10

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1503
Head
HIC-15 152
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.4
Extension bending moment (Nm) 10
Maximum Nij 0.27
Chest maximum compression (mm) 23
Femur (kN)
Left 0.3
Right 0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.69
Right 0.81
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.1
Right 1.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 108
Right 57

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2016-17 models

Tested vehicle: 2017 Mazda 6i Sport 4-door

The Mazda 6 was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Beginning with 2016 models, the side curtain airbags were lengthened and the deployment timing for both the frontal and side airbags was reprogrammed to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes.

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

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

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame and dashboard after the crash test indicates that the passenger’s survival space was maintained reasonably well.

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

The passenger’s space was maintained reasonably 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 passenger side

Test ID CEP1709
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 24
Footrest (cm) 16
Right toepan (cm) 6
Center toepan (cm) 4
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 5
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 6
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 7
Upper dash (cm) 12
Right lower dash (cm) 15

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CEP1709
Head
HIC-15 252
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 2.6
Extension bending moment (Nm) 50
Maximum Nij 0.69
Chest maximum compression (mm) 19
Femur (kN)
Left 1.1
Right 1.6
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 3
Right 4
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.52
Right 0.55
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.4
Right 1.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 52
Right 72

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEP1709
Head
HIC-15 45
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Extension bending moment (Nm) 13
Maximum Nij 0.13
Chest maximum compression (mm) 29
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.33
Right 0.27
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 43
Right 45

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2014-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Mazda 6i Touring 4-door

The Mazda 6 was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Two moderate overlap frontal tests of the Mazda 6 were conducted, one by the Institute and the other by Mazda. Ratings are based on both tests.

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 Institute's moderate overlap frontal 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 (Institute test car shown).

Dummy movement was well controlled in both tests. During rebound in the Institute's test, the dummy's head hit the sunvisor, roof, and grab handle, as indicated by smeared pink greasepaint.

Intrusion into the driver's space was minimal in both tests. In Mazda's test, all leg and foot injury measures were low. In the Institute's test, forces on the right lower leg were just high enough to indicate the possibility of injuries.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1220 CEF1301
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 2 4
Left (cm) 7 8
Center (cm) 8 8
Right (cm) 3 5
Brake pedal (cm) 4 2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0 1
Right (cm) -1 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -6 -3
Rearward (cm) -5 -6
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 1 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1220 CEF1301
Head
HIC-15 178 116
Peak gs at hard contact no contact negligible
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12 12
Maximum Nij 0.19 0.21
Chest maximum compression (mm) 26 27
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.6 0.4
Femur force - right (kN) 0.4 0.3
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.54 0.45
Maximum tibia index - right 0.66 0.86
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.6 1.7
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 3.1 1.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 44 50
Right 88 57

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2014-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Mazda 6i Touring 4-door with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Mazda 6 was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Mazda.

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 VTS1219
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.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1219
Head HIC-15 182
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 30
Lateral force (kN) 1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 31
Average deflection (mm) 28
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.39
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.45
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 2.2
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.9
Combined force (kN) 4.0
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.3
L-M moment (Nm) 172
A-P moment (Nm) 9

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1219
Head HIC-15 183
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 31
Lateral force (kN) 1.2
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 34
Average deflection (mm) 29
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.04
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.51
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.2
Acetabulum force (kN) 0.9
Combined force (kN) 0.9
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.4
L-M moment (Nm) 208
A-P moment (Nm) 78

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2014-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Mazda 6i Touring 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,217 lbs
Peak force16,776 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.21

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Leather power seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Leather power seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 5
Distance below top of head (mm) 10
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 13.0
Head contact time (ms) 57
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 422

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

Headlights

Ratings are given for 3 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • Grand Touring trim equipped with GT Technology package
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
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 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 equipped with GT Technology package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-17 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 88.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 48.9 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 79.2 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 46.3 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 68.1 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 48.4 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 138.5 m
Straightaway left edge 107.2 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 92.7 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 69.1 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 76.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 60.4 m

Trim level(s)

  • Grand Touring trim
  • Touring trim equipped with Touring Technology package
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
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 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 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.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Grand Touring trim
  • Touring trim equipped with Touring Technology package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-17 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 88.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 48.9 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 79.2 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 46.3 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 68.1 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 48.4 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 138.5 m
Straightaway left edge 107.2 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 92.7 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 69.1 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 76.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 60.4 m

Trim level(s)

  • Sport trim
  • Touring trim
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen projector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
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 left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

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 fair on the gradual left and gradual right curves and inadequate on the sharp left and sharp right curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Sport trim
  • Touring trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-17 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 79.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 55.3 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 53.1 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 46.5 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 42.5 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 38.2 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 155.8 m
Straightaway left edge 145.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 67.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 68.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 50.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 50.5 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 Technology Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2016 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, impact speed was reduced by 24 mph.

System details

  • Optional Smart City Brake Support

Package name

  • Optional Touring Technology Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2014-16 models

Advanced
Advanced
with optional equipment
  • Not available.
  • 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 2016-17 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimi Touring
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
Vehicle trimi Touring
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
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
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 34
Clearance angle (degrees) 51
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 34
Clearance angle (degrees) 70
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 No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 28
Clearance angle (degrees) 68
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 26
Clearance angle (degrees) 56
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