Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria
2017 Mazda 6
midsize car / 4-door sedan
Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights
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.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| 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
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.
| 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 | |
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
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.
| 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 | |
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
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.
| 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 | |
Technical measurements for this test
Roof strength
Rating applies to 2014-21 models
Tested vehicle: 2014 Mazda 6i Touring 4-door
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 3,217 lbs |
| Peak force | 16,776 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.21 |
Head restraints & seats
Seat type: Leather power seat
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | |
| Seat/head restraint geometry |
Technical measurements for this test
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
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| 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 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)
- Touring trim equipped with Touring Premium package
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | Yes |
| High-beam assist? | No |
|
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 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)
- Sport trim
- Touring trim
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | Halogen projector |
| High-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | No |
|
Overall rating | |
| Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux 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
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Ratings are given for 2 different trim variations available on this vehicle.
Child seat anchors
Rating applies to 2016-17 models
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | |
| Vehicle trim | i 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.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | |
| Vehicle trim | i Touring |
| 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 |
| Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s) | |
| No hardware available |
Details by seating position
| Position | Rating |
|---|---|
| 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