Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2017 Mazda CX-3

small SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

2017 Mazda CX-3 4-door SUV
2016 Mazda CX-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
Optional system
Superior

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 CX-3 Touring 4-door 4wd

The Mazda CX-3 was introduced in the 2016 model year.

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

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

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 well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

The driver's space was maintained 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 driver side

Test ID CEN1618
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 9
Footrest (cm) 8
Left toepan (cm) 3
Brake pedal (cm) 6
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 4
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Upper dash (cm) 4
Lower instrument panel (cm) 8

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1618
Head
HIC-15 135
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.4
Extension bending moment (Nm) 5
Maximum Nij 0.22
Chest maximum compression (mm) 22
Femur (kN)
Left 0.5
Right 0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 3
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.44
Right 0.49
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.1
Right 0.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 58
Right 48

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2016-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Mazda CX-3 Grand Touring 4-door 4wd

The Mazda CX-3 was introduced in the 2016 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Mazda.

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 VTP1718
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 11
Footrest (cm) 14
Right toepan (cm) 13
Center toepan (cm) 2
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 5
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 8
Upper dash (cm) 11
Right lower dash (cm) 8

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1718
Head
HIC-15 245
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 11
Maximum Nij 0.21
Chest maximum compression (mm) 16
Femur (kN)
Left 0.9
Right 2.9
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 6
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 1
Right 3
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.39
Right 0.64
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.9
Right 2.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 62
Right 66

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1718
Head
HIC-15 97
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 21
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 34
Femur (kN)
Left 0.4
Right 0.8
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 1
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.34
Right 0.31
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.5
Right 1.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 34
Right 59

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2016-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Mazda CX-3 Touring 4-door 4wd

The Mazda CX-3 was introduced in the 2016 model year.

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 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.

Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head contacted the side curtain airbag and head restraint during rebound (inset shows side curtain airbag after dummy was removed).

Intrusion into the driver's space was minimal, and all leg and foot injury measures were low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEF1608
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 0
Left (cm) 6
Center (cm) 7
Right (cm) 4
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -1
Rearward (cm) -3
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF1608
Head
HIC-15 243
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.5
Extension bending moment (Nm) 15
Maximum Nij 0.26
Chest maximum compression (mm) 26
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.5
Femur force - right (kN) 0.5
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.42
Maximum tibia index - right 0.54
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.6
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 62
Right 90

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2016-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Mazda CX-3 Touring 4-door 4wd

The Mazda CX-3 was introduced in the 2016 model year.

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 just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

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

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 CES1611
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -18.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES1611
Head HIC-15 300
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Compression (kN) 0.0
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 23
Lateral force (kN) 1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 35
Average deflection (mm) 30
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.42
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.52
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.3
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.1
Combined force (kN) 2.2
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.7
L-M moment (Nm) 198
A-P moment (Nm) 49

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES1611
Head HIC-15 177
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 0.9
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 43
Lateral force (kN) 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 26
Average deflection (mm) 18
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.32
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.28
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.0
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.4
Combined force (kN) 1.4
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.1
L-M moment (Nm) 159
A-P moment (Nm) -44

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2016-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Mazda CX-3 Sport 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight2,881 lbs
Peak force15,549 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.40

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Manual cloth seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 24
Distance below top of head (mm) -2
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 10.9
Head contact time (ms) 63
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 254

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 i-ACTIVSENSE 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 good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

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 i-ACTIVSENSE package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-21 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 80.0 m None
Straightaway left edge 48.0 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 74.4 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 50.3 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 66.1 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 48.6 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 154.1 m
Straightaway left edge 142.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 90.3 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 83.1 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 77.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 73.4 m

Trim level(s)

  • Grand Touring trim
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 good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Grand Touring trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-18 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 80.0 m None
Straightaway left edge 48.0 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 74.4 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 50.3 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 66.1 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 48.6 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 154.1 m
Straightaway left edge 142.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 90.3 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 83.1 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 77.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 73.4 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 inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

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 2016-19 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 55.3 m None
Straightaway left edge 39.7 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 46.6 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 41.1 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 39.1 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 35.4 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 132.6 m
Straightaway left edge 141.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 58.5 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 60.0 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 44.2 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 46.3 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Optional Smart Brake Support
  • optional Smart City Brake Support

Package name

  • Optional Grand Touring trim with i-Activsense Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2016-17 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 23 mph.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2016-21 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimTouring
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 trimTouring
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
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 11
Clearance angle (degrees) 70
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 9
Clearance angle (degrees) 70
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
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 Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
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) 2-4
Force (lbs) 15
Clearance angle (degrees) 71
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 12
Clearance angle (degrees) 71
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation