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.
Evaluation criteria | Rating |
---|---|
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.
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.
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 |
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.
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 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.
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.
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 |

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.
Roof strength
Rating applies to 2016-21 models
Tested vehicle: 2016 Mazda CX-3 Sport 4-door 4wd
Overall evaluation | |
---|---|
Curb weight | 2,881 lbs |
Peak force | 15,549 lbs |
Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.40 |
Head restraints & seats
Seat type: Manual cloth seat
Overall evaluation | |
---|---|
Dynamic rating | |
Seat/head restraint geometry |
About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.
Headlights
Trim level(s)
- All trims
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 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.
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Child seat anchors
Rating applies to 2016-21 models
Evaluation criteria | Rating |
---|---|
Overall evaluation | |
Vehicle trim | 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 | 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 | |
easy to maneuver around anchors |