Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2016 Mazda CX-5

small SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention

2016 Mazda CX-5 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-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 2014-16 models built after October 2013

Tested vehicle: 2014 Mazda CX-5 Sport 4-door 4wd

The Mazda CX-5 was introduced in the 2013 model year. Beginning with 2014 models built after October 2013, the front and side airbag programming and the front structure were modified to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

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 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 reasonably 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.

Intrusion into the driver's space was reasonably well controlled, 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 CEN1345
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 7
Footrest (cm) 7
Left toepan (cm) 5
Brake pedal (cm) 8
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 8
Upper dash (cm) 7
Lower instrument panel (cm) 8

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1345
Head
HIC-15 181
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.4
Extension bending moment (Nm) 8
Maximum Nij 0.26
Chest maximum compression (mm) 24
Femur (kN)
Left 1.4
Right 0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 3
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.38
Right 0.48
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.3
Right 1.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 52
Right 58

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2013-16 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Mazda CX-5 Sport 4-door 4wd

The Mazda CX-5 was introduced in the 2013 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 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 contacted the side curtain airbag, headliner, grab handle, and head restraint during rebound.

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 CEF1202
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 3
Left (cm) 6
Center (cm) 8
Right (cm) 4
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) -1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -2
Rearward (cm) -4
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF1202
Head
HIC-15 325
Peak gs at hard contact 17
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm) 27
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.2
Femur force - right (kN) 1.0
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.21
Maximum tibia index - right 0.68
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.5
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 1.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 45
Right 46

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2013-16 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Mazda CX-5 Sport 4-door 4wd with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Mazda CX-5 was introduced in the 2013 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 and barrier 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 CES1202
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -18.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES1202
Head HIC-15 188
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 30
Lateral force (kN) 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 20
Average deflection (mm) 18
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.89
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.18
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.7
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.5
Combined force (kN) 3.1
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.3
L-M moment (Nm) 148
A-P moment (Nm) 46

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES1202
Head HIC-15 103
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.2
Compression (kN) 0.7
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 28
Lateral force (kN) 1.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 23
Average deflection (mm) 16
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.26
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.20
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.2
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.3
Combined force (kN) 2.3
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.0
L-M moment (Nm) 84
A-P moment (Nm) -45

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2013-16 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Mazda CX-5 Sport 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,330 lbs
Peak force18,209 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.47

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seats

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Manual cloth seats
Geometry
Backset (mm) 20
Distance below top of head (mm) -2
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 11.1
Head contact time (ms) 54
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 174

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 Grand Touring Technology and i-ACTIVSENSE packages
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 Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual left and both right curves and fair on the sharp left curve.

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 Grand Touring Technology and i-ACTIVSENSE packages
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2016 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 86.8 m None
Straightaway left edge 45.6 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 80.3 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 49.7 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 71.8 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 43.5 m 2.3%
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 160.5 m
Straightaway left edge 156.6 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 91.6 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 79.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 74.5 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 63.9 m

Trim level(s)

  • Touring trim equipped with Touring Technology package
  • Grand Touring trim equipped with Grand 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 Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual left and both right curves and fair on the sharp left curve.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Touring trim equipped with Touring Technology package
  • Grand Touring trim equipped with Grand 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 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 86.8 m None
Straightaway left edge 45.6 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 80.3 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 49.7 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 71.8 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 43.5 m 2.3%
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 160.5 m
Straightaway left edge 156.6 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 91.6 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 79.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 74.5 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 63.9 m

Trim level(s)

  • Sport trim
  • Touring trim
  • Grand 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 Some glare

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 created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual right and gradual left curves and inadequate on the sharp left and sharp right curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Sport trim
  • Touring trim
  • Grand 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 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 87.3 m 25.2%
Straightaway left edge 57.9 m 25.2%
250m radius right curve, right edge 54.1 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 48.3 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 44.3 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 40.6 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 163.0 m
Straightaway left edge 148.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 66.6 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 66.2 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 48.5 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 49.5 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 i-Activsense 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 22 mph.

System details

  • Optional Smart City Brake Support

Package name

  • Optional Grand Touring Technology Package or 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 2015-16 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimTouring
Seat type cloth

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 cloth
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
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
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) 13
Clearance angle (degrees) 66
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 16
Clearance angle (degrees) 55
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
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 Middle seatback
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) 22
Clearance angle (degrees) 61
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 18
Clearance angle (degrees) 67
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
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