Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria
2020 Mazda CX-9
midsize SUV / 4-door SUV
Award applies only to vehicles built after December 2019
Small overlap front: driver-side
Rating applies to 2017-23 models built after November 2016
Tested vehicle: 2017 Mazda CX-9 Touring 4-door 4wd
The Mazda CX-9 was redesigned for the 2016 model year. Beginning with 2017 models built after November 2016, the deployment pattern of the side curtain airbags was modified to improve occupant protection in side impact, small overlap frontal, and moderate 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.)
| 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 very 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
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Rating applies to 2017-23 models built after November 2016
Tested vehicle: 2018 Mazda CX-9 Touring 4-door 4wd
The Mazda CX-9 was redesigned for the 2016 model year. Beginning with 2017 models built after November 2016, the deployment pattern of the side curtain airbags was modified to improve occupant protection in side impact, small overlap frontal, and moderate 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.)
Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Mazda of a CX-9 with the modifications.
| 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 | |
Technical measurements for this test
Moderate overlap front: original test
Rating applies to 2017-23 models built after November 2016
Tested vehicle: 2017 Mazda CX-9 4-door 4wd
The Mazda CX-9 was redesigned for the 2016 model year. Beginning with 2017 models built after November 2016, the deployment pattern of the side curtain airbags was modified to improve occupant protection in side impact, small overlap frontal, and moderate 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.)
Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Mazda of a CX-9 with the modifications.
| 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 | |
Technical measurements for this test
Side: original test
Rating applies to 2017-23 models built after November 2016
Tested vehicle: 2017 Mazda CX-9 Touring 4-door 4wd
The Mazda CX-9 was redesigned for the 2016 model year. Beginning with 2017 models built after November 2016, the deployment pattern of the side curtain airbags was modified to improve occupant protection in side impact, small overlap frontal, and moderate 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.)
Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Mazda of a CX-9 with the modifications.
| 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
Side: updated test
Rating applies to 2017-23 models built after November 2016
Tested vehicle: 2021 Mazda CX-9 Touring 4-door 4wd
The Mazda CX-9 was redesigned for the 2016 model year. Beginning with 2017 models built after November 2016, the deployment pattern of the side curtain airbags was modified to improve occupant protection in side impact, small overlap frontal, and moderate 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.)
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | |
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis | |
| Driver head protection | |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis | |
| 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 airbags.
Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.
Technical measurements for this test
Roof strength
Rating applies to 2016-23 models
Tested vehicle: 2016 Mazda CX-9 Sport 4-door 4wd
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 4,139 lbs |
| Peak force | 21,311 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.15 |
Head restraints & seats
Seat type: Power leather 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
- Signature trim
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| 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 good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp left and both right curves and fair on the gradual left curve.
The low beams created some glare.
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)
- Sport trim; built after December 2019
- Touring trim; built after December 2019
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
|
Overall rating | |
| Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination: | |
Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.
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 inadequate in all 4 tests.
High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on the gradual left curve.
Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
- Sport trim; built before January 2020
- Touring trim; built before January 2020
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| 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 the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.
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 inadequate in all 4 tests.
High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway, on both left curves and on the gradual right curve.
Technical measurements for this test