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.
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 |
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 |
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Rating applies to 2021-23 models
Tested vehicle: 2021 Mazda CX-9 TR 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 | |
Chest | |
Thigh/hip | |
Leg/foot | |
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | |
Rear passenger injury measures | |
Head/neck | |
Chest | |
Thigh | |
Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics |

View of the vehicle after the crash showing the airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

The rear passenger dummy's head remained a safe distance from the front seatback.

Rear passenger dummy injury values indicate a moderate risk of injury to the chest and a likely risk of injury to the head or neck. During the crash, the shoulder belt remained in an ideal position on the dummy’s chest.

The rear passenger dummy's lap belt remained in the ideal position on the pelvis.
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 |
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.
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 |
About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.
Headlights
Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.
Trim level(s)
- Grand Touring trim
- Signature trim
- Blackout Edition 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.
Trim level(s)
- Sport trim
- Touring trim
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.
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)
Seat belt reminders
Rating applies to 2021-23 models
Evaluation criteria | Rating |
---|---|
Overall evaluation | |
Front row | |
Unbelted occupant alert (audible & visual) | |
Initiation time | |
Duration | Long enough (90+ seconds) |
Volume | |
Audio frequency | |
Second row | |
Startup status alert (visual) | |
Initiation time | |
Duration at least 60 seconds | |
Belt disengaged alert (audible & visual) | |
Initiation time | |
Duration at least 30 seconds | |
Volume | |
Audio frequency |
Child seat anchors
Rating applies to 2021-23 models
Evaluation criteria | Rating |
---|---|
Overall evaluation | |
Vehicle trim | Touring |
Seat type | leather |
This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.
It has 2 additional seating positions with a tether anchor only.
Evaluation criteria | Rating |
---|---|
Overall evaluation | |
Vehicle trim | Touring |
Seat type | leather |
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 | |
not too deep in seat | |
not too much force needed to attach | |
easy to maneuver around anchors | |
2 | |
Tether anchor | |
hard-to-find location | |
other hardware could be confused for anchor | |
Lower anchors | |
none available | |
3 | |
Tether anchor | |
easy-to-find location | |
no other hardware could be confused for anchor | |
Lower anchors | |
not too deep in seat | |
not too much force needed to attach | |
easy to maneuver around anchors | |
4 | |
Tether anchor | |
easy-to-find location | |
no other hardware could be confused for anchor | |
Lower anchors | |
none available |