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Recently in 2021, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) debuted an all-new side crash test. Considering the prevalence of heavier SUVs on the road, the new test was designed to be tougher and create a more substantial impact on the side of a vehicle. Recently, the 2023 Mazda3 and 2023 Mazda3 Hatchback were put through the side crash test and passed with a top core of “Good” and an overall score of “Top Safety Pick+.”
What is the New IIHS Side Crash Test?
The IIHS first started its side crash test in 2003 after wanting to create a more realistic crash test that would match the intensity of an SUV or pickup truck. Nearly 20 years later, the test has been updated with the same goal.
So what has changed? In the original test, a 3300-pound barrier would hit the side of a car while moving at 31 miles per hour. In the latest test, a heavier, 4200-pound barrier with a new shape runs into the side of the tested vehicle at a faster 37 miles per hour. For both tests, a dummy of a five-foot woman is in the driver’s seat, and a dummy the size of the average 12-year-old child is in the rear seat of the driver’s side.
What MAZDA Models Scored Well in the Side Crash Test?
After testing, the 2023 Mazda3 sedan and hatchback models both received the best score of “Good” — the only cars in their class to do so — along with a Top Safety Pick+ rating. The new Mazda CX-5 and Mazda CX-9 walked away with the same side and overall ratings when they were subjected to the new test, joining the Mazda CX-30 and Mazda-CX-50 on the list of new Mazda models receiving the Top Safety Pick+ designation.
If safety is a priority, the Mazda brand deserves your attention. Visit Tumminia Mazda today for a test drive of some of the safest cars and SUVs currently available!
