Light and highly-rigid Mazda CX-5 awarded for top-class safety performance

The well received CX-5 compact SUV from Mazda, has been announced as a "Top Safety Pick" for 2012 in the US. This is the highest possible safety rating, awarded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in their crashworthiness tests. A vehicle qualifies as a top safety pick by earning a "Good" rating in four tests.

The four test methods include a frontal offset test for a vehicle driving at 64km/h, a side impact test at 50km/h, a rear crash protection at 32km/h and roof strength test to determine a vehicles' protection performance. Ratings are given as: "Good", "Acceptable", "Marginal" or "Poor" based on vehicle deformation and the performance of the safety equipment.

The 2013 Mazda CX-5 is the first to fully adopt Mazda’s Skyactiv technology for its powertrains, body structure and chassis while implementing a new KODO-Soul of the motion design theme. The CX-5 also debuts its new lightweight but highly-rigid Skyactiv-Body which is based upon the highest-grade steel ever used in a mass production vehicle, for front and rear bumper beams. Mazda created a light strong body by utilising 61 percent high-tensile steel.

Besides safety, the CX-5 has been highly praised for its excellent driving performance, fuel economy, distinctive design and comfortable cabin in the US.

Mazda is intensifying its safety-related research and development efforts, aiming to achieve safety performance levels that are best in class so as to provide all customers with driving pleasure together with outstanding environmental and safety performance.