How Mazda Protects You and Your Passengers: Eight IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ Awards

Every trip carries people who matter to you. That makes crash test results worth a few minutes of reading before you choose your next vehicle. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) runs some of the toughest tests in the industry, and its highest honour is the TOP SAFETY PICK+ award.

Mazda holds eight 2026 TOP SAFETY PICK+ awards, the most of any brand. Every Mazda sedan, hatchback and SUV in the Canadian lineup is on that list. Here is what the award means, which models earned it, and how Mazda safety technology looks after the people in every seat.

What Does TOP SAFETY PICK+ Mean?

IIHS is an independent, non-governmental safety-testing organization funded by the insurance industry. It has handed out TOP SAFETY PICK awards since 2008, and the "plus" version is the top tier. To qualify for 2026, a vehicle has to clear every item below:

• Good ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front and side crash tests
• Acceptable or good headlights on every trim level
• A standard front crash prevention system that earns a good rating in the pedestrian test
• An acceptable or good rating in the vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0 front crash prevention test

The headlight rule is a helpful one for shoppers. Strong headlights on the top trim alone do not count. The entry model has to qualify as well, so the award applies to the vehicle you actually buy.

Which Mazda Models Earned the Award?

Eight Mazda models hold a 2026 TOP SAFETY PICK+ award:

• Mazda3 (sedan) and Mazda3 Sport (hatchback)
• CX-30 and CX-5
• CX-70 and CX-70 PHEV
• CX-90 and CX-90 PHEV

That range covers a compact car, compact SUVs, a two-row mid-size SUV and a three-row family SUV, with gas, mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The CX-5 was the eighth model to join the list. IIHS announced its award on July 9, 2026.

Protection for Every Seat, Front and Back

Safety ratings used to focus mostly on the driver and front passenger. IIHS now looks closely at how well a vehicle protects people in the back seat too. Mazda earned top Good ratings in that tougher testing by adding rear seat belt pretensioners and load limiters, along with advanced airbags, as standard equipment.

A pretensioner tightens the seat belt at the first moment of a crash to hold the passenger in place. A load limiter then lets the belt give slightly, which eases the force on the chest. On the CX-5, front and rear outboard seats both have pretensioners with force limiters. The CX-5 also comes with advanced dual front airbags, front knee airbags, side curtain airbags, and front and rear side impact airbags. For families, integrated child-safety-seat lower anchors and upper tethers are standard, along with front and rear seat belt reminders.

i-Activsense: Technology That Helps You Avoid a Crash

The safest crash is the one that never happens. Mazda groups its driver-assistance features under the name i-Activsense. These systems use sensors and cameras to watch the road and warn you, or step in, when a collision is likely. Mazda tunes its crash avoidance systems to detect pedestrians in a variety of lighting conditions.

Every CX-5 trim comes standard with Smart Brake Support, Smart Brake Support Rear with Rear Cross Traffic Alert and pedestrian detection, Blind Spot Monitoring with Vehicle Exit Warning, Emergency Lane Keeping, Mazda Radar Cruise Control, Traffic Sign Recognition, Driver Attention Alert, and front and rear parking sensors.

The CX-30 follows the same approach. Its standard i-Activsense features include Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Smart Brake Support, High Beam Control, Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist, Driver Attention Alert, and Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

These features support the driver. They do not replace safe and attentive driving, and each system has limits to its range and detection.

100 Awards Since 2008 and a Goal for 2040

The CX-5 award marked a milestone. Mazda has now earned 100 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK awards since the program began in 2008, and 74 of those are the higher TOP SAFETY PICK+ award. IIHS raises its test standards regularly, so that record reflects nearly two decades of steady improvement.

Mazda has also set a clear target for the future: zero fatalities in Mazda vehicles by 2040. Each new model and each added safety feature is a step toward that goal.

Mazda Safety at a Glance

Learn More at Metrotown Mazda

Have questions about how these safety systems work on a specific model? The team at Metrotown Mazda in Burnaby is happy to walk you through each i-Activsense feature and show you how its settings can be adjusted in Mazda Connect. Stop by for a relaxed look at the Mazda lineup and bring your questions with you.