What the CX-90's IIHS Safety Record Means for Growing Families in Burnaby

A three-row SUV carries more than groceries and luggage. For many families in Burnaby, it carries the people they care about most, which is why crash-test results often weigh as heavily in a buying decision as cargo space or infotainment screens.

The 2026 Mazda CX-90 has built its reputation in exactly that category. It is one of eight 2026 Mazda models to earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) TOP SAFETY PICK+ award, the highest rating the organization gives, and part of a cumulative 100 IIHS Top Safety Pick awards for the brand since the program began in 2008. For a parent comparing three-row SUVs across the Lower Mainland, that record is worth a closer look at what actually earns it.

CX-90 Key Specifications

Both engines are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard i-Activ AWD across every CX-90 trim, so the safety and drivetrain foundation is the same no matter which output a family chooses.

Structural Engineering Behind the IIHS Rating

The CX-90's TOP SAFETY PICK+ result is not a single test. It's a combination of results across several categories that IIHS raises the bar on every year. To qualify, a vehicle needs good ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, and side crash tests, along with acceptable- or good-rated headlights across all trim levels.

The CX-90 also needs to pass on the technology side. Its standard front crash prevention system earned a good rating in the pedestrian test and an acceptable or good rating in the vehicle-to-vehicle test, both required for the TOP SAFETY PICK+ distinction. Underneath the body panels, the CX-90 uses an independent double wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension, tuned with Mazda's Kinematic Posture Control system to help keep the vehicle's tires planted and occupants seated naturally through corners and sudden manoeuvres.

To meet the 2026 criteria, the CX-90 needed to satisfy:

• Good ratings in small overlap front, moderate overlap front, and side crash tests
• Acceptable- or good-rated headlights across every trim
• A good pedestrian rating from its standard front crash prevention system
• An acceptable or good rating in the vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test

Standard Driver-Assistance Technology

Beyond structural performance, the CX-90 comes with a full suite of i-Activsense safety technology as standard equipment, not as an upgrade reserved for higher trims. That matters for a family cross-shopping SUVs where advanced safety features are sometimes locked behind a package.

Every CX-90 includes:

• Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go
• Smart Brake Support Front with Pedestrian Detection
• Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Lane Departure Warning with Lane-keep Assist
• Emergency Lane Keeping with Road Keep Assist
• Driver Attention Alert

Is the CX-90 the Right Three-Row SUV for Your Family?

Families shopping the CX-90 in Burnaby are usually weighing two things at once: how many people need to fit, and how the vehicle behaves in an actual emergency. On seating, the CX-90 flexes to fit different households, offering eight-passenger capacity with second and third-row bench seats, a seven-passenger layout with second-row captain's chairs, or a six-passenger configuration on the top Signature trim. All versions retain the same crash-tested structure and standard AWD.

For a household regularly hauling a trailer, a boat, or sports gear, the CX-90's 5,000-lb towing capacity adds practical range without asking the driver to trade away the safety equipment described above. The result is a three-row SUV where the safety technology, structural rating, and everyday capability come from the same base specification, rather than depending on which box a buyer checks at the dealership.

Experience the CX-90 at Metrotown Mazda

Reading a spec sheet only goes so far. The best way to understand how the CX-90's structure and driver-assistance technology feel on Burnaby streets and the highway on-ramps nearby is to sit behind the wheel. Book your test drive today at our Burnaby dealership, and our team at Metrotown Mazda can walk you through which seating configuration and trim line up with what your family actually needs.