2016 Mazda CX-5 and Mazda6 take safety to a new level

If you thought all Top Safety Pick Plus-rated vehicles were the same, think again.

If you are shopping for a mid-sized sedan or crossover and safety is one of your priorities this news will be important to you. The 2016 Mazda6 sedan and 2016 CX-5 crossover have both earned the highest possible IIHS ratings. A quick glance at the graphic above showing the CX-5’s scoring on its safety tests shows how in every conceivable way these two new models from Mazda have proven themselves to be at the top of their segments.

The top rating in the United States for safety is the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick Plus. Both the Mazda6 and CX-5 already earned those scores in prior years, so how can they get any better? The way relates to the forward collision prevention (FCP) systems they employ. In order to qualify for the top score, a vehicle must do well on all the crash tests conducted, including the tricky small-frontal-overlap test. These two Mazda’s score the best “Good” on all crash tests. However, a vehicle must also have Advanced or Superior FCP available to earn the TSP+ rating.

The 2016 CX-5 and Mazda6 do have superior rated FCP. In fact, the CX-5 has optional Smart Brake Support (SBS), which helps avoid frontal collisions or minimize damage when travelling mid- to high-speed.

If you are searching for a family vehicle and safety matters to you, the Mazda6 sedan and CX-5 may be worth a closer look.