Mazda Makes The Safest Cars On The Road, Says IIHS

Everyone has their criteria when buying a new car. For many, it comes down first and foremost to safety, and those buyers should consider walking into a Mazda showroom.

That's because every 2017 model that Mazda makes and that has been tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has earned its rigorous Top Safety Pick+ certification.

That, according to the manufacturer, makes it “the only full-line automaker able to make such a claim.” Even Volvo, with its sterling reputation for safety, missed out this year on the Plus rating for its new S90 and XC90 (and has yet to have the V90 tested).

Mazda's announcement comes on the back of yet another Plus rating for the CX-5, which has landed the top marks every year for the past five. The crossover comes standard with low-speed emergency braking and LED headlights, but requires the optional higher-speed crash avoidance system and automatic high beams to ace the test.

The smaller CX-3 and larger CX-9 both earned the highest ratings as well, as did the Mazda3 (sedan and hatchback) and Mazda6. That leaves only the MX-5 Miata, but the Institute doesn't grade small sports cars.