The 2020 Mazda CX-5 remains a popular choice in the compact SUV segment, and for good reason. Beyond its stylish design and engaging driving dynamics, safety is a paramount concern for car buyers. Understanding how a vehicle performs in safety tests provides crucial information for making informed decisions. This article delves into the safety ratings of the 2020 Mazda CX-5, drawing upon data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to give you a comprehensive overview of its crashworthiness and safety features.
Crashworthiness Evaluations
The IIHS conducts a series of rigorous crash tests to evaluate vehicle safety. The 2020 Mazda CX-5 has undergone several of these evaluations, and we will examine the results for each.
Small Overlap Front: Driver-Side
The small overlap front test assesses how well a vehicle protects the driver in a collision involving a small portion of the vehicle’s front corner. For the driver-side small overlap test, the 2020 Mazda CX-5 achieved a “Good” rating, the highest possible.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
This “Good” rating extends across all measured criteria, including structure and safety cage integrity, driver injury measures for head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot, as well as driver restraints and dummy kinematics. Technical measurements from the test provide further details.
Technical Measurements – Driver-Side Small Overlap Front
| Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side | Measurement | Driver injury measures | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 4 | HIC-15 (Head) | 195 |
| Footrest (cm) | 6 | Neck Tension (kN) | 1.5 |
| Left toepan (cm) | 4 | Chest maximum compression (mm) | 24 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 6 | Left Femur force (kN) | 0.7 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 1 | Right Femur force (kN) | 0.3 |
| Steering column (cm) | 1 | Left Tibia index | 0.55 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 4 | Right Tibia index | 0.40 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 5 | Left Foot acceleration (g) | 53 |
| Lower instrument panel (cm) | 6 | Right Foot acceleration (g) | 57 |
These measurements indicate minimal occupant compartment intrusion and low injury measures, reinforcing the “Good” rating.
Small Overlap Front: Passenger-Side
Similar to the driver-side test, the passenger-side small overlap test evaluates protection for the front passenger. The 2020 Mazda CX-5 also earned a “Good” rating in this assessment.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
Again, the “Good” rating is consistent across all passenger injury measures and structural evaluations.
Technical Measurements – Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front
| Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side | Measurement | Passenger injury measures | Measurement | Driver injury measures | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 8 | HIC-15 (Head – Passenger) | 262 | HIC-15 (Head – Driver) | 70 |
| Footrest (cm) | 9 | Neck Tension (kN – Passenger) | 0.8 | Neck Tension (kN – Driver) | 0.9 |
| Right toepan (cm) | 7 | Chest maximum compression (mm – Passenger) | 19 | Chest maximum compression (mm – Driver) | 32 |
| Center toepan (cm) | 2 | Left Femur force (kN – Passenger) | 1.4 | Left Femur force (kN – Driver) | 0.3 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 1 | Right Femur force (kN – Passenger) | 1.9 | Right Femur force (kN – Driver) | 0.3 |
| Center dash (cm) | 4 | Left Tibia index (Passenger) | 0.37 | Left Tibia index (Driver) | 0.31 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 6 | Right Tibia index (Passenger) | 0.59 | Right Tibia index (Driver) | 0.31 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 6 | Left Foot acceleration (g – Passenger) | 50 | Left Foot acceleration (g – Driver) | 71 |
| Right lower dash (cm) | 6 | Right Foot acceleration (g – Passenger) | 56 | Right Foot acceleration (g – Driver) | 38 |
These detailed measurements further support the “Good” rating, indicating robust passenger protection in this challenging crash scenario.
Moderate Overlap Front: Original Test
In the moderate overlap front test, a larger portion of the vehicle’s front strikes the barrier. The 2020 Mazda CX-5 once again achieved a “Good” rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/foot, left | G |
| Leg/foot, right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
This “Good” rating across the board demonstrates consistent performance in frontal crash scenarios.
Technical Measurements – Moderate Overlap Front
| Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side | Measurement | Driver injury measures | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Footrest intrusion (cm) | 1 | HIC-15 (Head) | 104 |
| Left Footwell intrusion (cm) | 2 | Neck Tension (kN) | 1.1 |
| Center Footwell intrusion (cm) | 5 | Chest maximum compression (mm) | 31 |
| Right Footwell intrusion (cm) | 4 | Left Femur force (kN) | 0.3 |
| Brake pedal intrusion (cm) | 2 | Right Femur force (kN) | 0.8 |
| Left Instrument panel rearward movement (cm) | 0 | Left Tibia index | 0.35 |
| Right Instrument panel rearward movement (cm) | -1 | Right Tibia index | 0.50 |
| Steering column upward movement (cm) | -1 | Left Foot acceleration (g) | 48 |
| Steering column rearward movement (cm) | -5 | Right Foot acceleration (g) | 144 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 0 |
The technical data aligns with the “Good” rating, reflecting effective occupant protection in a moderate frontal impact.
Side Impact: Updated Test
Side impact crashes are another significant safety concern. The IIHS updated its side impact test to be more demanding. The 2020 Mazda CX-5 received a “Good” overall rating in this updated test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | A |
| Pelvis | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
While most driver and rear passenger injury measures are rated “Good,” the driver’s torso protection received an “Acceptable” rating. Despite this, the overall rating remains “Good,” indicating strong side impact protection.
Alt Text: 2020 Mazda CX-5 side crash test result, showcasing airbag deployment and vehicle structure post-impact.
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Alt Text: Mazda CX-5 2020 side impact damage, highlighting side airbag deployment and structural deformation.
Technical Measurements – Updated Side Impact Test
| Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side | Measurement (CES2007) | Measurement (CES2108) | Driver injury measures | Measurement (CES2007) | Measurement (CES2108) | Passenger injury measures | Measurement (CES2108) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -17.0 | -19.0 | HIC-15 (Head) | 165 | 155 | HIC-15 (Head – Passenger) | 307 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.0 | 1.0 | Neck Tension (kN – Passenger) | 0.1 | |||
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 41 | 34 | Torso Maximum deflection (mm – Passenger) | 32 | |||
| Pelvis Combined force (kN) | 3.9 | 3.8 | Pelvis Combined force (kN – Passenger) | 2.7 |
These technical measurements offer a deeper understanding of the forces and intrusions experienced during the side impact test.
Roof Strength
Roof strength is important in rollover crashes. The 2020 Mazda CX-5 achieved a “Good” rating for roof strength.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 3,498 lbs |
| Peak force | 19,362 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.54 |
A “Good” rating here signifies that the roof of the 2020 Mazda CX-5 is capable of withstanding significant force relative to its weight, offering good protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints & Seats
Whiplash protection in rear-end collisions is assessed through head restraint and seat evaluations. The 2020 Mazda CX-5 earned a “Good” rating in this category.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
This “Good” rating indicates effective head restraint and seat design to minimize whiplash risk in rear impacts.
Headlight Performance
Visibility is crucial for accident prevention, and headlight performance plays a key role. The IIHS evaluates headlight systems, and the 2020 Mazda CX-5’s headlight ratings vary depending on the trim level.
- Grand Touring, Grand Touring Reserve, Signature trims (LED projector, curve-adaptive, high-beam assist): “Good” rating. These trims offer the best headlight performance with adaptive and high-beam assist features.
- Sport trim (LED projector, high-beam assist): “Good” rating. While not curve-adaptive, the Sport trim still achieves a “Good” rating.
- Touring trim (LED projector, high-beam assist): “Acceptable” rating. The Touring trim’s headlights received an “Acceptable” rating, slightly lower than the other trims but still adequate.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle & Pedestrian
Advanced safety technologies like front crash prevention systems are increasingly important. The 2020 Mazda CX-5 excels in this area.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle
The 2020 Mazda CX-5’s standard Advanced Smart City Brake Support with Pedestrian Detection and Smart Brake Support with Collision Warning systems earned a “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention.
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
|---|---|
| Forward Collision Warning | Yes |
| 12 mph test | Collision Avoided |
| 25 mph test | Collision Avoided |
The system successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests, demonstrating its effectiveness in preventing vehicle-to-vehicle front crashes.
Pedestrian (Day)
The same front crash prevention systems also earned an “Advanced” rating for pedestrian front crash prevention (daytime).
| Overall evaluation | Advanced |
|---|---|
| Crossing child (12 mph) | Impact speed reduced by 10 mph |
| Crossing child (25 mph) | Impact speed reduced by 21 mph |
| Crossing adult (12 mph) | Impact speed reduced by 11 mph |
| Crossing adult (25 mph) | Collision Avoided |
| Parallel adult (25 mph) | Collision Avoided |
| Parallel adult (37 mph) | Impact speed reduced by 36 mph |
The system showed strong performance in pedestrian detection and crash mitigation, achieving collision avoidance in some scenarios and significant speed reduction in others.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
For families, child seat anchor ease of use is important. The 2020 Mazda CX-5 received an “Acceptable” rating for LATCH system ease of use.
| Overall evaluation | A |
|---|---|
| Vehicle trim | Touring |
| Seat type | leatherette |
While rated “Acceptable,” the 2020 Mazda CX-5 offers two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors.
Conclusion
The 2020 Mazda CX-5 demonstrates strong safety performance across a wide range of IIHS evaluations. With “Good” ratings in most crashworthiness tests, headlight evaluations (depending on trim), and a “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention, the 2020 Mazda CX-5 is a safe choice in the compact SUV category. While the side impact test showed “Acceptable” torso protection for the driver and the LATCH system received an “Acceptable” rating, the overall safety profile of the 2020 Mazda CX-5 is commendable, providing peace of mind for drivers and passengers alike. For those prioritizing safety in their vehicle purchase, the 2020 Mazda CX-5 is a compelling option to consider.
