19:46 09-07-2026
2026 Mazda CX-5 earns Top Safety Pick+: what the new IIHS crash test really showed
The redesigned 2026 Mazda CX-5 has passed the IIHS moderate front overlap test at 40 mph and taken the institute's top award. Here is what the result means for buyers.
Mazda CX-5 has been through an IIHS crash test again, and this is more than a spectacular clip of a wrecked crossover. These tests reveal something you can never read off a spec sheet: how the body absorbs the impact, how the belts and airbags fire, and how well the people in the front and rear seats are actually protected.
The test followed the moderate front overlap scenario at 40 mph — about 64 km/h. For the US-based IIHS this is one of the key scenarios: it does not simulate an abstract accident but a hard collision in which the load is concentrated on a limited zone of the body rather than spread across the whole front end. That is why strong scores here carry more weight than glossy claims about a “rigid platform”.
Safety is nothing new for the CX-5. According to IIHS, the 2023–2025 models already reflected upgrades to the rear row in the updated moderate overlap test: Mazda added rear seat belt pretensioners and load limiters to improve protection for back-seat passengers. In that same test the CX-5 earned a Good rating, as it did in several other disciplines.
The new generation lived up to that reputation. Based on the 2026 model year tests, IIHS awarded the Mazda CX-5 its highest honour — Top Safety Pick+. It is the ninth 2026 Mazda to hold that status: the Japanese brand leads the industry in the number of the institute's top awards this year. For context: the CX-5's direct rival, the Toyota RAV4, does not currently hold the equivalent award for the 2026 model year.
The new 2026 CX-5 is bigger and closer to the CX-50: the wheelbase has grown to 2,814 mm, the length to about 4,689 mm, and both cabin and cargo area have gained room. In the US the crossover keeps its naturally aspirated 2.5-litre engine with 187 hp, a six-speed automatic and standard all-wheel drive, with prices ranging from 31,485 to 40,485 dollars.
There is a controversial angle to the new version, though: Mazda dropped the previous turbo engine that produced up to 256 hp, and moved several physical buttons into the large touchscreen. That matters for safety. When climate, navigation and part of the vehicle functions are tied to the infotainment, software stability becomes as practical a factor as visibility or braking. Car and Driver has already recorded infotainment glitches and i-Activsense warnings on a test CX-5, including in the adaptive cruise control system.
On the compact SUV market the Mazda relies not on the sheer size of its screen but on its reputation, chassis tuning and resale value. Under grey-market conditions, however, buyers should look beyond the IIHS rating and check the specific VIN, the market of origin and the safety assistance suite: US, Chinese and Middle Eastern versions can differ in equipment.
The IIHS award strengthens the CX-5's case for family buyers, but does not remove the underlying question outside its home markets: a safe car should also be serviceable after a crash.