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2016 Mazda CX-3 Named IIHS Top Safety Pick+

Crossovers are taking up a bigger share of the car market every week. They used to be relatively unsafe in crashes, but no manufacturer can afford to sell a deathtrap. Receiving a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS seems to be the norm rather than the exception to the rule.
2016 Mazda CX-3 Named IIHS Top Safety Pick+ 1 photo
Photo: screenshot from Youtube
The 2016 Mazda CX-3 got that score too, after being subjected to a barrage of tests by the safety body. Pretty soon, they are going to have to invent new test so we can differentiate the cars from the safety perspective.

Everybody knows that the CX-3 is the sportiest subcompact crossover on the market by a long way. Besides pretending that you're a Baja racer, you can also tell your friends that you're driving a bank vault with a Mazda badge.

According to the independent safety people, the CX-3 scored a 'Good' rating in a total of five categories, the trickiest of which being the small overlap test where only a small portion of the car is subjected to the impact. According to the IIHS, “approximately 25-percent of traffic fatalities occur in small-overlap crashes, which put more force onto a smaller piece of the car’s structure than other current frontal-collision tests.”

The CX-3 also comes with the latest smart gizmos that prevent crashes from happening, such as the automatic braking system. In 2016, you've got to have one of those to get the maximum score from the IIHS.

We can't say for sure if airbag problems or other safety recalls aren't going to happen with the CX-3 in the next few years. But for now, the bulletproof safety reputation is kind of a big deal, considering the starting price of under $20,000. Mazda points out that you can also have it with Radar Cruise Control, Smart City Brake Support, Smart Brake Support, High Beam Control System, Lane Departure Warning System, and rain-sensing wipes for added safety.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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