After earning top marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the U.S. and from Japan’s New Car Assessment Program, the 2017 Mazda CX-5 is the recipient of the highest mark currently offered by Euro NCAP. Rated 5 stars for its crashworthiness, the CX-5 is as safe as compact crossovers get.
The top performer scored 95 percent in terms of adult occupant protection, which is nothing short of exceptional bearing in mind the CX-5 isn’t available with knee airbags installed in the lower part of the dashboard. Euro NCAP praises the protection offered to the knees and femurs of both the driver and front passenger. The rear seats offer “good” whiplash protection in rear-end collisions, while the auto-braking system has proven itself at all test speeds.
Not everything is brilliant with the 2017 Mazda CX-5 when it comes to safety, with crash test dummy readings of the neck tension indication “poor” protection for 10-year-old children. In the case of 6-year-old children, Euro NCAP says chest protection is “marginal” in the 64 km/h frontal offset crash.
Fitted with Advanced Smart City Brake Support, the compact-sized crossover utility vehicle can brake itself at speeds from 10 km/h. The system defaults on for every journey, and it’s capable of operating at speeds above 40 km/h and in low-light conditions. The autobrake function can avoid collision at up to 50 km/h. Step up to 55 km/h, and a scenario such as a child running from behind a parked vehicle on the side of the street will result in mitigation.
Codenamed KF, the second-generation CX-5 is an extensive update of the 2016.5 model year. On sale in Europe from 24,990 euros and in the U.S. from $24,045, the CX-5 is available with front- and rear-wheel-drive, six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, as well as a choice between four-cylinder naturally aspirated 2.0-liter, 2.5-, and 2.2-liter turbo diesel engines.
Not long now, Mazda will debut a fifth crossover in the form of the CX-8. The seven-seat model joins the CX-9, CX-5, CX-4, and subcompact CX-3.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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