Mazda6 Estate Gets Good Results in Moose Test, Kia and Hyundai Competitors Fail

The moose test sounds like something Ikea uses to promote the Swedishness of its flatpack furniture. But it's deadly serious business that concerns most drivers in the upper part of the Northern hemisphere.

In the event of a crash, modern cars are much safer than their counterparts from a few decades ago. But the same cannot be said about their road-holding capabilities, as some of our family cars can push 2 tons when filled with luggage, fuel and a full "cabin crew".

Estates are even more dangerous since they have more weight situated behind the rear axle, making them into pendulums waiting to happen.

So what is the moose test and why should you care?

It simulates the real-world event of a wild animal appearing in front of the car on a highway. To be safe, a car needs to avoid the animal while spending as little time as possible in the opposite lane.

The first test we're showing you is of the 2016 Mazda6 Wagon, deemed safe at speeds of up to 73 km/h ( mph).

After that, three different Korean cars are subjected to the same treatment, namely the Hyundai 30 Wagon, the Kia Cee'd Sportswagon and the i40 Wagon, which we are showing in the second video below.

So the cars hit a couple of cones. Big deal, right? Except those on the right of your computer screen represent cars coming the other way, so this could result in a crash involving multiple vehicles.

A fun car will let the rear slide out and make you think that you're a drifting king. But a safe car will brake to keep itself stable. Considering how many family buyers pick wagons, they should all know the difference.