For Third Consecutive Year, Mazda Leads the Industry in IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ Awards<\/h1>\n
PR Newswire<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON, March 24, 2026<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
WASHINGTON<\/span>, March 24, 2026<\/span> \/PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE\/ — Mazda vehicles once again rank among the safest on the road, earning eight 2026 TOP SAFETY PICK<\/i>+ awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), more than any other brand. This is the third consecutive year<\/b> Mazda has debuted as the industry leader in the highest tier of IIHS recognition \u2014 a remarkable accomplishment considering the criteria continue to tighten each year.<\/p>\n “Mazda continues to excel in safety with eight IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+<\/i> models this year,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “They are providing consumers with the best in safety features at a range of prices.”<\/p>\n Sustaining this level of performance comes not from simply following trends or reacting to guidelines, but from Mazda’s deeply rooted Safety Philosophy, which prioritizes understanding real-world risk and designing vehicles that help mitigate harm before it occurs. Guided by human\u2011centric engineering and a commitment to reducing injuries in everyday driving, Mazda’s philosophy naturally aligns with IIHS’s broader vision to reduce roadway deaths and injuries as part of a shared pursuit of zero fatal crashes.<\/p>\n Mazda’s long\u2011standing commitment to real\u2011world safety is further reflected in its historical record, having now earned 99<\/b> IIHS Top Safety awards since 2008, with 73 <\/b>of those being TOP SAFETY PICK<\/i>+ \u2014 a testament to nearly two decades of continuous improvement and leadership in safety engineering.<\/p>\n This year IIHS’s updated award criteria \u2014 focused on improved pedestrian crash prevention, tougher back\u2011seat protection standards, and enhanced crash\u2011avoidance performance \u2014 underscore the need for not only more advanced occupant protection, but technology that reduce the likelihood of crashes all together.<\/p>\n To that end, Mazda equips all its new vehicles with proven crash avoidance features as standard equipment. Core systems such as Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Smart Brake Support (automatic emergency braking), and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) use integrated cameras and sensors to help prevent or mitigate common crash scenarios. Mazda is proud to offer this standard safety technology at an accessible price point: the Mazda3 starts at an MSRP1<\/sup>\u00a0of $24,550, and the all\u2011new 2026 CX\u20115 starts at an MSRP1<\/sup> of $29,990 \u2014 demonstrating that meaningful safety does not require a premium price tag.<\/p>\n “We agree with IIHS that safety does not have to be expensive. Our commitment is to ensure that advanced protection remains attainable while still delivering the engaging driving experience Mazda is known for,” said Jennifer Morrison, Director of Vehicle Safety Strategy, Mazda North American Operations. “Earning eight TOP SAFETY PICK<\/i>+ awards shows what happens when you stay true to your philosophy: driving stays engaging, and families stay protected.”<\/p>\n Mazda’s award\u2011winning lineup includes the Mazda3 Sedan, Mazda3 Hatchback, Mazda CX\u201130, Mazda CX\u201150, Mazda CX\u201170, Mazda CX\u201170 PHEV, Mazda CX\u201190, and Mazda CX\u201190 PHEV, each earning the top-tier 2026 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+<\/i> award, solidifying Mazda’s position as the clear leader for top\u2011tier safety in 2026.<\/p>\n For full details on the IIHS 2026 awards, visit www.iihs.org<\/a>. To learn more about advanced safety at Mazda, please visit the MazdaUSA.com website – https:\/\/www.mazdausa.com\/why-mazda\/safety<\/a>.<\/p>\n The IIHS is an independent, non-governmental safety-testing organization, funded by the insurance industry. For more information, visit https:\/\/www.iihs.org\/ratings\/top-safety-picks<\/a>.<\/p>\n About Mazda North American Operations<\/b><\/p>\n Proudly founded in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda has a history of sophisticated craftsmanship and innovation, and a purpose to enrich life-in-motion for those it serves. By putting humans at the center of everything it does, Mazda aspires to create uplifting experiences with our vehicles and for people.\u00a0Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in\u00a0Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in\u00a0the United States,\u00a0Canada,\u00a0Mexico\u00a0and\u00a0Colombia\u00a0through approximately 795 dealers. Operations in\u00a0Canada\u00a0are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in\u00a0Richmond Hill, Ontario; operations in\u00a0Mexico\u00a0are managed by Mazda Motor de\u00a0Mexico\u00a0in\u00a0Mexico City; and operations in\u00a0Colombia\u00a0are managed by Mazda de\u00a0Colombia\u00a0in\u00a0Bogota, Colombia. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at\u00a0news.mazdausa.com.\u00a0<\/p>\n Follow @MazdaUSA on social media:\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>,\u00a0X<\/a>,\u00a0YouTube<\/a>, and\u00a0Threads<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Mazda](\"https:\/\/mma.prnewswire.com\/media\/53154\/5880508\/mazda_north_american_operations_logo.jpg\" "\\"Mazda"){kind=logo}
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