LEVERKUSEN, Germany — Mazda’s all-new CX-5 is officially one of the safest cars in the world after receiving five-stars from Euro NCAP¹, the highest possible safety rating.

The CX-5, a compact crossover SUV launched in Europe in February, achieved top marks in all four safety categories². Its grades for adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, and safety assist systems (94%, 87% and 86%, respectively) were well above the 80%, 75% and 60% thresholds in these categories required to collect five stars overall. Indeed, the CX-5 attained the maximum rating despite being subject to higher standards introduced by Euro NCAP in 2012 for pedestrian protection, where vehicles now need a score of at least 60%

Following the Mazda6 and Mazda3, the CX-5 is the third Mazda to earn five stars from Euro NCAP since the agency introduced its new rating system in 2009. The scores in each category are determined based on several crash tests, including a 64km/h frontal impact, 50km/h vehicle-to-vehicle side impact, 29km/h pole side impact and 40km/h simulated pedestrian impact. Euro NCAP also evaluates the electronic stability control (ESC) system3, among other things.

The first of a new generation of Mazdas, the CX-5 is also the first model equipped with the innovative new SKYACTIV-Body. With the aim of developing the ideal car body, Mazda’s engineers went back to the drawing board, rethinking the fundamental principles of structure, materials and manufacturing methods. As a result, high-tensile steels comprise 61% of the body. In fact, the bumper beams inside the front and rear bumpers are made from 1,800 MPa ultra high-tensile steel—the strongest ever used in an automobile. Mazda has thus come up with a body that not only delivers superior crash safety, but is also extremely lightweight. Mazda plans to use the SKYACTIV-Body in all its new-generation products.

1) European New Car Assessment Programme, an independent agency awarding automotive safety ratings since 1997.
2) The four categories are weighted as follows to determine the overall score: 50% adult occupant protection, 20% child occupant protection, 20% pedestrian protection and 10% safety assist.
3) Mazda calls its ESC system Dynamic Stability Control (DSC).