MAZDA3 and MAZDA6 EARN TOP RATINGS IN GOVERNMENT CRASH TESTS

WASHINGTON, March 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2014 Mazda3 compact sedan and 5-door hatchback received a five-star overall (five-star frontal and five-star side impact) crashworthiness rating in the U.S. government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests. The Mazda3 also received a four-star rollover rating.

Additionally, the 2014 and 2015 Mazda6 mid-size sedans recently received a five-star overall (four-star frontal and five-star side impact) crashworthiness rating in NHTSA tests. The Mazda6 also received a four-star rollover rating.

"The Mazda3 and Mazda6 combine performance and safety with a level of power and driving satisfaction seldom found in the compact and family sedan categories," said Jim O'Sullivan, president of Mazda North American Operations. "We are proud to offer the Mazda3 and Mazda6 as vehicles that blend class-leading performance and fun-to-drive with excellent crash test ratings."

NHTSA's frontal collision ratings are determined by placing crash-test dummies in the driver's seat and front-passenger seats and securing them with the vehicle's seat belts. Vehicles are then crashed into a fixed barrier at 35 mph, which is equivalent to a head-on collision between two similar vehicles that are moving at 35 mph.

The 2014 Mazda3 introduces several all-new safety systems under the umbrella known as i-ACTIVSENSE.  These technologies use sensing devices such as milliwave radars and cameras to help support the driver in recognizing hazards, avoiding collisions and minimizing damage, should accidents occur.  While these systems will not eliminate accidents, their intent is to help minimize them and reduce the severity of a crash.

The combination of the SKYACTIV-Body and SKYACTIV-Chassis offers high performance, lightweight materials for added strength and stability. Carefully engineered load-transfer ensures a firm grip on the road that the driver can sense.  The SKYACTIV-Body provides increased rigidity of 30 percent compared to the previous model while reducing weight as well.  1,800MPa ultra high-tensile steel also is utilized in the front and rear bumpers for additional weight savings as well as increased strength.

The SKYACTIV-Body efficiently absorbs impact energy from any direction and helps to minimize the chance of the cabin structure being compromised.  Other standard safety features for the 2014 Mazda3 include six airbags (advanced dual front, front-seat mounted and full-length side curtain), whiplash-reducing front headrests, headrests for all seating positions, power-assisted ventilated front and solid rear disc solid brakes, anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, daytime running lights, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), a Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Launch Assist, a collapsible steering column (following air bag deployment), a trunk entrapment release system, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), three-point safety belts for all seating positions, front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters as well as Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) in the rear seats.

Side-impact crash testing represents an intersection-type collision with a 3,015 pound barrier moving at 38.5 mph into the Mazda6, with crash test dummies buckled into the driver and rear passenger seats.

The 2014 Mazda6 also recently earned a "Top Safety Pick+" distinction by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).  Mazda6 earned this new, more demanding designation by receiving a rating of "Good" on frontal moderate overlap, side, roof and head restraint tests, and "Acceptable" on the new small overlap test.

Standard safety features for all 2015 Mazda6 models includes six airbags (advanced dual front, front-seat side mounted and full-length side curtain), daytime running lights, whiplash-reducing front headrests, height-adjustable headrests for all seating positions, an Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) with Brake Assist, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with a Traction Control System (TCS), a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Hill Launch Assist (HLA), power-assisted ventilated front brakes and solid rear disc brakes, three-point safety belts for all seating positions, a fold-away brake pedal assembly, a trunk entrapment release system, front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters as well as Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH).

A rearview camera is added to Sport models equipped with an automatic transmission.  Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) are standard on Touring models with Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) available as a package option. Grand Touring models receive SCBS and an Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) as standard equipment with Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC), Forward Obstruction Warning (FOW), a Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) and High Beam Control (HBC) available as package options. 

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through more than 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

For more information on Mazda vehicles, visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.  Product B-roll may be ordered online by visiting The News Market at www.thenewsmarket.com/mazda. 

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SOURCE Mazda North American Operations