2026 Mazda CX 5 Safety Rating
Small SUVs · Current IIHS listing · IIHS data updated 2026-09-04
The 2026 Mazda CX 5 scores 95.6/100, ranking #1 of 29 current small SUVs and #18 of 137 vehicles overall with complete IIHS records. It holds the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award for 2026.
Every primary IIHS test is rated Good. Rear-passenger restraints in the updated moderate-overlap test: Good; rear-passenger head protection: Good.
IIHS crash-test results
Detailed results by test (57 entries)
IIHS publishes these under the test they belong to, so the same label can appear more than once. Rear restraints and kinematics, rear head protection, structure and safety cage, and front restraints are the four that count toward the score (25%).
Small overlap front
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Side: updated test
Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Seat belt reminders
Child seat anchors
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How the score is built
Real-world context
| Measure | Result | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Class driver death rate | 42 per million registered vehicle-years | Small SUVs as a class, adjusted for driver age and sex (Farmer, 2023); all vehicles average 38. Class context only. |
Compared with other small SUVs
Closest-scoring current small SUVs with complete IIHS records, plus the class leader. See every small SUVs ranked →
| Vehicle | Class rank | IIHS award | Rear restraints | Starts at | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Mazda CX 5 (this page) | #1 of 29 | TSP+ | $29,990 | 95.6 | |
| 2026 Subaru Forester | #2 of 29 | TSP+ | $29,995 | 94.3 | |
| 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 | #3 of 29 | TSP+ | $35,000 | 93.1 | |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson | #3 of 29 | TSP+ | $29,450 | 93.1 | |
| 2026 Kia Sportage | #3 of 29 | TSP+ | $28,690 | 93.1 |
Other model years of the Mazda CX 5
| Model year | Status | IIHS award | Primary tests reported | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Mazda CX 5 | Archived | — | 4/4 | Not ranked |
Each model year keeps its own record. Ratings from one year are never copied to another unless IIHS states the test applies.
Our analysis
The 2026 Mazda CX 5 belongs to the Small SUVs class. This class has a driver death rate near the national average of 38 deaths per million registered vehicle-years. The class figure is adjusted for driver age and sex, which removes a large part of the selection effect in raw death rates. It is still a class average, not a measurement of this model.
The Mazda CX 5 earned Top Safety Pick+ for 2026. That award requires Good results in the updated tests plus qualifying headlights and pedestrian front crash prevention on the relevant trims; the linked IIHS report shows the exact trims.
Across the 6 IIHS rating categories reported, the Mazda CX 5 earned 6 Good ratings. Check the occupant-protection details above as well; a Good headline result can hide a weaker rear-seat subscore.
This analysis is produced independently; we have no affiliation with Mazda or any manufacturer. Read the full methodology or learn more about us.
International crash-test results
International results are supporting context only; market versions differ in structure and equipment, so they are not converted into the U.S. score.
Safety recalls for the 2026 Mazda CX 5
No recalls on record. NHTSA lists this model year and currently shows no recall campaigns against it.
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Questions about the 2026 Mazda CX 5
Continue comparing
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