2012 Mazda3 Named “Top Safety Pick” by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
- Mazda’s Best-Selling Vehicle Receives Highest Safety Rating From IIHS -
The 2012 Mazda3 was today recognized as a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS).
Refreshed for 2012, both sedan and hatchback models received the organization’s highest possible crash safety rating of “good” in all four tests conducted.
“Mazda3 is an important vehicle for Mazda on so many levels,” said Don Romano, president, Mazda Canada Inc. “Making up nearly 55 percent of our year-to-date car sales, Mazda3 is not only our best-selling car but also our first North American product to offer SKYACTIV Technology, our innovative fuel-saving, performance-oriented engineering initiative.
Being recognized as a ‘Top Safety Pick’ further shows Mazda’s commitment to providing consumers with vehicles that meet their every need, from performance and design to quality and safety.”
Vehicles receive ratings based on results from the Institute’s evaluations on front, side and rear impact crash tests as well as a roof strength test (implemented in 2010), which measures occupant protection in the event of a rollover. Each vehicle’s overall evaluation is based on measurements of intrusion specific to each crash angle and the injury impact on crash test dummies positioned within the vehicles at the time of collision. Only vehicles equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) are eligible for testing.
Starting at $15,595, Mazda3 is available with four powertrains on either
four- or five-door styles. The MZR 2.0-litre gasoline engine offers 148 horsepower with 135 lb.-ft. of torque, the larger MZR 2.5-litre engine boasts 167 horsepower and 168 lb.-ft. of torque, and the all-new SKYACTIV-G 2.0-litre engine produces 155 horsepower and 148 lb.-ft. of torque. The Mazdaspeed3 completes the line-up and is equipped with a direct-injected, turbocharged MZR 2.3-litre engine which produces 263 horsepower and 280 lb.-ft. of torque.
All 2012 Mazda3, Mazda3 Sport and Mazdaspeed3 models are equipped with a high level of standard safety features, which include six airbags (advanced dual front, front-seat mounted and full-length side curtain), anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with a Traction Control System (TCS), front and rear stabilizer bars, a “crushable” brake and accelerator pedal assembly and collapsible steering column, active front headrests, three-point safety belts for all seating positions, front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters as well as second row ISOFIX child seat tether anchors. Available safety options include a Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system and Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) with auto-levelling bi-xenon headlamps.
About the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Founded in 1959, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an independent, non-profit, scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage that result from crashes on the nation’s highways and roads. The Institute, along with affiliate the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), supports highway safety efforts and accident prevention through vehicle crash safety tests as well as consumer education, such as driver behaviour and roadway designs. For more information, visit www.iihs.org.
