Toronto, Ontario — Mazda may be the safest automaker on North American roads—the brand recently claimed five Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) awards from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), beating out every other automaker.
The 2020 Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback, CX-3 and CX-5 crossovers and Mazda 6 sedan all qualify for the TSP+ awards, while the three-row CX-9 snagged a Top Safety Pick award.
A TPS+ award indicates a vehicle has received ‘good’ ratings in IIHS’s small and moderate overlap front crash tests, side-impact, roof strength and head restraint evaluations—but the list of qualifying criteria does not end there. While most vehicles today are able to earn ‘good’ scores on most crash tests, TSP+ award-winning vehicles must also have top-end ADAS scores and top-performing headlights.
“The headlight ratings that have been a part of our awards criteria in recent years have pushed automakers to pay more attention to this essential equipment,” said IIHS president David Harkey. “However, finding vehicles with the right headlights can be a challenge for consumers. We wanted to reward automakers that have removed this obstacle.”
The TSP+ award is the top safety billing the IIHS awards a vehicle, and the title stands above the Top Safety Pick (with no plus) moniker.
Mazda claimed the most TSP+ awards of any other automaker. Subaru was the runner-up with four TSP+ titles. Subaru’s Crosstrek Hybrid, Forester, Outback and Legacy all qualified for the awards.
“We are proud to be the top 2020 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award recipient,” said Mazda president Jeff Guyton. “Always keeping our customers in mind, Mazda is dedicated to providing the most advanced safety technologies, giving our customers a more enjoyable and confident driving experience.”
