While performance and technology features are often the focal points for car buyers around Grand Rapids and Grandville, one aspect nobody should ever overlook is safety. After all, a vehicle's primary function above all else is to gets its driver and passengers where they need to go with an absolute peace of mind. No vehicle does that better than the Mazda3, which earned the illustrious title of Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The Mazda3 comes in both sedan and hatchback models, with both qualifying for the award in different ways. With its standard equipment, the hatchback model earns the designation. Meanwhile, the sedan gets it when you equip the vehicle with its available front crash prevention technology.
How Does a Vehicle Get to Be a Top Safety Pick?
There is a range of checks that the IIHS performs to ensure that a vehicle meets the lofty standards for what makes a Top Safety Pick. It must score "good ratings" on tests that deal with the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint. Additionally, it must be at a minimum, "acceptable" when subjected to the passenger-side small overlap front test, get an "advanced" or "superior" rating on front crash prevention, and a "good" or "acceptable" rating on its headlights.
How Does the Mazda3 Manage to Be Recognized for Such a Prestigious Honor?
Safety is in Mazda's DNA, as the company chooses to give their drivers advanced driver-assist technology standard rather than locking them behind trim levels. For example, the Mazda3 hatchback model comes standard with the company's elite front crash prevention technology as well as Smart Brake Support, which dynamically scans the area around the vehicle for other vehicles and pedestrians.
Explore the Mazda3 for Yourself
The all-new Mazda3 is available now at Fox Mazda so schedule your test drive today.
