New Mazda CX-9 a slam-dunk for safety

MAZDA’S new flagship family bus, the second-generation CX-9, has been given a big thumbs up for safety from Australia’s independent watchdog, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), ahead of its showroom launch later this month.

The seven-seat SUV earned five stars and praise from ANCAP chief executive officer James Goodwin who said the vehicle performed “extremely well”.

Tested at Sydney’s CrashLab this month, the CX-9 scored 14.87 points out of 16 in the frontal offset crash test, losing marks only for an “acceptable” driver chest impact and lower leg impact for both the driver and front passenger.

The overall crash test score was 35.87 out of 37, putting it just ahead of Hyundai’s Santa Fe (35.63).

The CX-9 blitzed the side impact and pole tests, winning maximum marks, but dipped a little in the pedestrian protection score, getting 29.3 points out of a maximum 36 because of “poor” head impact results around the front corners of the bonnet and bottom of the A pillars.

While the CX-9 also has a high level of safety equipment, including head-protecting side curtain airbags for all three seating rows, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and low-speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB City) on all variants, only the top-spec Azami gets the full complement of gear, including high-speed automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and fatigue warning.

Although the previous CX-9 has been sold in Australia for more than eight years, the new model is the first to get the full ANCAP punishment.

“Safety is an important consideration for buyers in this class as this model is likely to be used to transport children and other family members,” Mr Goodwin said.

“CX-9 buyers have previously gone without a rating so we have filled this gap, with safety savvy consumers now able to enter the showroom with confidence knowing all new variants offer the top level of safety.”

The new CX-9 will be offered in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants, priced from $42,490 to $63,390.

For the first time, the CX-9 will be offered with a four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with the claim that it is the most fuel-efficient petrol seven-seater in its class.