For the 2025 model year, Mazda has received eight Top Safety Pick+ awards—the IIHS’ highest rating—for the Mazda3 (sedan and hatchback), CX-30, CX-50 (including hybrid), CX-70 (including PHEV), and CX-90 (including hybrid).

Most notably, Mazda has achieved this feat when the IIHS increased the protection requirements to back-seat passengers.

IIHS’ testing perimeters test was updated last year to include more stringent safety requirements, most notably in the back seat.

With most carmakers strengthening vehicle structures, airbags, and seat belts in the front seats, most overlook the safety aspect for those sitting in the back.

The IIHS’ updated moderate overlap front test adds a second dummy seated behind the driver and emphasizes back seat safety. Last year, an acceptable or good rating in the updated test was a requirement for the higher-tier Top Safety Pick+ award. However, a good rating in the original test was still enough to earn the base award.

This year, vehicles must earn an acceptable rating in the updated test to qualify for Top Safety Pick, while a good rating is required for the “plus.” The original test has been phased out completely.

As before, to earn either award, vehicles must also earn good ratings in the small overlap front and updated side tests as well as an acceptable or good rating in the pedestrian front crash prevention evaluation, which gauges performance in both daytime and nighttime conditions. All trims must be equipped with acceptable- or good-rated headlights.

According to the IIHS, two years after the update, around 60 percent of 2025 models tested earn acceptable or good ratings, heralding significant progress in back seat protection. However, including all 2023, 2024, and 2025 models tested so far, small, and midsize SUVs account for the bulk of the top performers, with no minivans and only a handful of cars and pickups notching up good or acceptable scores.

The Mazda CX-30 and CX-50 small crossovers as well as the three-row CX-70 and CX-90 crossovers, both gasoline and plug-in hybrid powertrain variants, were named in the ranking. Meanwhile, in the small car category, the Mazda 3 hatchback and sedan were ranked as being Top Safety Pick+ vehicles.