2017 Mazda CX-9 gets IIHS's Top Safety Pick+ rating

Another achievement for Mazda was grabbed by the CX-9, as it earned the highest score from the nonprofit Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) – the Top Safety Pick+ rating.

The 3-row, 7-seater vehicle has been performing well for the Japanese brand since it went on-sale last year. Included in these milestones, the CX-9 became an honoree in the 10 Best Trucks and SUVs by the Car and Driver. It also made its way to the 10 Best Interiors and 10 Best Engines list for 2017 by Wards Automotive.

“We wanted to create a vehicle that could delight couples or shuttle families with the same effortlessness. Now, we are proud to say that the IIHS has recognized CX-9 for its safety, highlighting the achievements of our engineering team.”

Masashi Otsuka, Mazda North America Operations VP of R&D and design

The CX-9 performed well in collision and occupancy protection tests, scoring the highest "Good" rating. It also passed the IIHS's stringent new headlight tests with standard LED lighting. The automatic emergency braking capabilities were also put to the test and got a "Good" rating. This includes the radar-based Smart Brake Support for highway speeds and Smart City Brake Support for low speed braking.

Locally, the CX-9 features the current KODO: Soul of Motion design and is equipped with a 2.5L SkyActiv-Turbo engine, capable of 230 hp and 420 Nm of torque and an all-wheel drive powertrain.