2026 Mazda CX-5 Outshines Toyota RAV4 in the Safety Test That Counts Most

If you’re one of those drivers who chooses a bigger SUV because it feels safer in a crash, Mazda just gave you a reason to feel even more confident behind the wheel of its redesigned CX-5. 3 inches of ground clearance. 7 more cubic feet for cargo. It also weighs 177 pounds more than the base 2025 model, though the old turbo version still tipped the scales heavier.

But here’s where it gets interesting: the new CX-5 just snagged the 2026 Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the agency’s highest honor. That’s something the Toyota RAV4, its top rival, can’t claim.

The IIHS crash video shows the driver-side front tire shoving back to the A-pillar, with crumple zones absorbing most of the impact. Despite the mangled front end, the passenger compartment stays largely intact. Frontal, knee, and side curtain airbags deploy to protect both the adult driver dummy and a child in the second row, and the engine doesn’t push past the firewall.

The hood folds down on impact but springs back nearly flat. Mazda has earned 100 Top Safety Pick awards since 2008, including nine with the plus designation. ” Mazda’s goal is zero fatalities in all its vehicles by 2040.

6% through June, but its sibling CX-50 picked up the slack with deliveries up 40% this year. 5 S, with better-equipped models ranging from $34,250 to $38,990. 5-liter four-cylinder making 187 horsepower, though a hybrid arrives next year. New safety features include an enhanced 360-degree camera, smoother radar cruise control, and Lane Change Assist.

Standard tech includes rear automatic emergency braking, emergency lane keeping, and radar cruise control with speed limit assist. S. 5 million globally, Mazda wasn’t about to skimp on safety. Sluggish sales this year are likely just a factory retooling hiccup for an all-new model.