New 2008 Mazda Mazda6 Safety Review [ 2009 , 2007 ]
Safety - What the Auto Press Says
The 2008 Mazda6 is equipped with safety features commensurate to those of its in-class competitors, and does very well in government and insurance industry crash tests.
In government crash tests, the 2008 Mazda6 earns five out of a possible five stars in front impact tests, and four out of five stars for both the front seat and backseat occupants' protection in side crashes. In tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Mazda6 receives a rating of "Good" -- the highest possible rating -- for its performance in frontal impacts.
Accident Avoidance
The Mazda6 comes standard with traction control and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution. The anti-lock braking system, explains New Car Test Drive, "helps the driver maintain steering control in a panic braking situation by eliminating wheel lockup," while the traction control system "helps maintain directional stability regardless of road conditions. If the TCS controller senses that the front and rear wheel speeds are out of sync on a slick surface due to loss of grip, the engine computer reduces engine power automatically. This reaction is both instantaneous and seamless to the driver."
Crash Protection
In addition to front air bags, the Mazda6 is also equipped with standard side and side-curtain air bags.
