Mazda outperforms rivals in 2025 IIHS safety awards

Mazda claimed eight vehicle spots in the 2025 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ awards—giving the brand the most accolades of any automaker on the list. 

The details: The IIHS safety awards featured a smaller group of 48 vehicles this year—due to stiffer safety requirements for second-row passengers.

• In the Small Car segment, two of the three IIHS Top Safety Picks are Mazda vehicles, including the Mazda 3 hatchback and Mazda 3 sedan. 

• In the Small SUV segment, Mazda earned two spots on the list, with the CX-30 and CX-50.

• In the Midsize SUV segment, four of the nine top picks are Mazda vehicles, including the CX-70, CX-70 PHEV, CX-90, and CX-90 PHEV. 

The Hyundai brand had the second most models awarded, with five vehicles on the list, including the Hyundai Ioniq 6, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Hyundai Kona, Hyundai Tucson, and the Hyundai Santa Fe. Hyundai’s luxury subsidiary, Genesis, earned three of the eight spots in the Midsize Luxury SUV segment, with the Electrified GV70, GV70, and GV80. 

Between the lines:  Mazda’s strong showing on this year’s list adds to the sales momentum the brand has been garnering in the North American market.

• Mazda posted record-breaking full-year sales in 2024, with a total of 424,382 vehicles delivered, an increase of 16.8% compared to 2023. 

• The automaker sold 33,538 vehicles in February, a 2.5% increase over February 2024. Year-to-date sales reached 67,219 vehicles, up 6.7% compared to the same period last year.

• The typical Mazda dealer is averaging 55% more new car sales than they were in 2019—the biggest increase of any brand.

Bottom line: As Mazda scales back on incentives to improve profitability, strong safety ratings provide an organic selling point to justify pricing power. Having a clear, tangible advantage—especially in segments where Mazda fights for share—could help sustain margins without racing to the bottom.

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