Mazda 6 Draws Highest Rating in Frontal Crash Test

ARLINGTON, VA --- The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced it has given the 2009 Mazda 6 the highest rating of "good" in the institute's frontal offset test.

The Mazda 6 was redesigned for the 2009 model year. Frontal ratings are assigned by the institute based on a test conducted by Mazda as part of frontal crash test verification.

In assessing restraints/dummy kinematics, the institute found that dummy movement was well controlled. During rebound, the dummy's head hit the roof rail and sunvisor.

Measures taken from the dummy's head, neck and chest indicated low risk of injuries to these body regions in a crash of this severity. Forces on the right tibia indicated that injuries to the lower leg would be possible. Head acceleration from the roof rail/sunvisor hit was low, the institute said.