Mazda 2 Euro NCAP crash test

4 stars. Overall good performance in crash protection and all round; additional crash avoidance technology may be present

The passenger compartment of the Mazda 2 remained stable in the frontal offset barrier test.  In that test, maximum points were scored for the protection of the passenger dummy and only a fraction of a point was lost for the driver.  Dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs of both front seat occupants and Mazda showed that a similar level of protection would be provided to occupants of different sizes and to those sat in different seating positions.  In the full-width frontal test, good protection was provided to all body regions of the front seat passenger except the neck, protection of which was rated as marginal owing to the neck extension measured during the test.  Protection of the rear seat passenger was rated as good or adequate for all body regions.  Maximum points were scored in the side impact barrier test, with good protection of all critical body regions.  Even in the more severe side pole impact, protection was good and maximum points were scored.  For the front seats and head restraints, tests indicated good protection against whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision but a geometric assessment of the rear seats indicated poor protection.  A low-speed autonomous emergency braking system is available as an option for the Mazda 2.  However, as it is not standard equipment, the system did not qualify for inclusion in the assessment.

Based on dummy readings in the dynamic tests, the Mazda 2 scored maximum points for its protection of the 1½ year dummy.  Forward movement of the head of the 3 year dummy, sat in a forward-facing restraint, was not excessive but dummy readings indicated high values of neck tension and marginally high readings for chest deceleration.  The recommended child restraints could not be fitted for the side barrier impact as the front seats are positioned too far rearward.  Mazda showed, using in-house side barrier tests, that the two child dummies are properly contained within the protective shells of their restraints, minimising the likelihood of head contact with parts of the vehicle interior.  The passenger airbag can be disabled to allow a rearward-facing dummy to be used in that seating position.  Clear information is provided to the driver regarding the status of the airbag and the system was rewarded.  All of the types of child restraints for which the car is designed could be fitted and accommodated with the exception of the semi-universal group 0+/1 restraint which could not be installed in the rear behind the driver's seat.

The bumper provided good protection to pedestrian's legs in all areas tested and scored maximum points.  Protection provided to the pelvis area was predominantly good.  The surface of the bonnet provided good protection to the head of a struck pedestrian over most of its surface, with poor results recorded only on the stiff windscreen pillars.

Electronic stability control is standard equipment as is a seatbelt reminder system for the front and rear seats.  A driver-set speed limitation device is an option but is expected to be fitted to most cars sold so was included in the assessment and met Euro NCAP's requirements for systems of this type.  Similarly, a lane departure warning system is available as an option and was rewarded in the assessment.  There is no high speed (inter-urban) autonomous braking system available for the Mazda 2.