Mazda MX-5 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 MX-5 remained stable in the frontal offset test.  Dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs of both the driver and passenger.  Mazda showed that a similar level of protection would be provided to occupants of different sizes and to those sat in different positions.  The driver's airbag did not have sufficient pressure to prevent the head from making contact with the steering wheel, through the airbag material.  Although dummy readings were good, close examination of the traces and analysis of the high speed film showed the contact and protection was rated as adequate.  Protection of the passenger was good for all body areas.  In the full width rigid barrier test, protection of the driver was good for all parts of the body and that of the passenger was good apart from chest, protection of which was adequate.  In the side barrier impact, protection of the chest was adequate and that of all other body areas was good.  In the more severe side pole test, chest protection was rated as marginal, with good protection of other critical body areas.  The seats and head restraints provided good protection against whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision.  The MX-5 does not have an autonomous emergency braking system.

As the MX-5 is a two-seater, the assessment of child protection is based on the features available in the vehicle for safe transportation of children in the front passenger seat, and on the installation of various types of restraints in that seating position.  The front passenger airbag can be disabled to allow a rearward facing child restraint to be used in that seating position.  Clear information is provided to the driver regarding the status of the airbag and the systenm was rewarded. All of the restraint types for which the MX-5 is designed could be properly installed and accommodated.

The MX-5 has an 'active' bonnet.  Sensors in the bumper detect when a pedestrian has been struck and actuators lift the bonnet, creating more space between the surface and the hard structures in the engine compartment.  Mazda showed that the bonnet would deploy robustly over a range of speeds and for a variety of pedestrian statures.  Accordingly, the bonnet was tested in the deployed (raised) position.  Results were almost entirely good over the entire bonnet surface.  The bumper scored maximum points for the protection it offered to pedestrians' legs and protection of the pelvis region was also good at all locations.

Electronic stability control is standard equipment on the MX-5, together with a seatbelt reminder for driver and passenger seats.  A driver-set speed limiter is an option which is expected to be widely fitted, as is a lane departure warning system.  There is no autonomous braking system on the MX-5.