2018 Mazda6 Gets Top Safety Pick Designation

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the 2018 Mazda6 with its Top Safety Pick award. But, and this is becoming something of an emerging trend, only when the vehicle is equipped with curve-adaptive headlights.

In order for a vehicle to be named a Top Safety Pick, it must earn a rating of at least "Good" in the institute's crash tests, which include: the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint. A car must have a front crash prevention system that earns a rating of at least "Advanced," as well. The thing that has stumped a lot of automakers is the headlights, which must be deemed to be at least "Acceptable."

The Mazda6 earned a rating of Good in all of the IIHS' crash tests and, when equipped with the optional Smart Brake Support system (Smart City Brake Support is standard), the sedan earned a rating of Superior for front crash prevention. The IIHS claims that on its own, the standard Smart City Brake Support feature earns a rating of Advanced. It, though, lacks a higher-speed functionality and a warning component, which stops it from having a rating of Superior.

The things that stopped the Mazda6 from being named as a Top Safety Pick Plus were its headlights. The curve-adaptive LED headlights that are standard on the Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims earned an Acceptable rating. In order to snag the IIHS' top award, a vehicle must have headlights that are rated to be Good.