The Mazda6 got a "3" because, when they tested it in 2003, the Mazda6 had the side airbags optional on every package. NHTSA misleads consumers by just changing the year on a previous test if there was no major redesign. Generally that's okay to do, but a lot changed since the '03 Mazda6 even if the design itself didn't. Note that they claim SABs as "optional" even on Hatchbacks and Wagons (which weren't out in '03 when they did their testing), both of which have SABs standard. They've just been copying the '03 Sedan test results over and over (witht the exception of the Wagon rollvoer which they much have either tested seperately later or just made a supposition off it's slightly higher center of gravity).

The rules state that the car isn't tested with side airbags if they're optional. But they've been standard equipment on all but the very base model Sedan (pretty much a fleet only model) for 3 years now.

There's no doubt that the Mazda6 with SABs would do much better.

Also, safety-wise, ABS, EBD, and TCS are all now standard on all Mazda6s as well. All of which NHTSA lists as optional equipment.


2003 Mazda6s 3.0L MTX Webpage 2004 Mazda3s 2.3L ATX