2019 Mazda3 Hindered by Headlights, Still Shines in Crash Tests

If you want a 2019 Mazda3 sedan with top safety scores, you’ll have to pony up extra money for it. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the redesigned sedan and hatchback its Top Safety Pick designation, but only sedan models equipped with the optional automatic braking system qualify (the system is standard on hatchbacks).

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Both body styles earned the requisite scores of good in the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as the tough new passenger-side small overlap front test.

The cars also earned a superior rating in front crash prevention. In IIHS testing, the agency said the cars’ front crash-prevention system automatically avoided collisions in 12-mph and 25-mph track tests.

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Both vehicles earned only an acceptable headlight rating, however, precluding them from the higher Top Safety Pick Plus status. The 2019 Toyota Corolla hatchback, a main Mazda3 competitor, also received the Top Safety Pick designation and also received an acceptable score for headlights. The redesigned 2020 Corolla sedan has not yet been tested, but both Corolla body styles offer standard front crash prevention.

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