Five star result for CX-80 matches score determined for DNA-related CX-60.

A SECOND Mazda family-minded sports utility has impressed the national crash test safety auditor.

ANCAP Safety, the Australasian independent voice on vehicle safety based in Melbourne and part-funded by the New Zealand government and other agencies, has determined the CX-80 - which seats seven over three rows - deserves a five star safety score.

It’s the same rating it previously meted to the CX-60, a preceding five-seater from which the CX-80 was spawned, though the earlier car was judged to less taxing 2023 criteria.

ANCAP’s determinations are often from its own testing, but in this case it has adopted a score established by Euro NCAP, its sister organisation based in Europe. Just as it did with CX-60.

The wide-body seven seat CX-90 has not been rated by ANCAP and another derivative, the five chair CX-70, is not coming to New Zealand.

The score announced today is for all variants of the Mazda CX-80 built from July 2024.

It applauded the model for performing well across all pillars of its assessment protocols.

“The Mazda CX-80 delivered strong results, earning a 92 percent score for Adult Occupant Protection.

“The CX-80 performed well in the side impact, oblique pole, whiplash protection and far-side impact tests, achieving maximum points.”

In the frontal offset test, ANCAP said, the CX-80 demonstrated strong performance, offering Good levels of protection for both the driver and rear occupant and earning full points for all body regions except the driver’s chest, where protection was Adequate.

For Child Occupant Protection, the CX-80 achieved a score of 87 percent. The vehicle demonstrated Good levels of protection for all key body regions of both child dummies in the frontal offset and side impact tests.

The CX-80 performed well for Vulnerable Road User Protection, scoring 84 percent. Physical protection for pedestrians’ pelvis, femur, and lower legs was determined to be good.

The autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system performed effectively in forward collision scenarios, successfully avoiding or mitigating impacts during turning and overtaking scenarios. However, its performance in detecting a crossing cyclist when making a left-hand turn was noted as Poor.

Performance in turning scenarios involving motorcyclists was also assessed as Poor.

Lane support system (LSS) functionality was Good and full points were scored.

“The Mazda CX-80 demonstrates a high level of standard safety, making it a reliable choice for families,” said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg.