2014 Mazda6 Becomes First Mazda to Receive Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS

Norwood, 10/11/2013 / SubmitMyPR /

The Mazda6 midsize sedan was redesigned from the ground up for the 2014 model year, and in the process, it has become Mazda's first vehicle to achieve a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). In addition to receiving that coveted accolade for crash protection, the 2014 Mazda6 was also honored for its ability to stop accidents from happening in the first place, earning an "advanced" rating from the IIHS for the effectiveness of its front-crash prevention systems.

Introduced for the 2013 model year, the Top Safety Pick+ designation requires that a vehicle receive the top rating of "good" in four out of five IIHS crash tests while netting an "acceptable" in the fifth test. The 2014 Mazda6 aced the moderate-overlap front, side, roof-strength and head-restraint tests while being rated "acceptable" in the new small-overlap front evaluation. Meanwhile, the new Mazda6 obtained its "advanced" rating in the IIHS' new crash-prevention program thanks to the capability of its optional i-ACTIVSENSE technologies, which include Forward Obstruction Warning and Smart City Brake Support.

"The Mazda6 benefits from an all-new SKYACTIV body and chassis for the 2014 model year, and those structures have proven very effective at absorbing impacts from various angles," said Mark Goldstein, general manager of Mazda Gallery, a Greater Boston Mazda dealership. "The best thing about the Mazda6's new platform is that it's also much lighter despite being more rigid, which means big gains in fuel economy and better handling."

Returning up to 40 mpg on the highway, the 2014 Mazda6 is the second Mazda model to feature the full suite of fuel-saving SKYACTIV technologies, and buyers have responded to those extensive improvements. Mazda's midsize sedan moved 3,168 units in September, an impressive 126 percent sales increase compared to the same month last year.

Mazda's SKYACTIV engines, transmissions, body and chassis are proving to be big sales drivers across its lineup, with 72 percent of the automaker's September sales coming from vehicles equipped with at least some of those technologies. The first model to fully embrace the SKYACTIV suite, the new Mazda CX-5 compact crossover, saw its sales rise by 41 percent last month over September 2012, totaling 6,280 units in the United States.

"The new SKYACTIV technologies help maintain the responsiveness that drivers expect from a Mazda, but at the same time, they're capable of returning hybrid-like efficiency and providing peace of mind with their comprehensive crash protection," added Goldstein. "When you also consider the bold KODO styling that Mazda has incorporated into its new models, there really aren't any significant weaknesses to speak of in the CX-5, the 2014 Mazda6 or the newly redesigned 2014 Mazda3."

About Mazda Gallery:
Located in Norwood, Massachusetts, Mazda Gallery is committed to the art of better car buying. With a large selection of new and used Mazda models and a team of dedicated sales personnel that puts the customer first, their Greater Boston Mazda dealership is trusted by discerning Massachusetts drivers. That focus on the customer extends to their service department, where factory-trained technicians treat each car as if it were their own. Visit Mazda Gallery in person at 920 Providence Highway in Norwood, contact them by phone at 877-402-1789 or view their entire inventory at www.mazdagallery.com. They can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MazdaGallery.