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2025 Mazda CX-5 Nails Euro NCAP Testing With Rock-Solid Structure and Smart Safety Tech

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Mazda isn’t known for half-measures, and the automaker’s completely redesigned CX-5 proves that point once again. Fresh off its debut, Mazda’s compact SUV just walked away from the latest Euro NCAP safety trials with a full five-star rating—and the kind of category scores that even premium players would envy.

The new CX-5 didn’t simply pass Europe’s toughest crash tests; it impressed across the board, earning 90% for adult occupant protection, 89% for children, 93% for vulnerable road users, and 83% for safety assist tech. Those numbers place it squarely in the top tier of modern family SUVs.

Rock-Solid Structure, Smart Protection

In the frontal offset test—one of Euro NCAP’s most unforgiving assessments—the CX-5’s passenger cell stayed reassuringly stable. Mazda’s engineers clearly sweated the details: knee and thigh protection scored well, and key body regions landed consistently in the “good” or “adequate” zone.

Side impacts tell an even clearer story. The SUV performed strongly in both the wide, rigid barrier test and the classic side-impact scenario, and even the brutal pole test (which simulates a narrow, tree-like obstacle) showed adequate protection. Mazda’s side airbags and occupant-movement control systems helped contain forces especially well in far-side collisions—an area many competitors still struggle with.

Whiplash protection? Excellent in both front and rear rows. Bonus points go to the onboard tech: an advanced eCall system, secondary-collision mitigation, and even confirmed window/door functionality in the event of submersion.

Child Safety: Top Marks Across the Board

Parents will like what they see. The CX-5 scored 89% in child occupant protection, including maximum points for both 6- and 10-year-old dummies in frontal and side impact tests.

Mazda has clearly prioritized flexibility, too. The SUV includes automatic passenger-airbag deactivation for child-seat placement and supports a wide array of CRS (Child Restraint System) types. Euro NCAP confirmed that all approved child seats fit correctly and securely—something that can’t be said for every compact SUV.

A Guardian for Pedestrians, Cyclists, and Motorcyclists

Where the new CX-5 really pulls ahead of its peers is in vulnerable road user protection, where it earned a stellar 93%.

The hood and bumper geometry scored well or adequately for pedestrian head impacts, and lower-limb protection earned maximum points. But the magic lies in Mazda’s latest-generation AEB suite. The system detects cyclists and pedestrians—including those approaching from behind—while excelling in tricky real-life scenarios like reversing or dooring.

Motorcyclist protection also topped out at maximum points, a rare accomplishment even among safety-forward SUVs.

Safety Tech That Feels Polished, Not Intrusive

Safety Assist systems rounded out the CX-5’s performance with an 83% rating, powered by Mazda’s increasingly refined ADAS suite.

The AEB system reliably spotted other vehicles; seatbelt reminders and a direct driver-monitoring camera add everyday peace of mind. Lane-keeping assist gently nudges the SUV back into line during wandering moments, stepping in more assertively if things get serious.

Mazda’s speed-limit recognition system also proved trustworthy, reading local signage accurately and letting drivers tailor automatic speed adjustments to their preference.

Mazda’s new CX-5 isn’t just safer than the outgoing model—it’s one of the safest compact SUVs on the market, full stop. Its strong passive structure, polished driver-assistance tech, and standout protection for pedestrians and riders make it a segment benchmark.

If Mazda wanted to send a message with this redesign, Euro NCAP has delivered it loud and clear: the CX-5 is built not only to drive well, but to protect what matters most.

Source: Automative News

NEW CARS

2026 Mazda2 (Japan) First Look: The Little Hatchback That Just Won’t Quit

In a world where subcompact hatchbacks are disappearing faster than manual gearboxes, the Mazda2 stands as one of the segment’s most stubborn survivors. The current generation has been on the road for more than a decade—an eternity in car years—yet Mazda continues to polish, tweak, and lightly reinvent it for its home market. Now, despite long-running chatter about its impending retirement, the brand has confirmed another set of model-year updates for Japan. The message is clear: the Mazda2 isn’t done yet.

Old Bones, Fresh Touches

The third-generation Mazda2 launched in the summer of 2014, borrowing heavily from the Hazumi Concept that wowed Tokyo motor show crowds earlier that year. Since then, Mazda has slowly warmed the recipe through two facelifts—one in 2019, another in 2023—adding incremental changes without rewriting the formula.

For 2026, the updates follow that same philosophy: modest but meaningful.

The entry-level 15C II gains the previously optional Utility Package, bringing a 60/40 split-folding rear bench and tinted rear windows. Not glamorous upgrades, but ones owners will appreciate every single day.

Move up a rung to the 15 BD i Selection II, and the equipment list expands more dramatically. This trim now includes the Mazda Connect Package with an 8.8-inch infotainment display, the 360° Safety Package (a surround-view camera, front parking sensors, and an auto-dimming mirror), plus a digital TV tuner—very on-brand for the Japanese domestic market.

The sport-leaning 15 Sport II now comes standard with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Small hatch, big luxuries.

The Enthusiast’s Secret: The 15MB

At the top of the enthusiast wish list remains the 15MB (Motorsports-Based) trim. Mazda didn’t touch it for 2026—and that’s a good thing. This is the purist’s Mazda2: a slightly warmer version of the 1.5-liter Skyactiv-G engine, a six-speed manual only, and equipment pared back to keep weight down and track-day fun up. Think of it as Mazda’s modern answer to the “build-it-yourself” grassroots racetrack starter kit.

Accessibility and Customization

Mazda’s lineup also continues to include a version with a rotating passenger seat, a thoughtful mobility-focused option you won’t find from most OEMs.

For buyers who want their Mazda2 to look less like a commuter and more like a canvas, the brand still offers its colorful Rookie Drive, Clap Pop, and Sci-Fi visual themes. Meanwhile, the factory-approved AutoExe body kit takes things a step further with a front splitter, rear wing, diffuser, bumper vents, lowering springs, and a chrome exhaust finisher—turning the humble hatch into a surprisingly convincing mini hot hatch.

Same Drivetrain, Still Charming

Mechanically, the 2026 Mazda2 remains unchanged. Power comes from a familiar 1.5-liter naturally aspirated Skyactiv-G engine producing 109 hp in most trims or 114 hp in the 15MB. A six-speed manual or six-speed automatic handles shifting duties, and depending on trim, buyers can choose between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive—a rarity in the segment.

No, the numbers won’t raise anyone’s heart rate, but the Mazda2 has always been more about lightness, balance, and communicative handling than straight-line theatrics.

Pricing and Market Position

Pre-orders are open now in Japan, with deliveries slated to begin in early December. Pricing starts at ¥1,720,400 (roughly $11,000) for the base 15C II FWD and climbs to ¥2,501,400 (around $16,000) for the top-spec 15 Sport+ with AWD.

It’s worth noting that Mazda has already pulled the Mazda2 from the UK market. Europe and the UK still get the Mazda2 Hybrid, but that’s effectively a rebadged Toyota Yaris Hybrid—a completely different car sharing only the badge.

Still Alive, Still Kicking

In an era of crossovers and consolidation, the Mazda2’s continued existence feels like a small miracle. It may be old, but it remains relevant thanks to steady updates, clever packaging, and a level of character that’s increasingly rare among small cars. As long as Mazda keeps giving it just enough love each year, there’s no reason this plucky little hatchback can’t keep rolling.

Source: Mazda

News

Mazda Wants Your Driving Habit to Save the Planet — And Its Race Car Is the Test Bed

Mazda has never been shy about zigging where the rest of the industry zags. Rotary engines long after everyone else gave up? Check. Putting handling above horsepower for decades? Absolutely. And now, in a world laser-focused on EVs, the company is testing a technology that sounds like science fiction: a car that captures its own CO₂ emissions while it drives.

CO₂ capture device installed on the demonstration vehicle

At the Japan Mobility Show 2025, Mazda doubled down on its manifesto, “The Joy of Driving Fuels a Sustainable Tomorrow.” And they mean it literally. The company’s long-term goal, pegged to 2035, is a bizarre but intriguing idea: the more you drive, the more CO₂ you remove from the atmosphere.

Yeah, we raised an eyebrow too.

Race Track First, Public Roads Later

To prove they’re serious, Mazda bolted its prototype system—called Mazda Mobile Carbon Capture—onto a race car. Not a show pony. A race car.

At the Super Taikyu Series Round 7 on November 15–16, the system made its debut aboard the MAZDA SPIRIT RACING 3 Future Concept (Car No. 55). The car ran on HVO biodiesel, a carbon-neutral fuel already in use across parts of Europe. That means the fuel itself doesn’t contribute net carbon. But Mazda’s aiming higher.

The onboard device uses zeolite, a porous mineral that behaves like a molecular sponge, to adsorb CO₂ directly from the exhaust stream. Not “reduce,” not “offset”—capture. Under real racing loads.

And according to Mazda, the system worked. It successfully trapped measurable CO₂ during the race.

A Small Step, A Big Claim

Let’s be clear: Mazda isn’t announcing a magic box that cancels out a road trip’s worth of emissions. This is early-stage tech, and even Mazda admits capture rates need to rise—dramatically—before anything transformative happens.

Demonstration vehicle

But the company is committing to more real-world testing in the 2026 Super Taikyu season, iterating hardware and refining the system. That’s notable. Race tracks are unforgiving R&D labs; if something can survive hours of high-RPM abuse, it has a shot at surviving daily driving.

Why This Matters

EV evangelists will rightly point out that carbon capture on combustion engines feels like prolonging the dinosaur age. But Mazda is playing a different long game, one rooted in practicality:

  • Internal-combustion vehicles will be on the road for decades.
  • Carbon-neutral fuels exist today.
  • Capturing exhaust CO₂ could help bridge the transition to whatever comes next.

If Mazda can scale this, it could carve out a uniquely sustainable role for combustion engines—one where enthusiasts don’t have to choose between performance and planetary guilt.

The Big Picture

Mazda’s “drive more, pollute less” vision sounds almost like satire from an alternate universe. Yet here they are, strapping experimental carbon sponges to race cars and chasing down a future where tailpipes become vacuum cleaners.

Is it the solution? Probably not the only one.

Is it peak Mazda? Absolutely.

And we’d expect nothing less from a company that still believes in the magic of throttle response, feedback, and the joy of movement.

Source: Mazda