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Mazda just flexed on every other automaker in the 2025 IIHS safety rankings. With eight models earning IIHS’ Top Safety Pick awards, Mazda walked away with more wins than any other single brand. That’s right—more than Honda, Toyota, and even Volvo, the brand that practically invented the idea of selling safety. Turns out, Mazda isn’t just about zoom-zoom anymore—it’s about crash-test domination.

Mazda’s safety award-winning lineup

The Mazda3 sedan and hatchback, CX-30, and CX-50 earned Top Safety Pick+—IIHS’ highest honor. The Mazda CX-70, CX-70 PHEV, CX-90, and CX-90 PHEV all won IIHS Top Safety Pick awards. That’s eight awards total, more than any other single brand on the market.

For comparison:

  • Honda won seven awards (including the Accord and Civic).
  • Toyota got just one award (Camry).
  • Volvo barely showed up (2 awards).
  • Hyundai/Kia/Genesis combined won 12 awards but across three brands.

For a relatively small automaker, Mazda punched way above its weight.

The IIHS raised the bar—Mazda still dominated

The IIHS made 2025 awards tougher to win. They scrapped old tests and introduced a harder side crash test with 82% more energy. Vehicles must also pass a nighttime pedestrian crash prevention test to earn Top Safety Pick+. The IIHS explained, “The number of winners is smaller this year because we’re challenging automakers to build on the safety gains they’ve already achieved.”

That didn’t slow Mazda down. All its award-winning models passed the new side crash test, and four earned the highest safety award.

So, what’s the catch?

Volvo, by comparison, makes fewer models in total. If Mazda made just three SUVs, its win count would shrink fast.

And you could argue that Mazda only makes a few SUVs. You see, Mazda makes a lot of models that are basically the same car.

If you combined the CX-70 and CX-70 PHEV, then did the same for the CX-90 and CX-90 PHEV, Mazda would only have six awards. Then, take the Mazda3 hatch and sedan—which are the same car with a different trunk—and you’re down to five distinct vehicles. You could even argue that the entire CX-70 lineup is just the C-90 without the third row of seats. That takes you down to four distinct vehicles that earned awards.

That doesn’t mean the CX-70 and CX-70 PHEV are any less safe. The IIHS insists these Mazda models are all fantastic choices for a safety-conscious buyer. But Mazda’s sheer number of awards may be a stretch.

Mazda took a huge IIHS safety award leap from 2024

Last year, only two Mazda models earned Top Safety Pick+ (the Mazda3 and CX-50). The CX-90 and CX-90 PHEV didn’t make the list at all. The CX-70 and CX-70 PHEV weren’t even available.

But for 2025, Mazda didn’t just add nameplates. The automaker upgraded key safety systems, which was key in earning twice as many awards as last year. The results speak for themselves.

In 2025, Mazda didn’t just show up to the IIHS crash-test party—it dominated. Eight models made the Top Safety Pick list, more than any other single brand. Sure, Volvo makes fewer models, and Hyundai-Kia-Genesis combined got more total wins. But Mazda’s lineup is broad and safe. Whether you’re shopping for a sedan or an SUV, you’re covered.

If you thought safety was just a Volvo thing, Mazda just gave you eight reasons to think again. Use MotorBiscuit’s car buying service to see deals on new Mazdas near you. ?

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Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari is a MotorBiscuit Staff Writer who brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts. Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.