Mazda6 achieves five-stars in revised Euro NCAP crash tests

It’s official! The Mazda6 is one of Europe’s safest cars after being among the first models to achieve the top five-star accolade in radically revised crash tests undertaken by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), the organisation that assesses the safety of new cars.

The upper medium sector model is Mazda’s best-selling fleet and user-chooser model and gaining the top safety seal of approval from Euro NCAP in the tough revised tests further underline the car’s corporate credentials.

The Mazda6 was one of four models to achieve the top overall five-star rating covering adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, pedestrian protection and the new area of assessment, safety assist. The tests also take into account rear impact (whiplash) tests and the availability of electronic stability control (ESC). The new testing scheme requires all safety equipment, including ESC, to be standard on 85 percent of volume sales and at least optionally available on every variant.

ESC which has been hailed by road safety campaigners as the most significant safety advance since the introduction of the seat belt, is standard on the new Mazda6 line-up as Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Traction Control System (TCS).

Also accelerating Mazda to the safety forefront is the availability of its lane?change ‘Rear Vehicle Monitoring System’ on 15 Mazda6 models, from TS2 upwards. The manufacturer is among the first carmakers to introduce the technology. Other safety features standard on the Mazda6 include traction control with Electronic Brake?force Distribution and Emergency Brake Assist, front, side and full-length airbags.

The Mazda6 was the car that put the manufacturer on the UK corporate map six years ago and fleet and remarketing director Peter Allibon said: “Recent legislation such as last year’s Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act and this year’s Health and Safety (Offences) Act have focused the fleet decision-makers’ minds on ensuring that vehicles driven on business are as safe as possible.

“Ensuring a car is ‘fit for purpose’ is a key requirement of a company’s duty of care responsibility towards not only its at-work drivers, but other road users. More people are killed and seriously injured on Britain’s roads while driving on behalf of their employer than in any other work-related activity, which is why the Government is campaigning for improved occupational road safety.

“Central to striving for reduced crash levels among at-work drivers is for managers in charge of public and private sector fleets to ensure they put only the very safest cars on choice lists. Safety-focused fleet decision-makers should therefore look for the new five-star Euro NCAP symbol which plays to the strength of the Mazda6. Fleet investment in safety starts with employees driving ‘safe’ cars – and that means the Mazda6.”

The new Mazda6 line-up entered UK showrooms last month with prices starting at £14,891 on-the-road for the 1.8 5dr S. Fleets have a choice of three petrol engines, three diesel engines and five equipment levels.

Adding further appeal is the all?new Mazda6 2.2-litre diesel, boasting CO2 emissions below 160g/km across the range, making this engine variant an all-round wise choice to fleet managers and user-choosers alike.