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Posted by Sheryll Alexander Oct 18, 2006 |
The Mazda CX-7 also received a four-star rollover rating for both the front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions. No SUV currently on sale has received better ratings than the CX-7.
“The CX-7 combines performance and safety with a level of power and driving satisfaction seldom associated with a SUV,” said Robert Davis, senior vice president of product development and quality for Mazda North American Operations. “We are proud to offer a vehicle that blends these features with excellent crash test ratings.”
NHTSA’s frontal collision ratings are determined by placing crash-test dummies in the driver’s seat and front-passenger seats and securing them with the vehicle’s seat belts. Vehicles are then crashed into a fixed barrier at 35 mph, which is equivalent to a head-on collision between two similar vehicles that are moving at 35 mph. The five-star rating attained by CX-7 indicates a ten percent or less chance of serious injury to a belted occupant in the front seat.
Side-impact crash testing represents an intersection-type collision with a 3,015 pound barrier moving at 38.5 mph into the CX-7, with crash test dummies buckled into the driver and rear passenger seats. CX-7’s five star rating, the highest possible, indicates a five percent or less chance of serious injury.
The CX-7, which went on sale this past June, has a full complement of standard safety equipment, including dual front airbags, front seat mounted side air bags, roof mounted curtain air bags with rollover protection, anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, traction control and Dynamic Stability Control and tire pressure monitors. CX-7 also features a rigid unibody utilizing Mazda’s Advanced Impact Energy Distribution and Absorption System to realize high levels of collision safety and help protect occupants in various accident situations, including front-, side- and rear-impact collisions. It is constructed of large frame sections featuring high-strength steel with subframe connections to help absorb energy when a collision occurs. The side frame is stamped from a single tailored blank, which minimizes center pillar deformation during a side-impact collision.
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.