Mazda3 Australia's best car for active safety
7 MARCH 2008
 
 
Mazda3 is most likely to help you avoid a crash than any of Australia's best-selling vehicles, according to the results of an independent active safety study.
Wheels magazine, Australia's most respected motoring publication, put Australia’s 12 best-selling vehicles through a series of dynamic tests designed to measure active safety — a vehicle’s ability to avoid a crash.
The seven tests included an emergency swerve manoeuvre designed to replicate an unexpected event like a child running onto a road or a car pulling out of a driveway, an emergency braking situation, and a test of a vehicle's grip levels.
Judges applauded the Mazda3's consistently high score in all of the seven measured disciplines.
“Distil down all the WASP results and the Mazda3 Maxx Sport gives you a lot of in-built real-world active safety margin in a comfortable package that’s easy on the eyes and wallet,” says Wheels Magazine deputy editor, Jesse Taylor.
Wheels tested the top-selling model from the Mazda3 range, the Mazda3 Maxx Sport, which is equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD). Buyers can further enhance the Mazda3's peerless active safety armoury with optional Dynamic Stability Control (DSC).
The Mazda3 out-performed not only direct rivals Holden Astra, Toyota Corolla, Mitsubishi Lancer and Ford Focus, but also Australia's traditional favourite, the Holden Commodore.
Other cars tested, and found to trail the Mazda3 for active safety, were the Toyota Yaris, Toyota Camry, Toyota Aurion, Toyota RAV4, Honda Civic, Hyundai Getz and Ford Territory.
This is the second time Mazda has won the Wheels Active Safety Program. The company’s flagship Mazda6 medium car was named Australia's safest in 2005.
“To win the Wheels Active Safety Program twice speaks volumes of Mazda’s tireless commitment to producing safe cars, says Mazda Australia managing director Doug Dickson.
“Wheels Active Safety Program highlights the Mazda3’s spirited product attributes of class-leading braking, steering and handling — just as it did with the Mazda6 in 2005 — all essential elements to achieving top-class safety.”
Buyers continue to be drawn to the Mazda3, now in its fifth year, because of its high levels of safety, performance, economy and style, all coupled with an affordable price tag. More than 121,000 Australians have voted with their wallets for the Mazda3 since its launch in January 2004.

For full results see the March 2008 edition of Wheels.
 

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