Consumer Reports Names Mazda Its First-Ever Safest New-Car Brand

Consumer Reports came out with something new. They made a Safety Verdict assessment for car brands. Mazda is at the top of it. The assessment looks at crash tests and braking and how cars handle in emergencies. It also looks at the technology that stops crashes before they happen. Mazda scored the highest. Genesis and Acura are also near the top. Other brands scored lower. The Safety Verdict is supposed to be different from just crash test scores. It includes how the car feels to drive and whether the controls make sense to you. Whether you notice it or not, Mazda apparently does these things better than other brands right now.

Mazda CX-5

The CX-5 exists in a lot of driveways. People own them and drive them places. It is a crossover. The size feels right to most people who buy it. When you own one you probably think about it sometimes and then you do not think about it. You drive it and it does what you expect. That might be the point. It does not surprise you in ways that feel bad. Or maybe it does and you just get used to it.

Mazda3

The Mazda3 is smaller. It is a sedan or a hatchback depending on what you pick. Owners seem to like how it steers. The steering feels connected to something real. Or at least it feels like it might be. When you turn the wheel things happen in a way that makes sense. The car moves the way your hands move. It is not the only car that does this but it does do it. You can own one and feel like you are driving it instead of just sitting in it while it goes.

Toyota Camry

The Camry is probably the most owned car in America or close to it. Families own them. Rental companies own them. You might own one and not remember why you picked it. It works fine. It has seats and an engine and wheels. The interior is fine. The steering is fine. Everything about it is just fine. It is hard to have strong feelings about a Camry because it does not ask you to have them.

Honda Accord

The Accord is larger than the Civic but still a sedan. It feels more comfortable maybe. Or it just feels like you have more room. Owners of Accords probably feel like they made a reasonable choice. The car does not disappoint you but it also does not excite you much. You sit in it and drive it and the hours pass. It is reliable in the way a lot of Honda products are reliable. Nothing breaks and nothing works better than you expected it to.

Mazda CX-90

The CX-90 is newer than the CX-5. It is smaller and maybe more expensive. People who buy it might feel like they are choosing something a little different. But it is still a Mazda and still does Mazda things. The interior might feel a bit more put together. Or you might just think that because it is newer. The steering probably feels good like the other Mazdas. You own one and you drive it and it responds.

Honda CR-V

The CR-V is a crossover that sells in very large numbers. It is not as small as the CX-5 but it serves a similar purpose. Owners probably feel like they picked a safe choice. That might be because Honda makes a lot of them. Or it might be because the CR-V actually is a safe choice. When you own one you probably feel fine about it. You do not worry about it much.

Mazda6

The Mazda6 is a sedan. It is not as small as the Mazda3. When you own one you might feel like you picked something that has a little bit of character. Or you might just own it and not think about that. The body style feels a little older maybe because sedans are less popular now. But the Mazda6 still steers well. People who own them seem to understand that Mazda puts effort into how the steering feels. That effort is there even if you do not think about it.

Toyota Highlander

The Highlander is a three-row crossover. Families buy them because they fit more people and more things. When you own a Highlander you are managing a larger vehicle. It takes up more space. It uses more fuel. But you can fit more into it. People own them for that reason. The driving experience is less nimble than smaller crossovers. But the Highlander was never supposed to be nimble. It is supposed to hold things and people and do that reliably.

Honda Odyssey

The Odyssey is a minivan. Families own them. Parents own them. The interior has a lot of space. The doors slide open. These things make sense if you have children. If you own one you probably own it because you need it. You do not think about whether it is fun to drive because that is not really the point. The minivan is about utility. It solves a problem that a regular car does not solve.