The first mainstream electric vehicle (EV) produced by Japanese automaker Mazda, the 6e, was recently awarded a maximum five-star safety rating from Australia and New Zealand’s independent voice for vehicle safety, ANCAP.
The Mazda 6e scored an impressive 93 per cent for both adult and child occupant protection, receiving maximum points for both side and far side impact, and an overall score of 37.39 out of 40. Child occupant protection was scored at 46 points out of 49, with full marks for dynamic testing on both front and side and restraint installation.
ANCAP scored the Mazda 6e less favourably for both vulnerable road user protection and safety assist, with a 74 per cent and 79 per cent respectively. Of the nine metrics scored for vulnerable road user protection, only two were rated full marks, and only two of seven rated full marks for safety assist.
Nevertheless, Mazda national manager of product and business strategy Daniel Wakelam said the company was “extremely pleased” that the Mazda 6e is backed by a five-star ANCAP safety rating, which he said was a significant endorsement of the engineering and technology that has gone into developing our first mainstream electric sedan.
“Customers can confidently make the transition to electric vehicles, knowing that the Mazda 6e delivers award-winning design, engaging driving dynamics and the utmost safety they have come to expect from the brand,” he said.
The five-star rating is applicable to both the GT and Atenza grades by virtue of the standard inclusion of nine airbags, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assistance, emergency lane-keeping, blindspot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, driver monitoring, and traffic sign recognition.
The Mazda 6e is now available in dealerships across the country, starting from $49,990 MLP. You can also check out The Driven’s full video review here.
