Crash Test 2002 - 2006 Mazda Mx-5 / Miata EuroNcap

Comments
The MX-5 has had a recent facelift but the body and chassis remains much as it was when introduced in 1989. That being so, the car still proved safe enough to gain four stars, giving a well balanced performance in the frontal and side impact. The passenger safety cell was challenged by the frontal impact, however, and was found to be unstable, post-impact. In the frontal crash, the car was tested with its roof down to give worst-case results. For the side crash, though the top was left up to check for any risk of head injury that the driver might be exposed to. As a two-seater, the car could not be tested with child restraints fitted. While no crash tests were run to assess the safety performance of a child restraint, its fitting and labelling were checked. Finally, protection offered to pedestrians was poor.

Front impact
The airbag protected the driver's head. However, loads on his chest were relatively high. The car is designed so that impact forces are transferred underneath, through the sills and other structures. The doors are not designed to take any great load, front to back. Euro NCAP criticised this approach because there are accidents where the doors should help 'spread' the loads. The driver's and passenger's knees could cause suffer serious damage if they struck unforgiving components around the steering column and glove locker support.

Side impact
Loads on the driver's chest were relatively high (increasing injury risks) but were well distributed. Loads on his abdomen were also relatively high but the MX-5's overall performance was thought to be reasonable for a car without side airbags fitted as standard.

Child-protection
A system recognises when a Mazda-branded restraint is fitted to the passenger seat, disarms the airbag and switches on a warning. However this system will not accept non-Mazda restraints, which is hazardous if the driver is unaware of this. Warnings on the driver's sun visor were inadequate.

Pedestrian protection
This is a poor performance despite the MX5 benefiting from not having to have the leading edge of its bonnet tested because of its low profile.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Crash
• Test
• 2002
• 2006
• Mazda
• Mx-5
• Miata
• EuroNcap

[korranda]

did the airbag pop?

[firedemon101]

no ... why you ask?

[trashmeign]

It's amazing how well this little car holds together in an offset crash... especially in light of the fact it has no roof.

[blizard0717]

Wow... exelent design Mazda. It behaves pretty well on this crash.

A cheap, beautiful, safe functional sport convertible. A dream car.

[rag5206]

If your thinking of buying a 2002 MX5 be advised this model suffered from Clutch Shudder. Mazda knows about the problem but refused to do a general recall.

[ALIOOOOOOOH]

looks like it was going 25mph hahahah

[shibuyashoy92]

Not bad, still very safe :D

[ManiacMitchUK]

@trashmeign indeed it may looked completly fucked up there but it needs to crumple that much to protect and driver AND lose enough momentum so that it doesnt roll over

[mrblockboii]

@Tem120

well true that miata is simply lower than other cars so possibly remain stable during the crash but theres no guarantee that it doesnt roll over.

ok think the situation like this.....what if you were driving narrow 2 lane highway and you see oncoming traffic gets in your lane ahead and you are forced to decide cut the wheel to the right where ditch is at? yes it will goes into 4-5 feet deep ditch and would roll over, wouldnt it?

[RnB123100]

@btw the bodge ram also sucks at crash :p

[RnB123100]

@Tem120 yea but most american cars (like americans) are all talk no action...but this is japenese it should be good.either way i still love the mx5 lol

[Tem120]

@mrblockboii the car's designed not to roll over . low center of gravity so unless the car some how hooked something at some freakishly high speed the car wont roll over . but if it does you are prettymuch fucked.

BUT it just gives you that much more incentive not to CRASH!!!

[Tem120]

@RnB123100 go watch some F150 crash test and remember that sturdy safe truck has the highest death ratio to any car in the US

[Tem120]

@DonBounce it has an escape for the air otherwise your face will be hitting a balloon and not a soft deflatable pillow of air