2026 IIHS Safety Awards
The Safety Leader
You Didn't
See Coming
For the third consecutive year, Mazda leads every brand in the industry with 8 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ awards — more than any other automaker. Not once. Not twice. Three years in a row, as the bar kept rising.
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 2026 Top Safety Pick+ Awards, announced March 2026.
By the Numbers
Safety you can measure
awards in 2026
led the entire industry
earned since 2008
The Streak
The IIHS makes its criteria tougher every year. Mazda kept leading anyway.
“Mazda continues to excel in safety with eight IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ models this year. They are providing consumers with the best in safety features at a range of prices.” — IIHS President David Harkey, March 2026
Consistency Over Time
A crash test is one day.
What about every other day?
Any automaker can perform well in a single crash test. What separates Mazda is its engineering discipline across its entire lineup, year after year — reflected in dramatically fewer NHTSA safety recalls.
NHTSA safety recalls in 2024 — one of the lowest totals of any major automaker.
NHTSA safety recalls in 2024, affecting an estimated 1.1 million vehicles. Issues spanned airbags, electrical systems, and charging units.
Source: NHTSA recall data, 2024. Recall volume alone does not determine overall vehicle safety; always check open recalls at NHTSA.gov.
Head-to-Head
How they stack up
When you compare Mazda and Hyundai models side by side, the safety advantage is specific — and real.
The Mazda CX-90 achieved IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ for 2026. The Hyundai Palisade received the lower-tier TOP SAFETY PICK in 2025 and does not appear on the 2026 TSP+ list. The gap comes down to Mazda's good rating in the toughened rear-seat occupant protection test — a result Hyundai has not yet matched in this segment.
Both the CX-50 and Tucson earned IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ for 2026 — evenly matched on crash ratings. Where the CX-50 steps ahead is AWD: Mazda offers i-Activ AWD standard on the CX-50 Turbo, helping keep drivers stable on Colorado's mountain roads before a crash ever happens.
i-Activsense
What comes standard
on every Mazda
A top crash-test rating matters. But so does everything working to prevent the crash in the first place. Mazda includes its full i-Activsense safety suite as standard equipment across all trims — not an upgrade tier.
Automatic Emergency Braking
Detects vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, braking automatically when a collision is imminent.
Blind Spot Monitoring
Alerts you to vehicles in your blind spot, reducing lane-change collisions on Colorado highways.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Warns you of approaching cross traffic when reversing out of a parking space.
Lane Keep Assist
Gently steers the vehicle back toward the center of its lane if you begin to drift unintentionally.
Adaptive Front Lighting
Headlights adjust for curves and elevation changes — critical on winding mountain roads near Colorado Springs.
Pedestrian Detection
Mazda's system earned superior ratings in IIHS's daytime and nighttime pedestrian avoidance evaluations.
In Stock Now
Award-winning safety,
in Colorado Springs
Every model below earned the 2026 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ — the highest safety rating available.
Compact SUV with standard AWD, advanced driver assistance, and seating for five.
See CX-50 Inventory →Three-row SUV with TSP+ status — the rating the Hyundai Palisade did not earn.
See CX-90 Inventory →7-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, 160-point inspection, AutoCheck history report, 24-hour roadside assistance.
Shop CPO Inventory →Bob Penkhus Mazda South · Colorado Springs
Come see what 8 awards
feels like to drive
Schedule a test drive, check current inventory, or get a quick trade-in estimate — all online, or call us today.
View Inventory Schedule a Test Drive Call 719-882-1860
Bob Penkhus Mazda South
1101 Motor City Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80905
Mon–Sat: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM · 719-882-1860
Serving Colorado Springs, Fort Carson, Pueblo, Fountain & Woodland Park
IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ award information reflects the 2026 award cycle announced March 2026. The Mazda CX-90 received TSP+ for 2026; the Hyundai Palisade received the lower-tier TOP SAFETY PICK in 2025 and does not appear on the current 2026 TSP+ list. NHTSA recall figures reflect calendar year 2024 data for Mazda North American Operations (8 recalls) and Hyundai Motor America (25 recalls). Recall frequency alone does not determine overall vehicle safety. Vehicle pricing is approximate MSRP and does not include taxes, title, license, or the Penkhus dealer handling fee of $687.