I’m probably not alone in this — or maybe I am in 2026 — but I wouldn’t say “Mazda” when asked which carmaker I believe is the safest. But that’s probably because I own a 1993 Mazda Miata without an airbag. These days, however, Mazda is holding its own in a growing sea of capable, predictable, and reliable SUVs.
So much so, in fact, that Consumer Reports dubbed it the top-rated brand in its new Safety Verdict assessment. From “crashworthiness” to emergency handling to driver assistance technologies, the updated assessment found that Mazda is the most well-rounded brand in safety. And yes, it came out on top even with the Miata in the lineup. Not mine, but the Miata.
Consumer Reports’ new Safety Verdict assessment criteria
Consumer Reports’ safety assessment used to focus solely on the safety of passengers during a crash. But they have realized there is so much more to safety than that. As technology transforms and automakers innovate, there are more things to consider, including distractions [miami article].
Now, for cars to score “Best” in the Safety Verdict, they’ll need to excel not only in crash tests but also come with crash-prevention features, have predictable handling, and have fewer distracting controls.
“A safe car has predictable handling and braking in everyday driving and emergencies, controls that don’t distract you, technology that can prevent a crash in the first place, and a design that protects occupants if a crash occurs,” said Emily A. Thomas, PhD, Associate Director of Auto Safety at Consumer Reports.
And where the MX-5 Miata falls
Based on the above criteria, it’s not all that surprising to see Mazda’s SUV lineup at the top of the charts. The 2026 CX-30 scored a 5/5 due to its abundance of safety-related assistance features on the standard model — like automatic emergency braking and a blind spot warning — as did the CX-50 and the 2025 CX-5 (hopefully the same for the 2026 after the various price cuts).
This is all to be expected. But what about the Miata? Well, it already came with a built-in strike against it, no matter how safe. That’s because any vehicle below 2,500 pounds automatically score lower due to increased risk in a crash. And, well, the Miata is well below that.
Well, it has a 3/5. According to Consumer Reports, the 2026 model meets federal requirements but doesn’t meet Consumer Reports’ standard requirements. It’s missing automatic emergency braking on the highway and its rear-wheel drive vehicles are considered “harder to control.” (Although, I think Consumer Reports is the only source you’ll ever come across that’d claim the Miata has poor handling.) Either way, that’s three strikes: weight, missing safety features, and control.
Will that stop me from driving it on the track? No. But will it stop me from driving it to the gym or to the grocery store? Also no!
Despite the Miata being a low mark in an otherwise near-perfect score, Mazda was able to take the first-place spot from Genesis, which came in second, and Acura. And it sure is proud of it .
“Safety is foundational to Mazda’s engineering philosophy, and we are honored that Consumer Reports has recognized our unwavering commitment to helping protect drivers, passengers, and everyone who shares the road,” said MNAO Director of Vehicle Safety Jennifer Morrison.
“This recognition reflects the work of our global engineering teams to integrate advanced safety technologies and outstanding vehicle dynamics into every model we build.”
It may be over $30,000 now and not the most safe, but Miata is always the answer.
