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2009 Mazda RX-8 Safety Review

November 5, 2008

SAFETY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Four stars, front driver impact and side impact; five stars, front passenger impact
NHTSA

All but the Sport model get stability control standard
Edmunds

Side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags are standard
Cars.com

With a small engine and relatively low power numbers to work with, saving weight is critical in the design of the 2009 Mazda RX-8. Fortunately, Mazda engineers are thoughtful enough to include some critical safety features on the 2009 RX-8 Mazda, so drivers won't be completely vulnerable during an accident.

The 2009 Mazda RX-8 scores well in government crash tests. NHTSA fully tested the 2009 RX-8 Mazda and awarded it four out of a possible five stars for front driver impacts and side impacts on both sides. The Mazda RX-8 also earned a perfect five-star rating from NHTSA in the front passenger side impact category. As of this writing, the Mazda RX-8 has not been crash-tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, most likely due to the fact that Mazda sells a relatively small number of RX-8s each year.

Most versions of the 2009 Mazda RX-8 come equipped with Mazda's full range of safety features. As Edmunds reviewers point out, "all but the Sport model" of the 2009 Mazda RX-8 "get stability control standard." Cars.com adds that "antilock brakes, side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags" are standard as well on the Mazda RX-8. ConsumerGuide reports that the remaining standard safety features on the 2009 Mazda RX-8 include "dual front airbags" and a "tire-pressure monitor," which can also be used to help improve fuel economy (and the Mazda RX-8 needs all the help it can get).

The Mazda RX-8 is, for the most part, a relatively safe sportscar. However, reviews read by TheCarConnection.com reveal one critical shortcoming that safety-conscious buyers should consider: poor driver visibility. ConsumerGuide reviewers are particularly critical, finding that the "thick rear roof pillars severely compromise aft visibility." This issue is of even greater concern on a car as small as the Mazda RX-8.

Conclusion

The 2009 Mazda RX-8 lacks the electronic stability control that most sportscars have, and driver visibility needs some serious improvement.

SAFETY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Four stars, front driver impact and side impact; five stars, front passenger impactNHTSAAll but the Sport model get stability control standardEdmundsSide-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags are standardCars.com With a small engine and relatively low power numbers to work with, saving weight is critical in the design of the 2009 Mazda RX-8. Fortunately, Mazda engineers are thoughtful enough to include some critical safety features on the 2009 RX-8 Mazda, so drivers won't be completely vulnerable during an accident. The 2009 Mazda RX-8 scores well in government crash tests. NHTSA fully tested the 2009 RX-8 Mazda and awarded it four out of a possible five stars for front driver impacts and side impacts on both sides. The Mazda RX-8 also earned a perfect five-star rating from NHTSA in the front passenger side impact category. As of this writing, the Mazda RX-8 has not been crash-tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, most likely due to the fact that Mazda sells a relatively small number of RX-8s each year. Most versions of the 2009 Mazda RX-8 come equipped with Mazda's full range of safety features. As Edmunds reviewers point out, "all but the Sport model" of the 2009 Mazda RX-8 "get stability control standard." Cars.com adds that "antilock brakes, side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags" are standard as well on the Mazda RX-8. ConsumerGuide reports that the remaining standard safety features on the 2009 Mazda RX-8 include "dual front airbags" and a "tire-pressure monitor," which can also be used to help improve fuel economy (and the Mazda RX-8 needs all the help it can get). The Mazda RX-8 is, for the most part, a relatively safe sportscar. However, reviews read by TheCarConnection.com reveal one critical shortcoming that safety-conscious buyers should consider: poor driver visibility. ConsumerGuide reviewers are particularly critical, finding that the "thick rear roof pillars severely compromise aft visibility." This issue is of even greater concern on a car as small as the Mazda RX-8. ConclusionThe 2009 Mazda RX-8 lacks the electronic stability control that most sportscars have, and driver visibility needs some serious improvement. 2009 MAZDA RX-8 STYLING | [8 out of 10] Car and Driver: "Not everybody thinks it's pretty" ConsumerGuide: "Freshened interior and exterior styling and a new R3 sport package" Cars.com: "Cabin that has small, rear-hinged back doors to make it easier to get into the backseat" After ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

If you're looking for alternatives to the RX-8, you won't find any other models that provide the same combination of responsiveness, backseat space, and an affordable price. The BMW M Coupe and Porsche Cayman are sportscars that provide very impressive performance, but neither of them quite has the sharp, connected go-kart-like handling of the RX-8; however, both the BMW and the Porsche have torquey, powerful six-cylinder engines that are easier to live with. The edgy Honda R2000 roadster has a feel on the road that's comparable in some ways to that of the Mazda RX-8, with crisp handling and a peaky, high-revving engine, but the RX-8 has a quiet enough cabin for occasional road trips—and a backseat for occasional extra passengers.

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See the Mazda RX-8 in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004

Comments (1 total)

  1. By Juan Pablo #1, Posted: 5/24/2009

    new car

    hi!
    how much the taxes matter a new car for Chile?
    tks

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