Safety

The Mazda6 features the normal array of airbags, including side-impact airbags for the front seats and side-curtain airbags. Stability control is also standard. The sedan received a top overall rating of Good in front and side-impact crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, but it received a Marginal overall score for rear-impact whiplash protection and an Acceptable rating in IIHS' new roof-crush test. Because of that roof-crush rating, the Mazda6 isn't an IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2010 — as the Chevy Malibu, Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Subaru Legacy and Volkswagen Passat are — but apart from its whiplash rating, its scores are good.

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    Enhanced Ride Comfort and a Quieter Cabin
    The original Mazda CX-7 was one of its segment's most sophisticated vehicles, and this aspect is carried forth with the facelift. Its body shell's torsional rigidity is increased by 5 percent, whi ...

    Exterior
    The outside of the Tribute didn't get as much of a face-lift as did the Escape. The grille lost its crossbar, and the Mazda logo has moved up, while the headlights and taillights are new. Fog ligh ...

    Rear Window Defroster
    The rear window defroster clears frost, fog, and thin ice from the rear window. The ignition switch must be in the ON position. Press the switch to turn on the rear window defroster. The rear win ...