Mazda EZ-6 emphasizes safety with intense collision tests

Since its October 26 launch in China, the Mazda EZ-6, built on Changan‘s EPA hybrid platform and priced from 139,800 yuan (19,625 USD), has gained attention across the globe as a successor to the Mazda 6 bound for the international market. Marketed as a “safe, smart, and reliable” mid-sized sedan, the EZ-6 was showcased undergoing an intense side crash test with a truck. This demonstration, meant to highlight Mazda’s safety engineering in the electric era, was followed by a detailed livestream disassembly conducted in collaboration with the Beijing Institute of Technology’s Shenzhen Automotive Research Institute. The inspection offered an inside view of the EZ-6’s resilience and safety features in critical accident scenarios.

Addressing high-risk side-impact collisions

Side-impact accidents account for over a quarter of all vehicle collisions, second only to frontal impacts in terms of fatality rate. The EZ-6’s side-impact test simulated a high-speed truck colliding with the side of the car at a T-junction, causing it to slide laterally. This scenario exposed the battery pack to scraping along the curb, creating a multi-point collision sequence that tested the vehicle’s structural integrity, airbag deployment, and battery safety under extreme conditions.

The EZ-6 showed a strong safety performance: the passenger cabin remained structurally intact, with no failure of the A, B, or C pillars. The seats and seat frames held up without significant deformation, while the side airbags, curtain airbags, and far-side airbags deployed accurately, protecting the test dummies from secondary impacts. The battery system’s high-voltage power supply shut down promptly, preventing smoking, fire, or explosion, and the emergency E-Call function was activated immediately. The dummies’ safety scores also met regulatory limits for occupant protection.

Structural resilience

The vehicle disassembly allowed for the examination of the EZ-6’s “7-cross, 5-longitudinal” cage structure, which was designed to distribute impact forces across the body uniformly. This approach, combined with high-strength steel (exceeding 86% usage of steel with hardness above 340 MPa and 2,000 MPa reinforcements in the roof), enabled the vehicle to withstand intense lateral impacts without compromising the cabin’s integrity. Dr. Zhang Ruifeng from the Shenzhen Automotive Research Institute described the structure as a “life-saving shield” that effectively distributes collision forces, reducing concentrated stress on any single point in the vehicle.

Comprehensive airbag deployment

The EZ-6 has nine airbags, including standard driver and passenger airbags, side airbags, and a far-side airbag in the front row. These airbags provide a total protection volume of 350 liters and cover an area of 25,000 square centimeters. The far-side airbag minimizes the risk of passenger collision within the vehicle, a critical factor in side-impact accidents, where head collisions can be fatal. In the collision test, this airbag prevented the front passengers from impacting each other.

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Battery safety and fire prevention technology

Battery safety is a primary concern for EV users, and the EZ-6’s crash-tested battery showed minimal wear following the collision. The battery pack’s robust protective casing absorbs the impact forces, with horizontal beams and undercarriage reinforcement preventing structural deformation or bolt failures. Further, the digital battery management system monitors conditions 24/7, achieving 99% accuracy in issue detection and preemptive alerts. The thermal management feature ensures that, even under thermal runaway conditions, the battery does not ignite for 30 minutes, exceeding China’s five-minute national safety standard for evacuation.

In the live stream, Professor Sun Chao from the Beijing Institute of Technology’s Shenzhen Automotive Research Institute summarized the EZ-6’s safety framework as technically advanced and user-focused, affirming Mazda’s dedication to rigorous safety standards. The EZ-6’s “no compromise” approach to safety positions it as a capable and secure choice in the mid-sized car market.

Here is our review of the Mazda EZ-6 from Sunday China Drive.