The CX-5 has standard Whiplash-Reducing Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.
Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CX-5 Turbo Signature has standard Smart Brake Support-Reverse that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.
To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-5. But it costs extra on the Eclipse Cross.
To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-5 has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Eclipse Cross SE/SEL has a rear cross-path warning system.
The CX-5 Turbo Signature’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Eclipse Cross doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.
Both the CX-5 and the Eclipse Cross have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross:
|
CX-5 |
Eclipse Cross |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
82 |
290 |
Neck Injury Risk |
23% |
35.1% |
Neck Stress |
274 lbs. |
467 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
23 lbs. |
65 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
160/307 lbs. |
239/273 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
156 |
244 |
Chest Compression |
.5 inches |
.5 inches |
Neck Compression |
86 lbs. |
143 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross:
|
CX-5 |
Eclipse Cross |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
81 |
145 |
Chest Movement |
.5 inches |
.5 inches |
Abdominal Force |
126 lbs. |
154 lbs. |
Hip Force |
189 lbs. |
292 lbs. |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Max Damage Depth |
13 inches |
14 inches |
Spine Acceleration |
32 G’s |
44 G’s |
Hip Force |
435 lbs. |
622 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-5 is much safer than the Eclipse Cross:
|
CX-5 |
Eclipse Cross |
Overall Evaluation |
GOOD |
POOR |
Structure |
GOOD |
MARGINAL |
|
Driver Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Neck Tension |
223 lbs. |
268 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
45 lbs. |
67 lbs. |
Torso |
ACCEPTABLE |
POOR |
Shoulder Deflection |
.51 in |
.71 in |
Shoulder Force |
201 lbs. |
223 lbs. |
Torso Max Deflection |
1.34 in |
2.28 in |
Torso Deflection Rate |
6 MPH |
10 MPH |
Pelvis |
GOOD |
MARGINAL |
Pelvis Force |
848 lbs. |
1294 lbs. |
Head Protection |
GOOD |
GOOD |
|
Passenger Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Neck Tension |
22 lbs. |
45 lbs. |
Torso |
GOOD |
MARGINAL |
Shoulder Deflection |
1.42 in |
1.73 in |
Torso Max Deflection |
1.26 in |
2.01 in |
Torso Deflection Rate |
9 MPH |
11 MPH |
Pelvis |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Head Protection |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the CX-5 is 1.1% to 1.6% less likely to roll over than the Eclipse Cross.
For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-5 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 76 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Eclipse Cross has not been fully tested, yet.