ANCAP crash test results

Mazda 323 | 1996 - 97

Overall evaluation: Acceptable

Protection from serious head injury was good for the driver and acceptable for the passenger in the full frontal crash test.

The passenger compartment was substantially deformed in the offset crash test and protection from serious leg injury for the driver was poor (based on the offset crash test of the Ford Laser without a driver's air bag).

Note the Ford Laser and Mazda 323 are identical vehicles

Safety features

A driver's air bag is standard on the Mazda 323 and optional on the Ford Laser. A passenger air bag is available as part of an options package. The test vehicle for the full frontal crash test had a driver's air bag.

The front seat belts have height-adjustable upper anchorages and the buckles are mounted on the seats. These features improve the fit of the seat belt.

Restraints: Good

Full Frontal Crash Test

The driver's head was cushioned by the air bag and protection from serious head injury was good.

The passenger's head did not hit anything and protection from serious head injury was acceptable. The driver's knees hit the dash. The passenger's knees hit the glove box.

Offset Crash Test

No offset crash test was conducted. The leg injury assessments are based on the crash test of the Laser without a driver's air bag.

Structure: Poor

Full Frontal Crash Test

The roof and pillars held their shape well in the full frontal crash test. There was substantial deformation of the firewall and floor.

All doors remained closed during the crash. All doors could be easily opened after the crash.

Offset Crash Test

No offset crash test was conducted on the air bag equipped vehicle but the same structural performance could be expected from the Laser without a driver's air bag and the following is based on that crash test.

The passenger compartment was substantially deformed in the offset crash test. The front part of the driver's floor was pushed rearwards 28cm. The dash was pushed a substantial 20cm towards the driver. The roof was severely buckled above the driver. A corner of the bonnet penetrated the windscreen. The width of the driver's doorway shortened by 15cm and the door was starting to fold at the front.

All doors remained closed during the crash. After the crash the driver's door could only be opened with a great deal of manual effort. All other doors could be easily opened .