Volvo has built a reputation for being the leader in vehicle safety, but under a new approach for testing the safety of new cars, Mazda has now come out in front.
US non-profit Consumer Reports ranked the overall safety of car manufacturers based on several factors – not just solely how their models perform in laboratory crash testing.
Company lineups were judged based on whether they come standard with key crash-prevention technology, if the cars handle predictably, and how distracting the controls are – as well as how well they protect occupants and vulnerable road users in an accident.
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Mazda well and truly beat out the competition, with more than 80 per cent of its vehicles earning a ‘best’ safety rating – compared to just 25 per cent of Volvo’s cars.
According to Consumer Reports – which celebrates its 90th birthday in 2026 – Volvo’s cars underperformed due to their “distracting controls”, with the EX30 earning the lowest usability score.
“If controlling climate or audio functions distracts you from the task of driving, that’s a strike against safety,” said Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports’ senior director of auto testing.
It’s worth noting Mazda’s new CX-5, its best-selling vehicle, does without the brand’s trademark rotary infotainment control, with physical climate controls also removed. However, Mazda says it’s still focused on minimising driver distraction.
While Mazda took the safety crown, Genesis took second place, while Honda’s North American brand Acura came third.
Lincoln and Hyundai completed the top five, while Honda, Nissan, Audi, Subaru, and Kia completed the top 10.
Volvo came in at 12th, ahead of Volkswagen, Toyota, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW.
Rounding out the bottom of the list were Rivian, Tesla, Mitsubishi, Jeep, and Land Rover – with the premium British automaker coming in last “due to its less-than-average performance for braking and emergency handling,” according to the report.
As reported in November 2025, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program – better known as ANCAP – introduced new testing protocols from January 1, 2026, which now include the safety of electric car batteries, intrusive driver assist technology, and whether a vehicle has buttons.
“From 2026, we’re asking car makers to either offer physical buttons for important driver controls like the horn, indicators, hazard lights, windscreen wipers and headlights, or dedicate a fixed portion of the cabin display screen to these primary driving functions,” ANCAP said in a written statement at the time.
MORE: New ANCAP safety assessment will target annoying tech, EVs and triple-zero calls