Eighteen months after introducing six airbags and ABS brakes across its passenger car range, Mazda remains the only volume-selling car maker offering head protecting curtain airbags across its core passenger car range.

Head or curtain airbags prevent head strike for front and rear-seat occupants against windows, side pillars or door frames in the event of a significant side impact.

Curtain airbags are part of a safety pack on Mazda’s entry-level Mazda 2 Neo and Maxx and Mazda 3 Neo models.

These features are standard across the remainder of the Mazda 2 and Mazda 3 line ups and are standard on all Mazda 6 and RX-8 models.

The safety pack includes ABS anti-lock brakes - which reduces braking distances and allows a driver to maintain steering control - curtain airbags and chest protecting side airbags for front-seat passengers.

And Mazda, which to date is the top-selling import brand in 2005, has ensured that these important features are affordable.

The safety pack is available on the Mazda 2 for $1150, making a Mazda 2 Neo with these world-class safety features available for $18,080.

This aggressive pricing has helped make these life saving safety features a popular option.

Where the automotive industry has traditionally seen take up rates on optional safety features at less than 5 per cent, Mazda has a 16 per cent take up on the Mazda 2 Neo and Maxx and an almost 20 per cent take up on the Mazda 3 Neo.

Mazda Australia’s National Marketing Manager, Martin Benders, said: “Mazda is leading the volume car makers by offering six airbags and ABS brakes on all our new-generation models.

“We consciously priced our safety packs as competitively as possible to maximise affordability. We believe that safety is increasingly becoming an important consideration for new car buyers.

“This is reflected in the safety option take up rates on Mazda 2 and Mazda 3, which are popular with first time new car buyers where parents have a significant influence in the purchase decision”.

The safety benefits of these features have been highlighted by motoring groups and governments keen to encourage car buyers to include life saving equipment, including curtain airbags and ABS brakes.

Other standard safety features on Mazda cars include dual front airbags, seatbelt pretensioners with load limiters and brake pedals that reduce the chance of foot, ankle and lower leg injury by moving away from the driver if the foot well is crushed in an accident and front seats designed to minimize whiplash.

Mazda’s core passenger car range (Mazda 2, Mazda 3, Mazda 6 and RX-8) have made up 80.5 per cent of Mazda sales this year.

To the end of May Mazda has sold 27,900 vehicles, an increase of 19.9 per cent on last year. Mazda is expected to sell a record 60,000 vehicles in 2005.