Mazda's biggest SUV switched over to much safer base-model headlights midway through 2020. Here's how to tell which version you're buying.

Base models built before December had static LED headlights, which, according to an IIHS press release, "rated only marginal while its optional curve-adaptive lights earned a good rating." In addition to crashworthiness, Top Safety Pick Plus award winners have to come with standard headlights rated "acceptable" or "good" — the top two of IIHS' four headlight ratings, which are ranked from good, acceptable, marginal, to poor.

Mazda updated the CX-9 after December 2019 to have good-rated base headlights. The cars that came before got marginal ratings on the cheapest Sport and Touring trims.