The safest cars on sale today
The latest Euro NCAP safety test results have been released, and 11 of the 15 cars assessed achieved a full five-star rating. See which models made it on to our list of the safest cars on sale to...
Euro NCAP safety testers have awarded the new Land Rover Discovery Sport, the Lexus RX and the Mercedes GLC full five-star ratings in the last round of assessments of 2022.
The RX luxury SUV achieved 90% for protecting adults inside the car and 91% for Safety Assist. The Safety Assist category assesses active safety systems, such as lane-keeping support and automatic emergency braking (AEB).
The GLC scored highly for adult and child occupant protection too, but wasn’t quite as strong on active safety as the RX.
Those models were joined by a newcomer to the UK car market. The American-made Lucid Air was one of 11 models to achieve the full five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. The electric luxury saloon – a rival to the Tesla Model S – performed well in all tests, including the Safety Assist category.
Another electric vehicle, the retro-styled VW ID.Buzz MPV, also scored five stars. It was praised for the quality of its adult occupant protection and active safety systems, but lost marks for the protection of vulnerable road users.
In total, 14 new cars were tested in the latest round, with 11 achieving a full five-star rating. They included the new Ford Ranger, the VW Amarok, the MG4 and the Skoda Octavia plus two new cars from China, the Chery Omoda 5 and the Maxus Mifa 9.
The four models that score less than five stars were the Citroen C5 X, the Ford Puma, the Peugeot 408 and the VW Touran. The Puma and Touran lost marks in the adult occupant protection category.
Euro NCAP tests are carried out against a backdrop of constant improvements in safety standards. In July 2022, new vehicle safety legislation will come into force to make AEB, speed assistance and other safety systems compulsory on all new vehicles.
The organisation toughens up its testing every few years to encourage car makers to continue to improve safety standards.
The most recent update, in 2020, brought about the biggest changes to the tests for a decade. It introduced a moving barrier element to the frontal offset crash test. That replaced a test that had been used since the assessment programme started in 1997.
The new element not only measures likely injuries for those sitting in the near and far side of the vehicle during a crash, but also evaluates how much of a risk the car’s front-end structure poses to the vehicle it hits.
Other updates in 2020 included a new side-impact test (with stronger mass) to the passenger side to assess passenger movement and injury, as well as new scenarios to test AEB systems.
So far, more than 100 cars have been put through the new, more stringent safety tests.
Here, we list the top 10 performers so far...
The top 10 safest cars
=9. Toyota bZ4X
Adult occupant protection 88% Child occupant protection 87% Pedestrian protection 79% Safety Assist 91%
Total Euro NCAP score 345/400
The bZ4X was one of the highest scorers in the latest round of safety tests, and it fared particularly well in the safety assist, adult occupant protection and child occupant protection categories. As well as being a safe electric SUV it's also a fine all-rounder that's good to drive, roomy in the back and reasonably priced.
Read our full Toyota bZ4X review >>
=9. Subaru Solterra
Adult occupant protection 88% Child occupant protection 87% Pedestrian protection 79% Safety Assist 91%
Total Euro NCAP score 345/400
The Solterra is very closely related to the bZ4X, and as such both cars have achieved identical safety scores. It's refined and good to drive, but the lack of a cheaper, two-wheel-drive version limits its appeal.
Read our full Subaru Solterra review >>
=9. Polestar 2
Adult occupant protection 93% Child occupant protection 89% Pedestrian protection 80% Safety Assist 83%
Total Euro NCAP score 345/400
The second Polestar model is a thrillingly quick electric car with a plush interior and a decent range. As well as a strong rating for adult occupant protection, it scored an impressive 80% for minimising injury to vulnerable road users thanks to its pop-up bonnet. It was also praised for the high level of its active safety systems and the fact that it will give owners the ability to make their car even safer with over-the-air software updates.
Adult occupant protection 91% Child occupant protection 87% Pedestrian protection 77% Safety Assist 91%
Total Euro NCAP score 346/400
The G80 luxury car matches the excellent adult occupant and child occupant protection scores of its stablemate, the Genesis GV80 SUV. While its Safety Assist score wasn't quite as good, it is significantly better at protecting pedestrians, because it has an active bonnet that automatically pops up to cushion them and prevent them from striking the engine.
Read our full Genesis G80 review >>
7. Nissan Qashqai
Adult occupant protection 91% Child occupant protection 91% Pedestrian protection 70% Safety Assist 95%
Total Euro NCAP score 347/400
Another high scorer with Euro NCAP, the Qashqai achieved a Safety Assist rating of 95%, which is equalled only by the Subaru Outback (tested in September 2021). We reckon the middle of the range is where the best value lies, because the cheaper trims (especially Visia) are stingily equipped and range-topping models are rather pricey.
Read our full Nissan Qashqai review >>
6. Mercedes EQE
Adult occupant protection 95% Child occupant protection 91% Pedestrian protection 83% Safety Assist 81%
Total Euro NCAP score 350/400
As well as a host of cutting-edge technology, the EQE has an official range of up to 410 miles. It’s a very safe place for adult and child occupants, and has active technology to help keep the car in the correct lane and a safe distance from other vehicles. It also has an Active Emergency Stop function that is the most advanced tested so far by NCAP: if the driver becomes unresponsive it can guide the car to the slow lane or hard shoulder.
Adult occupant protection 91% Child occupant protection 87% Pedestrian protection 83% Safety Assist 91%
Total Euro NCAP score 352/400
The new NX is the first Lexus to be available as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and it's been worth the wait, because the new NX 450h+ is our Plug-in Hybrid of the Year, with impressive refinement, a good electric-only range, low CO2 emissions and a low company car tax rate. It scored impressively well in the most recent round of safety tests, with high scores in each category.
Read our full Lexus NX review >>
4. Subaru Outback
Adult occupant protection 88% Child occupant protection 89% Pedestrian protection 84% Safety Assist 95%
Total Euro NCAP score 356/400
If you're looking for genuine all-weather abilities, a hugely practical interior and lots of safety technology, the Outback estate car is definitely worth considering. Indeed, the list of standard kit includes AEB, lane-keeping assistance, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring and a rear cross-traffic alert system to warn of objects crossing your path while backing up.
Read our full Subaru Outback review >>
3. Lexus RX
Adult occupant protection 90% Child occupant protection 87% Pedestrian protection 89% Safety Assist 91%
Total Euro NCAP score 357/400
If you're looking for a reliable, comfortable and well-appointed luxury SUV, the RX should be on your list. Its a safe place for occupants and has an array of active safety systems, including lane-support, speed assistance and a driver fatigue detection system.
Read our full Lexus RX review >>
2. Tesla Model Y
Adult occupant protection 97% Child occupant protection 87% Pedestrian protection 82% Safety Assist 98%
Total Euro NCAP score 364/400
The Model Y is a seriously rapid electric car with a long range and roomy interior. It’s also extremely safe for those inside and outside the car. Its score of 97% for the protection of adult occupants is one of the highest of any model tested by NCAP under the current regime. Its safety assist score (the rating for how well the car actively helps the driver to avoid or mitigate an imminent collision) ties with the safest car on this list.
Read our full Tesla Model Y review >>
1. Tesla Model S
Adult occupant protection 94% Child occupant protection 91% Pedestrian protection 85% Safety Assist 98%
Total Euro NCAP score 368/400
The Model S has recently been revised, and following its Euro NCAP safety test it's now the safest new car you can buy. It achieved a near-perfect score of 98% in the safety assist category, plus equally impressive scores in the other three categories. It remains a very impressive electric car with its rapid performance, feature-packed infotainment system and spacious interior.
Read our full Tesla Model S review >>
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