Of course, choosing a car demands considerations that include safety, particularly for a family SUV or a compact hatchback. Euro NCAP test stands at the forefront as a production standard for testing vehicle safety. Four categories are considered during the car test, including Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Vulnerable Road Users (pedestrians and cyclists) and Safety Assist-active safety features. Since test standards change, this list only contains cars tested within the last few years, and scores are averaged across all categories to give a complete safety rating.
To get a safety rating for your vehicle instantly and for free, you can try a car check. All you need is a registration number, and it will reveal the Euro NCAP score along with a detailed history check.
- Land Rover Defender (2020) – 80%
A big, tough vehicle, the Defender did a good job of keeping people inside safe, especially kids: it earned an excellent 24/24 score in crash tests for both 6- and 10-year-olds. In the Vulnerable Road Users test, however, its size makes it a loser.
- Renault Arkana (2019) – 82%
A sleek crossover SUV that’s a close cousin to a coupe, the Arkana showed promise with its 96% Adult Occupant score. There’s a sturdy chassis, automatic emergency braking that’s standard equipment, and excellent safety for its occupants.
- Honda Jazz (2020) – 82%
The Jazz has been a safe and sensible choice for years. The 2020 version continues to deliver the goods, performing well in every test bar one that seems superfluous: Adult Occupant-87% – the car also features an effective automatic emergency braking system that’s especially able at spotting cyclists.
- SEAT Leon (2020)-83%
The Leon rides on Volkswagen’s MQB platform, and it comes with a strong safety record-high Safety Assist ratings. Other such features that the car will standardise include lane-keeping assistance, a speed limiter, seatbelt reminders, and automatic emergency braking.
- Toyota Yaris (2020) -83%
The Yaris is a small hatchback that includes some rather impressive features. Those include standard advanced safety technologies like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and radar cruise control.
- Volkswagen ID.3 (2020) – 84%
For all parameters of safety, the first mass-produced electric vehicle from Volkswagen is doing a tremendous job, having no significant weakness. The most notable, in fact, it scores an impressive 89% rating for child occupancy and therefore is one of the best family cars.
- Volkswagen T-Cross (2019)- 86%
It is the smallest of cross, but for an individual wanting as much smaller or but the safest of car the T-Cross certainly must be an impressive array with an Adult Occupant score of 97%.
- Polestar 2 (2021) -87%
The Polestar electric performance brand of Volvo can take advantage of the know-how Volvo has gained in safety. Safety Assist scores high at 86% because it comes equipped with sophisticated active safety systems, including pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking.
- BMW 3 Series (2019) -87%
A leader in occupant safety, the BMW 3 Series achieved 97% for Adult Occupant and 87% for Child Occupant. However, Safety Assist is a bit mediocre at 76% as controls for its Lane Keeping Assistant were unexplained.
- Tesla Model 3 2019 – 88%
As a high-tech company, Tesla performed better in safety with 94% in Safety Assist and 96% in Adult Occupant protection. The Tesla Model 3 is also ranked among the safest cars ever produced because of its robust chassis and extended features of driver assist.
All the three offer maximum safety and are quite good choices if occupant protection and accident prevention features are your top priorities.