Crash safety is an important factor to consider when buying a new car, especially if you’re looking for a family car. Thankfully, the crash test experts at Euro NCAP take the guesswork out of the equation by slamming (almost) every new car into walls and barriers to see how well they protect their passengers in an accident.
Now that 2024 has drawn to a close, Euro NCAP has released a breakdown of the safest cars it tested throughout the year – and we thought it’d be useful to present that data here to give you a good starting point for your next family car purchase. It’s certainly an interesting top 10, not least because there isn’t a single Volvo in it.
It’s also worth noting that, even though there are now loads of five-star cars on the market, they’re not all created equal. We’ve sifted through Euro NCAP’s individual category ratings and found a huge gulf in the crash safety performance between the top-scoring five-star cars and the worst. In fact, it could be difference between walking away from an accident or being stretchered away.
Scroll down for our list of the safest new cars on sale in the UK now. We’ve only included cars tested after 2023, though, as Euro NCAP last updated its safety parameters that year to place greater emphasis on driver assistance technology. Cars built before that year might not have the same level of safety tech, so it wouldn’t be a fair comparison.
Euro NCAP has also tested a broad range of new Chinese cars that are available to buy in continental Europe, but which haven’t made the leap across the Channel yet. So, to keep this list as relevant as possible to you, we’ve excluded them.
The top 10 safest cars on sale now
<strong>Merc has beaten Volvo at its own game</strong>
Shocking, isn’t it? Volvo has been king of automotive safety since the late 1950s, but Mercedes has finally stolen its crown with the latest E-Class. Euro NCAP praised the car for its exceptional child protection in crash tests, awarding it full marks. It was only a lack of Isofix points in the front passenger and middle rear seats that lets its overall score down.
The E-Class’s adult protection is excellent, too. The minor damage sustained to the dummies suggests they could have walked away from their accidents (if they weren’t made from rubber and aluminium). Plus, the E-Class has a brilliant range of safety technology, that includes some clever automatic emergency braking system and speed assistance systems. If you value safety above all else when shopping for a family car, look no further.
To find out more, rear our Mercedes E-Class review
Pros
- Generous back seat space
- Clever driver assistance tech
- Impressive PHEV system
Cons
- Steel-sprung cars are harsh
- E200 model feels a little slow
Czechia’s plucky budget brand beats the big boys
Skoda’s been building five-star cars for a couple of decades now, but the fact the Superb is on the podium as one of the safest cars tested in 2024 is testament to how much the brand has matured. The Superb lives up to its namesake as a very safe car indeed.
It performed even better than the E-Class in adult occupant crash tests, while still scoring full marks for child occupant protection. The only thing that let the latter score down was its lack of an integrated child restraint system. Its safety technology is a little less comprehensive, but that’s to be expected given its more affordable price.
To find out more, read our Skoda Superb review
Pros
- Immensely practical
- Supremely comfortable
- High-quality interior
Cons
- Gutless mild hybrid engine
- Rivals are more fun to drive
It’s the Superb’s twin – so of course it’s safe
This is a classic case of Volkswagen Group badge engineering. The Passat shares its crash structure and safety technology with the Superb, so it obviously has the same Euro NCAP safety score. The only real differences between the two cars are the badges on their noses and the amount of money you’ll be expected to hand over to the dealer.
Spoiler alert – the equivalent Skoda Superb estate is £2,600 cheaper. But the Passat has a slightly swankier cabin with more modern touch-sensitive climate controls, which is sure to appeal to tech heads. If you’re looking for the absolute safest option from these two, though, we’d urge you to buy the Skoda. Its traditional climate control dials mean you can spend more time looking at the road.
To find out more, read our Volkswagen Passat review
Pros
- Excellent refinement
- Comfortable ride
- Amazing seat massagers
Cons
- No diesel model
- Annoying luggage cover
No other car can match it for child protection
The Q6 e-tron is the first of Audi’s next-generation electric cars – and it’s hit the ground running. Not only is it comfortable, good to drive and packed with impressive technology, but it also boasts the highest child occupant safety score of any car tested in 2024.
Why? Well, its body will shield your kids from a crash in the same way a Challenger II tank shields it soldiers from small arms fire, and it packed with child-focused safety equipment, such as Isofix points in the front and rear, and a child presence detection system that’ll alert you if you leave your children in the car. That latter piece of tech gives it the edge over its competitors, even if it is a bit daft. What parent forgets to get their kids from the car?
To find out more, read our Audi Q6 e-tron review
Pros
- Long electric driving range
- Good ride on air suspension
- More polished than any Tesla
Cons
- Rear-seat space is neat
- Fiddly touch-sensitive controls
The safest seven-seat SUV tested in 2024
The CX-80 was a bit of a rogue move from Mazda. In an age where most manufacturers are ditching their combustion powered cars for EVs, Mazda thought the best course of action was to launch a brand-new, seven-seat SUV powered by a 3.3-litre straight-six diesel.
And it couldn’t have been more right. The CX-80 is a fantastic SUV that’s great to drive, well-made and packed with equipment. And because its massive engine is under stressed, it’s remarkably fuel efficient. If all that wasn’t enough, it’s also the safest seven-seat SUV Euro NCAP tested last year, with excellent adult and child occupant protection scores.
To find out more, read our Mazda CX-80 review
Pros
- Spacious and flexible cabin
- High-quality interior finish
- Loads of standard equipment
Cons
- Unrefined PHEV model
- Boot not as useful as rivals'
It's a gamble, but at least it's safe
Why is the new Macan such a gamble? Well, the old petrol-powered model was the company’s best-selling car, but Porsche has tried to move the car with the times by turning it into an EV – but the recent drop in the company’s sales figures suggest its customer base isn’t all that happy about the change.
At least the new Macan is a safe motor. It protects its adult and child occupants very well indeed, and it’s even clever enough to stop you from clattering into pedestrians or cyclists (in most instances). If you’re looking for a safe posh SUV, it’s a good bet.
To find out more, read our Porsche Macan review
Pros
- Lovely steering system
- Good range and rapid charging
- Comfortable ride on 20s
Cons
- Sport Plus mode is too stiff
- Coupe styling eats boot space
<strong>A great long-distance EV for you and your family</strong>
We love the ID.7. So much, in fact, that we made it our Large Family Car of the Year for 2025 – and it’s stunning Euro NCAP safety rating backs up our decision. Like all the cars on this list, the ID.7 is great at protecting its passengers, but it’s also loaded with all the safety technology Volkswagen can chuck at a car, including its excellent Travel Assist system.
What makes the ID.7 stand out, though, is how easy it is engage and disengage the tech as required. In our experience, lane assist isn’t particularly useful on Britain’s narrow country roads as the technology will constantly fight you as it tries to determine where the (often non-existent) white lines are. But the ID.7 has a hot key on its infotainment system that lets you turn off lane assist with a single prod.
To find out more, read our Volkswagen ID.7 review
Pros
- Hugely practical family car
- Claimed 382-mile range
- Comfy on long journeys
Cons
- It’s utterly enormous
- Some interior quality issues
Smart #3
Smart's had a strong start to its rebrand
After a few years languishing in the doldrums, Smart exploded back onto scene in 2022 thanks to some fresh investment from new parent company, Geely. The #3 is the second car to come from the company’s rebirth – and it’s really rather good. Not only is it quiet, comfortable and very well built, but it’s also very safe in an accident.
Like all the best-performing cars, it has a centre airbag to stop front seat occupants from clashing heads in the event of a side-on impact and side curtain airbags to stop your kids from belting into the doors. It also has an extensive suite of safety kit which, although frustrating to use, makes sure you stay alert and in your lane.
To find out more, read our Smart #3 review
Pros
- Quiet and comfortable
- Well-built and spacious
- Quick charging technology
Cons
- Frustrating safety tech
- Complicated infotainment
Terrific value – especially when you look at its safety score
BYD is another brand that’s successfully broken into the UK market. It sells a range of unusual family cars with odd names – but it’s the entry-level Dolphin hatchback that’s the safest model in its line-up. And for such an affordable car (prices start from a very reasonable £26,000) it has an enviable safety reputation.
Occupant protection is good, and you get loads of standard safety equipment (as irritating as some of it might be on the road). BYD’s EVs also have rather clever battery packs, which the company says are more resistant to punctures and side impacts than the batteries from rival EVs. Plus, they won’t combust when damaged or ruptured.
To find out more, read our BYD Dolphin review
Pros
- Fantastic value for money
- Strong performance
- Comfortable cabin
Cons
- Over-eager driver assists
- Boot not the largest
One of the best cars on sale for driver assistance tech
Mercedes is making a name for itself in the driver assistance technology game. The latest E-Class has the best score of any new car tested in the last couple of years – and the EQE SUV placed joint second with the Smart #3. So, if you want a car that does as much thinking for you as possible, you might have found it.
Euro NCAP’s tests also proved it’s a safe companion in an accident (which it should be given its the sheer size), while its extensive suite of driver assistance tech means it should stop you from breezing over any vulnerable road users. It’s just a shame about the rest of the car. Follow the link below to find out wheyt we were left disappointed by it.
To find out more, read our Mercedes EQS SUV review
Pros
- Good interior space
- Responsive touchscreen
- Tidy handling
Cons
- Only five seats
- Lacking polish
The three least safe cars tested since 2023
We’ve included this section for more than cheap laugh. If you’re buying a new family car, crash performance will be one of your most important considerations.
But, as we’ll explain below, you should scrutinise Euro NCAP’s ratings closely. The safety body has placed more emphasis on driver assistance technology in the past couple of years, which has unfairly dragged down the star ratings of cars that do a perfectly good job of protecting their passengers in a crash.
If you’re shopping on a tight budget, it’s likely the cars you’re considering won’t be fitted with loads of safety tech to help keep their starting prices low. So, ask yourself whether the crash safety performance of the car you’re shopping for is satisfactory, whether you can live without the safety tech and, if not, whether you can stretch your budget a little further.
Remember – the very worst way to find out about the safety of your car is after an accident has happened. Go and watch the Dacia Spring’s crash test. It’s an undeniable screamer of a deal, but ask yourself whether you’d be comfortable putting your children in it.
Suzuki Swift
Affordable supermini, poor crash performance
On the surface, the Swift is a very attractive little car. It’s fun to drive, cheap to buy and affordable to run thanks its mild hybrid petrol engine and featherweight construction. But that latter point is its downfall in crash tests, as it has the worst child occupant protection score of any car Euro NCAP tested in 2024.
Because it’s cheap, it’s driver assistance tech isn’t anywhere near as sophisticated as its more expensive rivals. Its autonomous emergency braking system struggles to recognise pedestrians when turning into junctions and it’s confused when a car approaches it head on. All the more reason to be on the ball when you’re behind the wheel.
To find out more, read our Suzuki Swift review
Pros
- Great fun to drive
- Slick manual gearbox
- Affordable to buy
Cons
- Boot is pretty small
- And it isn't that safe
Dacia Duster
A sad victim of Euro NCAP’s safety tech fixation
This one seems unfair to us. The Duster crashes well – in fact, its child occupant score is just a few percentage points behind the Skoda Superb and Smart #3 – but, because it only has a simple suite of driver assistance technology, Euro NCAP has penalised it.
Euro NCAP described the Duster’s autonomous emergency braking performance as ‘adequate’ (which seems fair enough to us), but its basic speed assistance system and lack of a driver fatigue monitoring system drags its score down.
This a perfect example of why you should scrutinise the safety body’s work. The Duster’s crash structure will protect your family perfectly well in an impact, but it’s technology might not save you from getting into an accident in the first place.
To find out more, read our Dacia Duster review
Pros
- Clever, sensible interior
- Hybrid model is efficient
- Neat to drive and good off-road
Cons
- Wind and road noise
- Shallow rear window
Jeep Avenger
Pitiful pedestrian protection and sub-par safety tech
Jeep should be able to do better than this. It has the full engineering might of Stellantis behind it, but the Avenger – the car projected to be Jeep’s biggest seller – has the joint worst safety equipment of any car Euro NCAP tested in 2024. It doesn’t really crash that well, either. It’s the tenth worst for adult occupant protection and the second worst for child occupant protection, behind the Swift.
And, to compound that poor safety performance, it isn’t a particularly good car. It’s uninspiring to drive, it isn’t especially practical, it has an uncomfortable ride, and the electric version isn’t very efficient. If you’re in the market for a small SUV, you can do better.
To find out more, read our Jeep Avenger review
Pros
- Rugged off-road looks
- Efficient petrol engine
- Some off-road ability
Cons
- Average electric range
- Unsettled ride
Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us.
