Top 10 Safest Cars to Buy Right Now (Euro NCAP Rated)

Looking for the safest car on the market? We’ve rounded up the top 10 safest cars you can buy right now, based on official Euro NCAP crash test results. Whether you’re after a compact family car, a rugged SUV, or a cutting-edge electric vehicle, this guide covers the best-performing models across every category.

Why Are Cars Getting Safer?

Car safety has improved dramatically over the past few decades — and much of that progress can be traced back to one initiative. Since the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) was introduced in 1997, an estimated 78,000 lives have been saved thanks to its rigorous safety ratings.

Euro NCAP’s independent crash tests pushed automakers to take safety seriously. When the first results were published, they caused significant controversy in the industry:

• Manufacturers protested that the Euro NCAP tests were too demanding and that high scores were simply out of reach
• Popular models flopped — well-known cars like the Rover 100, Fiat Punto, and Nissan Micra scored only two stars, shocking both consumers and carmakers
• Standards rose over time — faced with public scrutiny, manufacturers began redesigning vehicles specifically to improve crash performance

Do Safer Cars Mean Cheaper Insurance?

A car’s safety rating doesn’t just protect lives — it can also reduce what you pay for car insurance. Here’s how safety technology directly impacts your premiums:

• AEB is now mandatory for top scores — since 2014, all new cars must be fitted with an Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) system to achieve the maximum points in Euro NCAP tests
• Insurers reward AEB-equipped cars — studies show that AEB reduces the risk of accidents by up to 27%, leading many insurers to offer lower premiums on cars fitted with the system
• Higher safety ratings = lower risk — the fewer claims a vehicle model generates, the more favourably insurers price it

How Are Cars Rated for Safety?

The ratings below are based on Euro NCAP assessments published in January 2020. Each car is evaluated across four key categories, with results expressed as a percentage:

• Adult passenger protection — how well the car protects the driver and adult occupants in a crash
• Child passenger protection — safety performance for younger occupants
• Pedestrian protection — how the vehicle minimises injury risk to people outside the car
• Safety assist — the effectiveness of driver assistance and crash avoidance technology

We’ve selected the top performers in each vehicle class so you can easily find the safest option for your needs.

The Safest Compact Family Cars

Mercedes-Benz CLA

The Mercedes-Benz CLA topped the compact family car category, scoring above 90% in three of the four safety categories — the best overall result in the class.

• Adult passenger protection: 96%
• Child passenger protection: 91%
• Pedestrian protection: 77%
• Safety assist: 75%

The CLA’s AEB system performed especially well in low-speed urban scenarios — the conditions most commonly associated with whiplash injuries. In every test scenario, collisions were either fully avoided or significantly reduced in severity.

Mazda 3

The Mazda 3 claimed second place in the compact family class and earned the highest adult passenger protection score of any subcompact car in the entire rating.

• Adult passenger protection: 98%
• Child passenger protection: 87%
• Pedestrian protection: 81%
• Safety assist: 73%

Mazda’s standard AEB system — referred to by the brand as its “safe braking system” — delivered strong results in low-speed city driving tests, where rear-end collisions and whiplash injuries are most likely to occur.

The Safest SUVs

Tesla Model X

The Tesla Model X shared the top spot in the SUV category with the BMW 3 Series, excelling in particular for its active safety technology — one of the highest scores in that category across the entire rating.

• Adult passenger protection: 98%
• Child passenger protection: 81%
• Pedestrian protection: 72%
• Safety assist: 94%

Testing confirmed that the front seats and head restraints offer solid protection against whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions.

BMW 3 Series

The BMW 3 Series co-leads the SUV category alongside the Tesla Model X, with a standout performance in pedestrian protection — a category where it outscored Tesla by a wide margin.

• Adult passenger protection: 97%
• Child passenger protection: 87%
• Pedestrian protection: 87%
• Safety assist: 76%

The BMW 3 Series achieved maximum points in side crash tests, demonstrating excellent protection across all critical body areas — both in standard barrier impacts and in more severe pole-collision scenarios.

SEAT Tarraco

The SEAT Tarraco rounds out the safest SUVs, delivering consistently strong results across all four safety categories and earning maximum points in side-impact testing.

• Adult passenger protection: 97%
• Child passenger protection: 84%
• Pedestrian protection: 79%
• Safety assist: 79%

The Safest Electric Car and Hybrid

Tesla Model 3

The Tesla Model 3 is the top-rated electric vehicle in the Euro NCAP assessment, and one of the highest-scoring cars in the Safety Assist category across the entire test programme.

• Adult passenger protection: 96%
• Child passenger protection: 86%
• Pedestrian protection: 74%
• Safety assist: 94%

As with the Model X, testing confirmed that the front seats and head restraints provide effective protection against whiplash injuries during rear-end collisions.

The Safest Small-Class SUV and Minivan

Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester is the standout performer in the small SUV and minivan segment, earning impressive scores across the board in Euro NCAP crash testing.

• Adult passenger protection: 97%
• Child passenger protection: 91%
• Pedestrian protection: 80%
• Safety assist: 78%

The Forester’s front seats and head restraints proved particularly effective at protecting occupants from whiplash injuries in rear-end collision tests.

The Safest Compact SUVs and B-Class Cars

The Safest B-Class Cars

Audi A1

The Audi A1 Sportback claimed joint first place in the B-class category alongside the Renault Clio, delivering a well-rounded safety performance across all four areas.

• Adult passenger protection: 95%
• Child passenger protection: 85%
• Pedestrian protection: 73%
• Safety assist: 80%

Renault Clio

One of Europe’s best-selling and most beloved hatchbacks, the Renault Clio proves it doesn’t compromise on safety either — tying with the Audi A1 at the top of the B-class standings.

• Adult passenger protection: 96%
• Child passenger protection: 89%
• Pedestrian protection: 72%
• Safety assist: 75%

Ford Puma

A strong newcomer to the safety rankings, the Ford Puma earns its place alongside the Clio and Audi A1 with a no-compromise approach to passenger and pedestrian protection.

• Adult passenger protection: 94%
• Child passenger protection: 84%
• Pedestrian protection: 77%
• Safety assist: 74%