10 safest cars on sale in the UK

Since 1997, the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) has been testing new cars launched for safety and security, awarding star ratings that consumers can use as a guide.

Euro NCAP undertakes a range of vehicle tests that are meant to replicate real-life crash scenarios that could result in car occupants or other road users being injured or killed. The number of stars awarded after the series of tests reflects how well the car performs, but they are also influenced by the safety equipment fitted to the vehicle.

We’ve pored over the most recent ratings and selected the safest cars currently on the market. All have five stars, so we’ve also looked at the four different test areas to determine which cars are the safest.

1) Volkswagen ID7

• Star rating: 5*
• Adult occupant: 95%
• Child occupant: 88%
• Vulnerable road users: 83%
• Safety assist: 80%

The new Volkswagen ID7 touts some impressive safety scores in this year’s Euro NCAP crash tests, placing it as one of the safest cars you can buy today. It particularly impressed in the adult occupant protection category, meaning the car’s structure should protect you well should the worst happen.

2) Smart #3

• Star rating: 5*
• Adult occupant: 90%
• Child occupant: 86%
• Vulnerable road users: 84%
• Safety assist: 85%

Following the smaller Smart #1, a car which also impressed in the last round of Euro NCAP testing, the new Smart #3 comes in at number two on this list. It scored highly across the board, however it was the adult occupant protection category where it scored the highest. This funky electric SUV also offers plenty of tech to help prevent a crash from happening in the first place including lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control.

3) BYD Dolphin

• Star rating: 5*
• Adult occupant: 89%
• Child occupant: 87%
• Vulnerable road users: 85%
• Safety assist: 79%

The new BYD Dolphin comes in at number three,with this small, great-value electric hatchback offering great protection for both adults and children. There’s some room for improvement in the safety assist category, however 79% is still a perfectly respectable score.

4) Mercedes EQE SUV

• Star rating: 5*
• Adult occupant: 87%
• Child occupant: 90%
• Vulnerable road users: 80%
• Safety assist: 85%

It’s no surprise that the Mercedes EQE SUV has ranked highly on this list, because the EQE saloon on which it’s based is also a very safe car. It’s in the child occupant protection category where this luxurious SUV really shines, and it offers plenty of preventative safety tech as well.

5) Lexus RZ

• Star rating: 5*
• Adult occupant: 87%
• Child occupant: 87%
• Vulnerable road users: 84%
• Safety assist: 81%

The RZ is the second all-electric model to come from Lexus, and it offers some impressive safety scores. It scored equally high in both the adult and child occupant protection categories, and it does a good job of protecting vulnerable road users as well.

6) BYD SEAL

• Star rating: 5*
• Adult occupant: 89%
• Child occupant: 87%
• Vulnerable road users: 82%
• Safety assist: 76%

The Seal is the second BYD to make it into the top 15 safest cars, with this Tesla Model 3 alternative scoring highest in the adult occupant protection category. It scored slightly less than the Dolphin in both the vulnerable road user and the safety assist categories, hence its place below that car in the list.

7) BMW 5 Series

• Star rating: 5*
• Adult occupant: 89%
• Child occupant: 85%
• Vulnerable road users: 86%
• Safety assist: 78%

The new BMW 5 Series is here, and this executive saloon car has performed well in its first safety tests. It performed best in the adult occupant protection category, followed closely by vulnerable road users.

8) Kia EV9

• Star rating: 5*
• Adult occupant: 84%
• Child occupant: 88%
• Vulnerable road users: 76%
• Safety assist: 83%

The much anticipated Kia EV9 is finally here, and this seven-seat electric SUV has performed well in the Euro NCAP safety tests. Children will be the best-protected occupants in the car, followed closely by the adults. There is room for improvement in the vulnerable road users category though.

9) Honda ZR-V

• Star rating: 4*
• Adult occupant: 79%
• Child occupant: 86%
• Vulnerable road users: 81%
• Safety assist: 68%

Taking the ninth spot is the new Honda ZR-V. It may be the first car on the list to score four out of five stars, however it still scored well in the child occupant and vulnerable road user categories. It could’ve done better on the safety assist front though.

10) Hyundai Kona

• Star rating: 4*
• Adult occupant: 80%
• Child occupant: 83%
• Vulnerable road users: 64%
• Safety assist: 60%

Last but by no means least, we have the new Hyundai Kona. This futuristic-looking small SUV scored well in the adult and child occupant protection categories, but it falls short of a five star rating thanks to a low mark on safety assist features.