The safest cars on sale in 2024 - the latest crash tests
The safety tests for new cars were toughened up in 2023, making it harder for new cars to achieve the full five-star rating. Which models make it onto our list of the safest cars?...
The European New Car Assessment Programme or EuroNCAP may have started crash testing cars in 1997, but the international safety organisation is continually enhancing and tweaking the tests new cars need to go through to be assessed as part of its safety rating programme.
The latest testing regime was introduced last year, and now includes a number of tougher tests to see how well cars are able to detect and avoid collisions with motorcyclists and vulnerable road users in more complex situations. These include alerts or interventions when a car is turning right at a junction and when it’s crossing the path of an oncoming vehicle. A wide range of tests of systems which fall under the advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) banner, plus night-time tests of active safety systems are now carried out, too.
There is now also a requirement for cars to have a driver monitoring system to warn against drowsiness or inattention, and a warning system to stop the driver from opening their door and hitting a cyclist if one is riding alongside the car.
New models should also have emergency systems that allow people to open the doors and windows after a car has been submerged in water. Extra marks will also be added for vehicles that come as standard with an in-car system that alerts the driver if a child has been left in the car.
To achieve the coveted five-star rating, each new model has to comply with these exacting new targets, as well as provide exemplary physical crash protection.
The highest-scoring model tested under the latest regime is the Mercedes E-Class. As well as providing exemplary protection for those inside the car, the E-Class is kitted out with advanced active safety systems that help to prevent accidents with other vehicles and road users. Its active safety score of 87% is the highest of any car that’s been through the latest tests.
The Zeekr X small SUV is one of many new electric models arriving from China. It's based on the same underpinnings as the Volvo EX30, which is a good thing as it appears to have taken onboard that brand's ambition to build extremely safe vehicles. It provides excellent protection for those inside the car, and for other road users.
Another superbly safe all-rounder is the Volkswagen ID 7, which takes the third spot overall, scoring well across the board.
In total, 39 new vehicles have been tested under Euro NCAP's latest standards, although not all will be on sale in the UK any time soon. The five-star models include the newBMW 5 Series, which includes the BMW i5 electric model, theBYD Dolphin,Kia EV9 and the Lexus RZ.
The nine models that scored less than five stars are the Dacia Duster,Ford Tourneo Custom, Honda Z-RV,Honda CR-V,Hyundai Kona, Jeep Avenger, Renault Captur, Renault Symbioz, Suzuki Swift and the Vinfast VF8 from Vietnam.
Here, we list the top 10 safest cars that are either on sale now, or arriving later in 2024.
The top 10 safest cars
1. Mercedes E-Class — the safest new car on sale
Adult occupant protection 92% Child occupant protection 90% Pedestrian protection 84% Safety Assist 87%
Total Euro NCAP score 353/400
The Mercedes E-Class is an elegant, classy and well-equipped executive express. It’s offered with a range of petrol and diesel engines, and is one of the last new internal combustion-engined models Mercedes will launch before its range goes fully electric. If you want an electric alternative, check out the Mercedes EQE, which scores almost as well for safety.
The E-Class is the safest car of all those tested under the latest EuroNCAP test regime. As well as offering a high level of protection for adults and children travelling in the car, its autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system is good at spotting and responding to potential collisions with pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists. It was able to avoid impacts with other vehicles in almost all tests.
It also ticks all the boxes for the latest EuroNCAP tests, including the standard fitment of a warning system that alerts the driver to the presence of a cyclist driving along the side of the car, and another system that tells the driver if a child has been left in the car.
Read our in-depth Mercedes E-Class review
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2. Zeekr X
Adult occupant protection 91% Child occupant protection 90% Pedestrian protection 84% Safety Assist 83%
Total Euro NCAP score 348/400
The Zeekr X gained full marks for the side impact crash test, offering good protection to all those seated inside the vehicle. In the front-end crash, it demonstrated that it would be moderately benign in a collision with another vehicle.
Protection for other road users is also good. The Zeekr X's autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system was able to prevent collisions with cyclists in all test scenarios, gaining the maximum possible points for this area of testing. It's also fitted with a system that prevents front seat occupants from opening a door onto a cyclist riding beside the car.
The Zeekr X comes as standard with a system that automatically applies the brakes after a collision to avoid a secondary impact, and it's designed so that the car doors can be opened and the electric windows can be used by occupants after the car has been submerged in water.
3. Volkswagen ID 7
Adult occupant protection 95% Child occupant protection 88% Pedestrian protection 83% Safety Assist 80%
Total Euro NCAP score 346/400
The ID 7 is the safest car of all those tested under the latest EuroNCAP test regime. It gained full marks for the full-width frontal crash test, providing excellent protection for a wide range of people of different statures sitting in a number of positions in the vehicle.
It also excels in some of the newest tests aimed at protecting the most vulnerable road users. It has a pop-up bonnet that helps to reduce head injuries of pedestrians and cyclists should they be struck by the car, and its crash avoidance system is able to detect motorcyclists extremely well and avoid collisions with them.
The ID 7’s active driver assistance systems are effective yet unobtrusive. They are a significant improvement over previous versions of the group’s active driver safety systems, especially lane keeping assistance, which was considered too abrupt and intrusive by drivers.
Read our in-depth Volkswagen ID 7 review
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=4. NIO ET5
Adult occupant protection 96% Child occupant protection 85% Pedestrian protection 83% Safety Assist 81%
Total Euro NCAP score 345/400
The NIO ET5 is the Chinese car maker's answer to the Tesla Model 3. An electric executive saloon and estate, it is good to drive and well-appointed, and it’s made by a brand that’s starting to gain credibility in Europe. It's expected to go on sale in the UK in early 2025.
Its adult occupant protection is exemplary, and it’s also pretty good at protecting children onboard.
The AEB system responds to vulnerable road users, as well as to other vehicles. It worked well at spotting pedestrians and children in daylight, and motorcyclists in all conditions. The lane-keeping support system worked well, but was not too intrusive. The only shortcoming was with the system that detects cyclists pedalling alongside the car, which didn’t work that well.
=4. Smart #3
Adult occupant protection 90% Child occupant protection 86% Pedestrian protection 84% Safety Assist 85%
Total Euro NCAP score 345/400
The Smart #3 is a longer, wider coupé version of the Smart #1 electric SUV that promises a slightly sportier drive and a sleeker roof line that doesn’t significantly compromise practicality.
It’s also exceptionally good at protecting those inside and outside of the car in the event of an accident. The AEB system reacts well to the presence of vulnerable road users, particularly cyclists and motorcyclists, and it’s also good at detecting other vehicles in the various test scenarios. There’s also a driver monitoring system that can spot various forms of inattention as well as fatigue.
Adult occupant protection 91% Child occupant protection 92% Pedestrian protection 81% Safety Assist 80%
Total Euro NCAP score 344/400
The Q6 e-tron is an electric SUV that slots above the Audi Q4 e-tron and below the Audi Q8 e-tron in Audi’s line-up. It was developed alongside the Porsche Macan Electric, but majors on comfort and long-distance cruising ability rather than the sporty handling of its sibling.
It provides a very good level of protection for adults of all sizes and children who are travelling in the car, but it’s not a very benign crash partner in an oncoming collision with another vehicle. It also has a child presence detection system. Active safety is another strong point, with the AEB system able to detect other vehicles and automatically activate to prevent a crash in most test scenarios. The system’s response to cyclists was good, but only average when it came to pedestrians.
Read our in-depth Audi Q6 e-tron review
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=6. Zeekr 001
Adult occupant protection 89% Child occupant protection 88% Pedestrian protection 84% Safety Assist 83%
Total Euro NCAP score 344/400
The 001 is a swoopy, pure electric estate car that aims to rival the Porsche Taycan. Although its EuroNCAP score is slightly behind the Zeekr X, it's still a very safe vehicle. As well as performing well in the frontal crash tests, it gained maximum points in the collision with a side barrier, providing good protection for all critical bodyparts of those inside the car.
Like the X, the 001 has a system that applies the brakes after an accident, and it enables those inside the car to get out if it's enters water. It also comes with an alert system to tell parents if a child as accidentally been left in the car. Although it has a driver monitoring system, this only detects fatigue and not distraction, so it didn't gain full marks.
=8. Mercedes EQE
Adult occupant protection 87% Child occupant protection 90% Pedestrian protection 80% Safety Assist 85%
Total Euro NCAP score 342/400
The EQE is a refined and comfortable electric car with a long driving range. The EQE 300 and 350 have an official range of 388 miles and, although you’re only likely to get around 325 miles in real-world driving, that’s still five miles more than a Tesla Model 3 Long Range.
With strong scores in all four EuroNCAP rating areas, the EQE is a great safety all-rounder. It stands out for gaining the highest marks for child occupant protection, with its score bolstered by an automatic front passenger airbag deactivation system (most systems have to be manually turned off or on to accommodate a child seat safely), and a child presence detection system. In addition, the AEB system is good at detecting pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
Read our in-depth Mercedes EQE review
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=8. Skoda Superb
Adult occupant protection 93% Child occupant protection 87% Pedestrian protection 82% Safety Assist 80%
Total Euro NCAP score 342/400
The Skoda Superb is based on the same platform as the latest Volkswagen Passat, but while the VW is only available as an estate, the Skoda can also be bought as a hatchback. In typical Skoda fashion, it majors on interior space, practicality and value for money.
When it comes to safety, standards are just as high: the Superb offered exemplary levels of occupant protection, and good protection to all critical body areas of both adult and child occupants, in all four full-scale crash tests. The active safety systems were good at avoiding collisions with pedestrians, and they scored full marks for their response to cyclists and motorcyclists.
Read our in-depth Skoda Superb review
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=8. Volkswagen Passat
Adult occupant protection 93% Child occupant protection 87% Pedestrian protection 82% Safety Assist 80%
Total Euro NCAP score 342/400
Available only as an estate, the Volkswagen Passat, is roomier than ever, having been developed alongside the eminently spacious Skoda Superb. It's a comfortable, refined and hugely practical choice with a smart interior. The plug-in hybrid version is a cheap company car.
In addition to providing excellent protection for adult and child occupants, the Passat isn’t too harmful in a frontal impact with another vehicle. The AEB active safety system was good at spotting pedestrians, and even better at spotting cyclists and motorcyclists and avoiding impacts with them. It was also able to avoid a collision with another vehicle in most tests.
Read our in-depth Volkswagen Passat review
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