Safety is obviously a high priority for most car buyers, so here we reveal the models that performed best and worst in the official Euro NCAP crash tests…
The safety experts at Euro NCAP have crash tested 44 cars since the toughest test standards yet were introduced last year, with 34 of those cars earning the maximum five-star rating.
Among them are such diverse vehicles as the Renault Clio small hatchback, the BMW X5 luxury SUV and the Audi E-tron electric car.
However, while Euro NCAP has stated that drivers have never been safer, there are still big differences between the very best and worst performers. So, below we count down the cars with the 10 best scores – and reveal the models that received one star or less.
The top 10:
=10. Mercedes B-Class
Adult occupant protection 96% Child occupant protection 90% Pedestrian protection 78% Safety Assist 75%
Total Euro NCAP score 339/400
Based on the Mercedes A-Class family hatchback, but with more space for passengers and luggage, the B-Class offers its occupants good protection, regardless of their size. Plus, even entry-level versions come with automatic emergency braking and a system that monitors the driver for signs of drowsiness.
=10. Seat Tarraco
Adult occupant protection 97% Child occupant protection 84% Pedestrian protection 79% Safety Assist 79%
Total Euro NCAP score 339/400
This seven-seat SUV is closely related to the Skoda Kodiaq – another car with a five-star Euro NCAP rating. However, it’s the Tarraco that scored higher for adult, child and pedestrian protection.
Read our full Seat Tarraco review or see our latest Tarraco deals
=10. Mazda 3
Adult occupant protection 98% Child occupant protection 87% Pedestrian protection 81% Safety Assist 73%
Total Euro NCAP score 339/400
In addition to its impressive safety credentials, Mazda’s latest answer to the Volkswagen Golf has one of the plushest and quietest interiors of any family car.
Read our full Mazda 3 review or see our latest 3 deals
9. Lexus UX
Adult occupant protection 96% Child occupant protection 85% Pedestrian protection 82% Safety Assist 77%
Total Euro NCAP score 340/400
We don’t rate Lexus’s smallest SUV particularly highly, because it’s mediocre to drive and very cramped. However, every variant comes with a Safety System Plus package, which includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance and road sign detection.
Read our full Lexus UX review or see our latest UX deals
8. Skoda Scala
Adult occupant protection 97% Child occupant protection 87% Pedestrian protection 81% Safety Assist 76%
Total Euro NCAP score 341/400
Cheap to buy, more spacious than a Golf and available with the VW Group’s latest safety tech, the Scala is a fine all-rounder that should be on the shortlist of anyone in the market for a family hatchback.
Read our full Skoda Scala review or see our latest Scala deals
=5. Toyota RAV4
Adult occupant protection 93% Child occupant protection 87% Pedestrian protection 85% Safety Assist 77%
Total Euro NCAP score 342/400
Large SUVs are all gas-guzzling planet polluters, right? Well, not the Toyota RAV4, because thanks to hybrid power, it pumps out less CO2 than a 1.0-litre Ford Fiesta.
Read our full Toyota RAV4 review or see our latest RAV4 deals
=5. Toyota Corolla
Adult occupant protection 95% Child occupant protection 84% Pedestrian protection 86% Safety Assist 77%
Total Euro NCAP score 342/400
As good as the latest RAV4 is, we reckon it’s Toyota’s Corolla hatchback that’s the best hybrid currently on sale. And it also shades its sister car in this list.
Read our full Toyota Corolla review or see our latest Corolla deals
=5. Audi Q3
Adult occupant protection 95% Child occupant protection 86% Pedestrian protection 66% Safety Assist 85%
Total Euro NCAP score 342/400
Until recently, the Q3 had the highest Safety Assist score of any car tested under the latest criteria. The list of systems that are standard includes blindspot monitoring and a lane-keeping system that can steer the car back into its original lane to prevent a head-on collision.
Read our full Audi Q3 review or see our latest Q3 deals
4. Volkswagen T-Cross
Adult occupant protection 97% Child occupant protection 86% Pedestrian protection 81% Safety Assist 80%
Total Euro NCAP score 344/400
Given that it’s Volkswagen’s smallest and most affordable SUV yet, the presence of the T-Cross in such a high position is hugely impressive. In fact, the T-Cross performs well in most respects, also being practical, comfortable and good to drive.
Adult occupant protection 91% Child occupant protection 87% Pedestrian protection 90% Safety Assist 87%
Total Euro NCAP score 345/400
Modern luxury saloons tend to use diesel engines, but the ES is different, combining a 2.5-litre petrol unit with an electric motor. This approach makes for a car that’s whisper-quiet around town and when cruising on the motorway but a bit noisy under acceleration. The ride is comfortable and company car tax bills are comparatively low.
Read our full Lexus ES review or see our latest ES deals
2. Tesla Model 3
Adult occupant protection 96% Child occupant protection 86% Pedestrian protection 74% Safety Assist 94 %
Total Euro NCAP score 350/400
Tesla is famous for pushing the boundaries of autonomous driving technology, so it’s perhaps not surprising that the new Model 3 scored so highly in the Safety Assist section. However, Euro NCAP found that it also performs well when a crash is unavoidable.
Read our full Tesla Model 3 review
1. Mercedes A-Class
Adult occupant protection 96% Child occupant protection 91% Pedestrian protection 92% Safety Assist 75%
Total Euro NCAP score 354/400
Despite being the cheapest model in the Mercedes range, the latest A-Class has the highest combined score of any car tested by Euro NCAP since it introduced its toughest test procedures to date, back at the start of 2018. Hardly surprising, then, that the A-Class won the Safety Award at the 2019 What Car? Car of the Year Awards.
Read our full Mercedes A-Class review or see our latest A-Class deals
Source – https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars/n19732
