A vehicle’s safety rating is something that should rank highly on people’s priorities when choosing a car, and thankfully, customers can get a hold of those scores when searching for a brand new car.
Safety testing authority Euro NCAP tests most new cars sold in Europe, and every year it releases a class winner for each car category, so you can see which models rank highest in every major segment.
Vehicles are tested on four different categories – Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Pedestrian and Safety Assist -
Here, we list the top car in the seven categories so you can factor these vehicles into your next purchasing decision.
Executive – Volkswagen Arteon
Scoring at least 80 per cent in the four major categories, the Arteon brings stylish looks alongside its excellent safety rating. The mid-size saloon scores an almost-perfect 96 per cent in the adult occupant category, with pedestrian and child occupant both marked at 85 per cent. The lowest score is for safety assist, but that is still an impressive 82 per cent.
Large Off-Road – Volvo XC60
Not only did the XC60 come top in the large off-road segment, the SUV topped the overall ratings table for its truly excellent results. Adult occupant is 98 per cent – the highest score of the year – while safety assist is 95 per cent. Although pedestrian rating is down at 76 per cent, child occupant is much better at 87 per cent – meaning the XC60 is the safest car currently on sale.
Small Off-Road – Volkswagen T-Roc
The compact T-Roc crossover scored impressively, as many smaller cars are not known for being the safest. The latest addition to the VW SUV line-up scored impressively in adult occupant at 96 per cent, while child occupant is also very good at 87 per cent. The pedestrian and safety assist scores are still high for a small SUV, with scores of 79 per cent and 71 per cent in each category respectively.
Supermini – Volkswagen Polo
As superminis go, the Polo is one of the very best in many aspects, but safety is where it is the outright king. The Polo scored 96 per cent for the adult occupant rating, alongside 85 per cent for child occupant – excellent scores on both parts. The safety assist score is one of the lowest on the list – 59 per cent – while the pedestrian score is 76 per cent, a score you would expect for a smaller car.
Small MPV – Vauxhall Crossland X
Vauxhall’s mid-size SUV, the Crossland X, surprised many by coming out on top in this segment, taking over from Infiniti Q30. The compact model scored 85 per cent on adult occupant and 84 per cent for child occupant, while pedestrian and safety assist scored are at 62 per cent and 57 per cent respectively.
Small Family Car – Subaru XV
The compact crossover employs the brand’s EyeSight safety systems alongside a solid crash structure to ensure it scores well. The XV achieved ratings of 94 per cent in adult occupant, 89 per cent in child occupant and 84 per cent for pedestrian safety. The safety assist category came with a 68 per cent score as it isn’t quite as advanced as systems from other manufacturers.
Small Family Car – Subaru Impreza
The Subaru hatchback scored as impressively as its XV stablemate, with the same scores for adult occupant, child occupant and safety assist. The only change is in pedestrian safety, with the score at 82 per cent due to the vehicle’s lower front end. It’s still an impressive score and outscored its rivals well in all areas.
