10 of the safest cars you can buy

It’s a fact of life that new cars get safer every year, but protecting yourself and your family from danger on the roads doesn’t have to cost the earth if you buy a nearly new car. We’ve trawled the latest Euro NCAP figures to pick out eight of our favourite new and used cars which have earned a five-star safety rating. Find out more about how a car earns a five-star safety rating, or read on for our favourite safe family cars.

Tesla Model 3 (2025)

Adult occupant rating: 90%

Child occupant rating: 93%

Pedestrian protection: 89%

Driver assistance rating: 87%

The Tesla Model 3 isn't the newest EV on the block, but it's still one of the safest cars on the road. The child occupant rating in particular is exceptional, so if you've got kids there's more to the Model 3 than its whoopie cushion mode and the ability to play games on its screen. Its results are almost as fantastic for pedestrian and adult protection, too. While Euro NCAP has recently called Tesla's Autopilot system 'misleading' – it wrongly suggests the car can drive itself – the Model 3 does have plenty of driver assistance software, and more if you pay for the Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving packages. Still cheaper to pay attention to the road, mind.

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Mini Cooper E (2025)

Adult occupant rating: 89%

Child occupant rating: 87%

Pedestrian protection: 77%

Driver assistance rating: 79%

There's no need to worry about some small cars being safe – just look at the great results the Mini Cooper E achieved in 2025's Euro NCAP testing. It's worth pointing out that the electric and petrol Mini use completely different underpinnings, so these results only apply to the electric versions; the petrol Mini hasn't been tested yet. It's another string to the Mini Cooper's bow, along with fun handling, a range of around 180 miles (240 for the Cooper SE), a crystal-clear infotainment screen and the unmistakable styling.

Shop used Mini Cooper cars for sale or read our Mini Cooper review

Audi A6 e-tron (2025)

Adult occupant rating: 92%

Child occupant rating: 91%

Pedestrian protection: 75%

Driver assistance rating: 80%

Audi knows how to make a safe car – the new Q5 SUV got similarly good scores, but the sleeker A6 e-tron shows  SUVs aren't the only option when it comes to safety. Scoring over 90% for both adult and child protection is deeply impressive, not to mention incredibly reassuring. Note that this is for the electric A6, although the petrol one isn't far behind – when it was tested in 2024, it scored 87% for adult protection and 88% for child protection.

Read more about the Audi A6 e-tron and its front passenger touchscreen

MG HS (2024)

Adult occupant rating: 90%

Child occupant rating: 85%

Pedestrian protection: 83%

Driver assistance rating: 74%

You'd buy the previous-generation MG HS because it was cheap, but it didn't really stack up to rivals in some areas. The new MG HS is a different story – it's nice inside, has lots of legroom, a lengthy equipment list and the plug-in hybrid is one of the longest-range PHEVs on the market. Topping its qualities off is a glowing five-star safety score, featuring a 90% score for adult occupant protection, which shows you don't need to spend a fortune to protect you and your family. The MGS5, tested in 2025, also scored 90% for adult protection and a five-star overall result.

Shop used MG HS cars for sale or read our MG HS review

Mercedes E-Class (2024)

Adult occupant rating: 92%

Child occupant rating: 90%

Pedestrian protection: 84%

Driver assistance rating: 87%

If you can afford the latest Mercedes E-Class, you’ll get a sense of smug satisfaction. Not just because of the state-of-the-art interior and the E-Class’ mile-munching capabilities, but because of its excellent safety score, too. It offers one of the best safety ratings of any car tested in 2024, with outstanding scores for adult and child protection.

Shop used Mercedes E-Class cars for sale or read more about the new Mercedes E-Class

Audi Q6 e-tron (2024)

Adult occupant rating: 91%

Child occupant rating: 92%

Pedestrian protection: 81%

Driver assistance rating: 80%

The Audi Q6 e-tron sits alongside the new Audi Q5 in the brand’s range – it’s the fully electric option whereas the Q5 still comes with an engine. The Q6 uses Audi’s new PPE platform, and its impressive safety rating suggests that related cars like the new Audi A6 and Porsche Macan EV will do well, too. The Q6 promises up to 392 miles of electric driving.

Read more about the Audi Q6 e-tron

Volkswagen Passat (2024)

Adult occupant rating: 93%

Child occupant rating: 87%

Pedestrian protection: 82%

Driver assistance rating: 80%

Volkswagen’s evergreen Passat has been renewed for another generation, and this one’s probably the best yet – despite being estate-only in the UK and not having any diesel engines. It’s refined and comfortable, and it’s very economical – the petrol engine manages 50mpg or so and the plug-in hybrid offers a huge electric range.

Among all the other improvements, Volkswagen hasn’t forgotten to make the Passat as safe as possible. That adult score is particularly impressive, but there’s not a single blot on the Passat’s safety report.

Shop used Volkswagen Passat cars for sale or read our Volkswagen Passat review

Volkswagen ID.7 (2023)

Adult occupant rating: 95%

Child occupant rating: 88%

Pedestrian protection: 83%

Driver assistance rating: 80%

Volkswagen has finally unleashed its Tesla Model 3 rival to the world, and it could well be the brand’s best electric car yet. An improved infotainment system and efficiency are the car’s main focuses, with the latter helping to enable a claimed 435-mile range from the bigger 86kWh battery.

What’s more, VW has ensured that the ID.7 is up there with its newest rivals in terms of safety. Highlights include 95% for adult protection and 88% for child protection, which means the car is as mechanically comforting as it feels from behind the wheel.

Read our Volkswagen ID.7 review

BYD Dolphin (2023)

Adult occupant rating: 89%

Child occupant rating: 87%

Pedestrian protection: 85%

Driver assistance rating: 79%

Buy a BYD Dolphin and you’ll always find yourself answering the same two questions – what on earth is it, and why does it say ‘build your dreams’ across the tailgate, like a roadgoing live-laugh-love motto? Well, we’ll leave you to answer the second question, but we can answer the first.

The Dolphin is almost exactly the same size as the Volkswagen ID.3, and has similar stats – a 265-mile range, 201hp and a seven-second 0-62mph time could’ve been taken directly from VW’s website. But the Dolphin’s interior is a stand-out, featuring a riot of colours, shapes and textures that are unlike anything else on sale.

Of course, the Dolphin’s safety score isn’t up for debate. Actually, all of BYD’s UK-bound models have a five-star safety score – whether you pick the Tesla-rivalling Seal or the Atto 3 SUV, with guitar strings for door pockets.

Lexus RZ (2023)

Adult occupant rating: 87%

Child occupant rating: 87%

Pedestrian protection: 84%

Driver assistance rating: 81%

Lexus’ first ground-up electric car is just as striking as the rest of the brand’s cars – perhaps even more so with a fat slab of smooth bodywork where the delicate spindle grille would otherwise be.

We’re pleased to see that adult protection and child protection are equally impressive. Its safety scores, plus its space and comfortable ride make it a top family choice if you can afford it and if its electric powertrain suits your driving habits.

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