Best cars for safety 2025

By Craig Hale

Last updated: 1 July 2025

As technology develops and standards raise, each new generation of car introduces even more safety features. But how do all these new features enhance safety, and how can you tell which cars are the safest?

The newer, the better

Automotive safety technology has come on leaps and bounds in the past decade, with many new cars now packed with all kinds of features to protect the occupants.

The pace of change has been pretty dizzying, so even a couple of years could make a big difference. And then there's the fact that features that were on higher-end cars a few years ago are now trickling down into smaller cars, which can only be good news.

If you want to compare cars in more detail, it's worth checking out the Euro NCAP website, where cars are independently crash tested and rated across four separate categories: adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, vulnerable road user protection and safety assist systems.

Safest cars:

• Tesla Model 3

• Polestar 3

• Mazda CX-80

• Hyundai IONIQ 6

• Volkswagen Taigo

• Volvo XC60

The safest cars to buy in the UK:

Tesla Model 3

The Model 3 is packed with sensors including a handful of exterior cameras to give it full 360-degree vision, which isn't just good for 'Autopilot' self-driving, but also for Tesla's active safety systems.

Judges were impressed with this car across all four categories, which were rated between 87% and 93%, resulting in a strong overall rating.

Polestar 3

A large electric SUV with a classy Swedish design, the Polestar 3's grille area has been rebranded as the 'SmartZone', packed with cameras, sensors and a radar.

Occupant protection was rated between 90% and 93% thanks to a comfortable and ergonomic interior backed by decades of Volvo research (Polestar and Volvo are part of the same company).

Mazda CX-80

With up to seven seats and a choice of plug-in hybrid or diesel powertrains, the Mazda CX-80 could just be the perfect family SUV.

It scored between 79% and 92% across the four separate areas, resulting in a full five-star safety rating.

Hyundai IONIQ 6

The Hyundai IONIQ 6's bold design isn't just to turn heads – it's all about aerodynamics, meaning it's among the most efficient electric cars out there.

Adult occupant protection is about as good as it gets, at 97%, but some other scores are suboptimal. Still, Euro NCAP was happy, because this electric car got a five-star rating.

Volkswagen Taigo

Based on the Polo but taking the form of a crossover, the Taigo has that all-important high-up seating position and smart, coupé-like looks.

Where it stands out is that it got better scores than the Polo when it was crash tested, so you can have your crossover cake and eat it.

Volvo XC60

The Volvo XC60 is a comfortable family SUV with a range of combustion and electrified powertrains, but it's the endless list of standard equipment that really impresses.

In fact, the 95% score on safety assist systems is hard to beat, and no Volvo model launched since the XC60 has beaten it yet (at the time of writing).

Active safety

Active safety systems are broadly controlled by the car's computers, and increasingly rely on sensors like cameras and LiDAR to provide them with more context. Here are some common examples:

• ABS – the anti-lock braking system prevents the wheels from locking up under sharp deceleration, like an emergency stop

• ESC – electronic stability control can prevent a car from skidding by automatically applying the brakes to move the car's centre of gravity

• AEB – autonomous emergency braking uses sensors to detect obstacles ahead of the car and applies the brakes if you're on course for a collision

• LKA – lane-keep assist is a system that usually vibrates the wheel, flashes up a dashboard symbol or emits a sound to warn you that you're crossing lanes inadvertently (not to be confused with a self-steering system)

• RCTA – many cars now have rear cross traffic alert to let you know if you're about to hit a car or pedestrian when reversing out of a bay parking space

Passive safety

You can think of passive safety systems as part of a car's design – they'll generally lessen the impact of a collision rather than aim to prevent it. Some examples include:

• Pre-tensioning seatbelts – these hold you tightly in place so you don't jerk forward in the event of a collision

• Head restraints – specially designed head restraints and backrests can prevent whiplash in some cases

• ISOFIX – these are hooks attached to the car's frame that you can connect a child seat to for added security

Explore the safest cars:

It's not hard to find the right car with a five-star safety rating, so whether it's a city runabout you're after or your next family SUV, why not browse from thousands of our used cars from the comfort of your own sofa?

Learn more:

• Best cars for security

• Best cars for economy