Safest cars for sale in the UK 2026
These are the cars that have aced Euro NCAP’s safety testing
No matter which type of car you’re thinking of buying, or what you’re planning to use it for, you’ll understandably want to keep yourself and any passengers as safe as possible. The good news is that as safety technology continues to develop at a rapid pace, the safest cars for sale in the UK now offer more advanced systems and protection than ever before.
Many brands have claimed to build the safest cars over the years, but rather than taking their word at face value, Euro NCAP puts every model it tests through a rigorous regime in order to truly determine the safest cars you can buy. It’s the outcome of these expert tests that have resulted in our list of the safest cars you can buy in the UK.
How do Euro NCAP safety ratings work?
Euro NCAP is an independent safety testing organisation that conducts various tests on new cars to determine how they structurally withstand a severe impact and how effectively their advanced safety systems operate.
Once the testing is complete, the scores are broken down into four key categories; adult occupant, child occupant, vulnerable road users and safety assist. These scores then contribute towards an overall safety rating which is measured using a star system (similar to our in-depth reviews).
It’s important to note, though, that Euro NCAP regularly updates its testing regime. In 2023, several new measures were introduced, including increased penalties for poor adult occupant protection performance, additional brain injury criteria, expanded post-crash technology testing and a vehicle submergence test. As a result of this increased stringency, tests carried out prior to 2023 are not directly comparable to those which have taken place since, so they have been omitted from this list.
Euro NCAP will be rolling out a major overhaul to its 2026 safety testing, so we’ll need to wait and see how that impacts our top 10 safest cars list. The updates will introduce a new four-stage safety rating and expanded areas being tested, including real-world crash avoidance, occupant protection across different body types, driver monitoring systems, the usability of safety technologies, and post-crash safety performance.
Our top 10 list is based on the cars which have a full five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, along with the highest adult occupant category scores. There are plenty of other cars which have the full five stars but slightly lower adult occupant scores, so you can also find these in the tables at the bottom of this page.
Volkswagen ID.7
- Prices from £51,000
- Euro NCAP Rating: 5 stars (2023)
- Adult occupant score: 95%
- Child occupant score: 88%
- Vulnerable road users score: 83%
- Safety assist score: 80%
Our expert road testers are in agreement that the Volkswagen ID.7 is the brand’s best all-round EV to date. Not only does this electric executive car offer space for families and up to 437 miles of range on the WLTP combined cycle, but it’s also by far one of the safest cars you can currently buy. We admit this isn’t a cheap car, but it certainly appears that you really do get what you pay for.
Mercedes CLA
- Prices from £45,000
- Euro NCAP Rating: 5 stars (2025)
- Adult occupant score: 94%
- Child occupant score: 89%
- Vulnerable road users score: 93%
- Safety assist score: 85%
Unveiled in 2025, the Mercedes CLA has already made a strong impression. Its all-new EV platform delivers an impressive claimed range of up to 483 miles, while also offering excellent comfort and refinement on the road.
Inside, the cabin has received an upgrade, with two high-quality screens dominating the dashboard. Mercedes clearly hasn’t cut any corners when it comes to safety either with the CLA topping Euro NCAP’s safety rankings for 2025, beating the Tesla Model Y to the crown.
Skoda Superb
- Prices from £36,000
- Euro NCAP Rating: 5 stars (2024)
- Adult occupant score: 93%
- Child occupant score: 87%
- Vulnerable road users score: 82%
- Safety assist score: 80%
The Skoda Superb offers a number of premium car touches, but at a slightly more humble starting price. Along with its upmarket feel, the Superb is hugely practical and suitable for family car duties thanks to its spacious cabin and up to 645 litres of boot space. If you want maximum stretching room there’s also the option of Skoda Superb Estate, and this just so happens to be our 2025 Estate Car of the Year.Skoda Superb deals
Mercedes CLE
- Prices from £47,000
- Euro NCAP Rating: 5 stars (2025)
- Adult occupant score: 93%
- Child occupant score: 89%
- Vulnerable road users score: 87%
- Safety assist score: 83%
The Mercedes CLE blends elements of the C-Class and E-Class saloons into a stylish two-door executive coupe with plenty of appeal. It’s no sports car, but its smooth power delivery makes it far better suited to relaxed motorway cruising than aggressive driving on back roads.
The CLE is offered with a choice of combustion and hybrid powertrains, although the pricier petrol models would be our pick of the range. Euro NCAP tested the CLE in 2025, awarding it a five-star rating along with an impressive 93% score for adult occupant protection.
Volkswagen Passat
- Prices from £40,000
- Euro NCAP Rating: 5 stars (2024)
- Adult occupant score: 93%
- Child occupant score: 87%
- Vulnerable road users score: 82%
- Safety assist score: 80%
The latest Volkswagen Passat is closely related to the Skoda Superb, and both cars share the exact same safety scores. However, unlike its Czech counterpart, the VW is only available as an estate car. This is by no means a bad thing, though, as there’s acres of space inside. If you don’t mind losing a little bit of boot capacity, the plug-in hybrid model can return up to 77 miles of pure-electric range, and this will easily help to drive down costs and emissions.
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Audi A6 e-tron
- Prices from £62,000
- Euro NCAP Rating: 5 stars (2025)
- Adult occupant score: 92%
- Child occupant score: 91%
- Vulnerable road users score: 75%
- Safety assist score: 80%
It took quite a while for Audi to enter the electric executive car world, but it appears that taking its time was the right move. The Audi A6 e-tron feels as high-quality as we’ve come to expect from the brand, and a maximum claimed range of 463 miles makes this one of the longest-range electric cars on sale. It’s literally a winning combination as we named the A6 e-tron our 2025 Large Company Car of the Year.
Mercedes E-Class
- Prices from £56,000
- Euro NCAP Rating: 5 stars (2024)
- Adult occupant score: 92%
- Child occupant score: 90%
- Vulnerable road users score: 84%
- Safety assist score: 87%
The latest Mercedes E-Class is the most tech-filled generation yet, and this includes a healthy list of active safety kit. Merc’s executive saloon hasn’t lost sight of its roots, though, as it’s still an exceptionally comfortable place to be. It’ll also cover plenty of miles in a very refined manner. Perhaps the best news, though, is that long journeys shouldn’t cost a fortune as even the entry-level petrol variant officially returns over 40mpg.
BYD Seal 6
- Prices from £35,000
- Euro NCAP Rating: 5 stars (2025)
- Adult occupant score: 92%
- Child occupant score: 90%
- Vulnerable road users score: 84%
- Safety assist score: 85%
The BYD Seal 6 stands out in today’s market by being a plug-in hybrid estate, rather than another SUV or fully electric model. BYD claims the Seal 6 can achieve a combined efficiency of more than 100mpg and a total driving range in excess of 900 miles. On a recent test we achieved a still impressive 58.9mpg.
Safety is another strong suit. In Euro NCAP’s most recent tests, the Seal 6 scored 92% for adult occupant protection and an excellent 90% for child occupants. Combined with its generous 500-litre boot, that makes the Seal 6 a compelling choice for families focused on safety, practicality and efficiency.
Mazda CX-80
- Prices from £50,000
- Euro NCAP Rating: 5 stars (2024)
- Adult occupant score: 92%
- Child occupant score: 88%
- Vulnerable road users score: 84%
- Safety assist score: 79%
There is a lot to like about the seven-seat Mazda CX-80, with the most obvious being a huge amount of space inside. All occupants are well looked after because the Mazda scored highly for adult and child occupancy safety, and the CX-80 looks after other road users, too. Premium looks and feel don’t come with an excessive price tag, while the plug-in hybrid petrol or diesel engines offer low running costs.
Polestar 4
- Prices from £55,000
- Euro NCAP Rating: 5 stars (2025)
- Adult occupant score: 92%
- Child occupant score: 85%
- Vulnerable road users score: 81%
- Safety assist score: 79%
If you decide to buy a Polestar 4 you will literally never look back as this car doesn’t have a rear window. While this is a highly unusual and somewhat controversial approach to car design, a lack of glass hasn’t negatively impacted the 4’s safety. Of course, you can still see whatever’s lurking behind you as there’s a rear-view camera in place of a mirror. There’s plenty of other great tech inside, too, including a Google-based infotainment system which we found very easy and slick to use during testing.
Five-star Euro NCAP cars
Here are all the cars that you can buy in the UK with a full five-star rating from Euro NCAP’s latest testing.
Safest cars tested in 2025
| Adult occupant | Child occupant | Vulnerable road users | Safety assist | |
| Mercedes CLA | 94% | 89% | 93% | 85% |
| Mercedes CLE | 93% | 89% | 87% | 83% |
| BYD Seal 6 | 92% | 90% | 84% | 85% |
| Audi A6 e-tron | 92% | 91% | 75% | 80% |
| Polestar 4 | 92% | 85% | 81% | 79% |
| Tesla Model Y | 91% | 93% | 86% | 92% |
| Audi Q4 e-tron | 91% | 87% | 79% | 73% |
| Tesla Model 3 | 90% | 93% | 89% | 87% |
| Polestar 3 | 90% | 93% | 79% | 83% |
| MG IM6 | 90% | 85% | 83% | 87% |
| Omoda 9 | 90% | 85% | 81% | 80% |
| MGS5 EV | 90% | 82% | 82% | 78% |
| Cupra Terramar | 89% | 87% | 82% | 76% |
| MINI Cooper E | 89% | 87% | 77% | 79% |
| Smart #5 | 88% | 93% | 84% | 92% |
| BYD Sealion 7 | 87% | 93% | 76% | 79% |
| Volkswagen Tayron | 87% | 85% | 83% | 80% |
| Geely EX5 | 86% | 87% | 83% | 83% |
| Audi Q5 | 85% | 86% | 79% | 77% |
| Hyundai Ioniq 9 | 84% | 87% | 77% | 83% |
| MINI Aceman | 83% | 87% | 77% | 79% |
| Kia EV3 | 83% | 84% | 78% | 78% |
| MINI Cooper | 83% | 82% | 81% | 77% |
| BYD Dolphin Surf | 82% | 86% | 76% | 77% |
| Jaecoo 7 PHEV | 81% | 80% | 80% | 80% |
Safest cars tested in 2024
| Adult occupant | Child occupant | Vulnerable road users | Safety assist | |
| Skoda Superb | 93% | 87% | 82% | 80% |
| Volkswagen Passat | 93% | 87% | 82% | 80% |
| Mercedes E-Class | 92% | 90% | 84% | 87% |
| Mazda CX-80 | 92% | 88% | 84% | 79% |
| Maxus Mifa 7 | 92% | 87% | 81% | 75% |
| Audi Q6 e-tron | 91% | 92% | 81% | 80% |
| Mazda eTerron 9 | 91% | 85% | 84% | 83% |
| Porsche Macan Electric | 90% | 90% | 83% | 78% |
| MG HS | 90% | 85% | 83% | 74% |
| Skoda Kodiaq | 89% | 83% | 82% | 78% |
| Ford Explorer | 89% | 86% | 80% | 72% |
| Ford Capri | 89% | 86% | 80% | 72% |
| Cupra Tavascan | 89% | 86% | 80% | 79% |
| Toyota C-HR | 85% | 86% | 86% | 79% |
| Honda CR-V (with safety pack) | 85% | 86% | 80% | 79% |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 83% | 88% | 84% | 78% |
| Subaru Impreza | 83% | 90% | 84% | 72% |
| Subaru Crosstrek | 83% | 90% | 85% | 72% |
Safest cars tested in 2023
| Adult occupant | Child occupant | Vulnerable road users | Safety assist | |
| Volkswagen ID.7 | 95% | 88% | 83% | 80% |
| Smart #3 | 90% | 86% | 84% | 85% |
| BYD Seal U | 90% | 86% | 83% | 77% |
| BYD Dolphin | 89% | 87% | 85% | 79% |
| BYD Seal | 89% | 87% | 82% | 76% |
| BMW 5 Series | 89% | 85% | 86% | 78% |
| Mercedes EQE SUV | 87% | 90% | 80% | 85% |
| Lexus RZ | 87% | 87% | 84% | 81% |
| Kia EV9 | 84% | 88% | 76% | 83% |
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