Safest electric cars 2026
These are the cars that combine maximum safety with zero emissions
While many drivers are moving towards cutting emissions out of their motoring lives, safety is just as important as before. Thankfully, it’s not only batteries and tech that have come on by leaps and bounds in recent years, as the safest electric cars are also some of the safest cars that you can buy in general.
To get the highest safety scores it’s not just about fitting the latest gadgets. Euro NCAP tests every car for how well it protects adults and children in a crash, how it looks after pedestrians and cyclists, and how helpful its safety systems are when things go wrong.
After all the tests NCAP awards a percentage score in the four categories and a final star rating, with a five-star rating meaning the car has proven it can keep you safe, whatever the road throws at you.
There’s more good news, too, as the cars that we’ve listed below don’t only boast five-star Euro NCAP safety ratings, but they come with more than enough battery range and practicality to meet all sorts of day-to-day requirements.
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%
EV battery technology is continuing to evolve at a rapid pace, and the Volkswagen ID.7 is officially one of the longest range electric cars on sale, as well as one of the safest. Opt for the ID.7 Pro S and this can return up to 436 miles on the WLTP combined cycle, courtesy of a 86kWh battery pack. If you want to save a few thousand pounds, though, models with the smaller 77kWh pack still claim well over 300 miles, so motorway runs will be a piece of cake. Your daily commute will be a pleasant one, too, as the ID.7’s refinement thoroughly impressed us during testing.
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%
The Mercedes CLA marks a major step in Mercedes’ electric evolution, becoming the first model to use the brand’s new MMA platform. One of the biggest headlines is range, with Mercedes claiming the CLA can travel up to 483 miles between charges.
Range isn’t the only talking point, though. The latest CLA also gets a major interior tech upgrade, with the dashboard almost completely taken over by two high-quality screens. In true Mercedes fashion, it’s comfortable and controlled on the road, even if it’s not the most engaging car to drive. The cherry on top of an already tempting package is safety: the CLA topped Euro NCAP’s results in 2025, earning the title of the safest car tested that year.
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’s a double whammy for VW Group as the Audi A6 e-tron finds itself on this list along with the ID.7. While Audi was a fairly late arrival into the growing executive EV sector, there’s no doubting the A6 e-tron’s credentials; solid build quality, tech by the bucketload, distinctive looks and a claimed maximum range of up to 463 miles. There’s more good news for performance enthusiasts, too, as there’s also the Audi S6 e-tron to consider, although this sneaks alarmingly close to the £100,000 mark.
Safest electric car Euro NCAP scores
| Adult occupant | Child occupant | Vulnerable road users | Safety assist | |
| Volkswagen ID.7 | 95% | 88% | 83% | 80% |
| Mercedes CLA | 94% | 89% | 93% | 85% |
| Audi A6 e-tron | 93% | 87% | 82% | 80% |
| Polestar 4 | 92% | 85% | 81% | 79% |
| Maxus Mifa 7 | 92% | 87% | 81% | 75% |
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