the-safest-cars-on-sale-in-2024

The European New Car Assessment Programme or EuroNCAP may have started crash testing cars in 1997, but the international safety organisation is continually enhancing and tweaking the tests new cars need to go through to be assessed as part of its safety rating programme.&nbsp;

The latest round of changes were introduced in 2023, and include the introduction of tougher tests to see how well cars are able to detect and avoid collisions with motorcyclists and vulnerable road users in more complex situations, such as when a car is turning right at a junction and when it’s crossing the path of an oncoming vehicle. New night-time tests of active safety systems are being carried out for the first time, too.

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The safest cars on sale in 2024

There is now also a requirement for cars to have a driver monitoring system to warn against drowsiness or inattention, and a warning system to stop the driver from opening their door and hitting a cyclist if one is riding alongside the car.&nbsp;

New models should also have emergency systems that allow people to open the doors and windows after a car has been submerged in water. And extra marks will be added for vehicles that come as standard with an in-car system that alerts the driver if a child has been left in the car.&nbsp;

To achieve the coveted five-star rating, each new model has to comply with these exacting new targets, as well as provide exemplary physical crash protection. Here are the top 10 performers...

Adult occupant protection&nbsp;93%&nbsp;Child occupant protection&nbsp;85%&nbsp;Pedestrian protection&nbsp;80%&nbsp;Safety Assist&nbsp;79%

Total Euro NCAP score&nbsp;337/400

The Chinese brand's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/luxury-suvs/n17036">luxury SUV</a>&nbsp;doesn't score quite as well as the ET5, but it's still a strong all-rounder. While the AEB system worked well at preventing accidents with vulnerable road users in most instances, the 'dooring' system, which&nbsp;prevents or warns against door opening if a cyclist is approaching from behind, did not gain a strong score.&nbsp;Although the EL7 is fitted with a system that alerts the driver if a child is left alone in the car, the system didn't meet the requirements of the Euro NCAP tests so it didn't gain any points in this area.

We expect the EL7 to go on sale in the UK in early 2025.

10: Nio EL7

Saloon

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the M8&nbsp;grand tourer, which costs more than £120,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has ten in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and XM, plus the electric iX3 and iX.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

5 SERIES

Adult occupant protection&nbsp;89%&nbsp;Child occupant protection&nbsp;85%&nbsp;Pedestrian protection&nbsp;86%&nbsp;Safety Assist&nbsp;78%

Total Euro NCAP score&nbsp;338/400

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/review/n63">BMW 5 Series</a>&nbsp;has long been a stalwart of premium company car wish lists, and the eighth generation model looks set to continue this trend. It’s offered with mild hybrid engine technology and as a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">plug-in hybrid</a>, while the electric <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/i5/saloon/review/n26177">BMW i5</a> should satisfy electric car enthusiasts.&nbsp;

Although it provides good protection for its occupants in a collision, the 5 Series is fairly benign to smaller vehicles in a head-on crash. It also ticks the boxes for the latest safety innovations: its advanced eCall system automatically alerts the emergency services after an accident and the car’s brakes are activated too, preventing a secondary collision. There’s a system to send a warning if a child is left in the car, too.

9: BMW 5 Series

Other road users are well protected too, with the active safety system scoring maximum points for spotting and avoiding a collision with a motorcyclist, and the car issuing a warning if the driver is going to open the door on a cyclist - and stopping the door from opening if an accident becomes imminent.&nbsp;

The Euro NCAP rating is valid for all 5 Series variants, including the pure electric i5.

Estate

In the same way that Infiniti acts as Nissan’s premium arm, Lexus has a similar tie-in with Toyota. And since most of Toyota’s models are offered as hybrids, it’s no surprise to see the same from Lexus, although there are some traditional petrol engines, too.

The brand focuses heavily on SUVs – namely the NX and RX – but also has the CT hatchback, ES executive saloon and LS luxury car among its portfolio. More small and large SUVs are expected in the future.

Like Toyota, Lexus has built a very strong reputation for reliability and regularly finishes very close to the top of our annual Reliability Survey.

LEXUS

Adult occupant protection&nbsp;87%&nbsp;Child occupant protection&nbsp;87%&nbsp;Pedestrian protection&nbsp;84%&nbsp;Safety Assist&nbsp;81%

Total Euro NCAP score&nbsp;339/400

Although Lexus has been ahead of the pack for hybrid technology, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/rz/estate/review/n25576">Lexus RZ</a> is its first bespoke pure electric model, so it’s great to see that it’s an extremely safe option. It’s also practical, good to drive, comfortable and quiet.

8: Lexus RZ

In spite of its SUV styling, it's one of the most benign models when it comes to impacts with pedestrians and cyclists, and its AEB system scored maximum points for spotting those on two wheels and avoiding impacts with them. It is also able to prevent a driver from opening the door if a cyclist is pedalling alongside the car.

Hatchback

BYD is one of the biggest names in electric cars globally, but only launched in the UK recently.

Even so, it has a fast-growing dealer network, and it's models - most notably the Tesla Model 3-rivalling Seal - are gaining attention for impressive tech and good driving ranges.

Other BYDs include the MG4-sized Dolphin and Nissan Qashqai-sized Atto 3.

DOLPHIN

Adult occupant protection&nbsp;89%&nbsp;Child occupant protection&nbsp;87%&nbsp;Pedestrian protection&nbsp;85%&nbsp;Safety Assist&nbsp;79%

Total Euro NCAP score&nbsp;340/400

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/dolphin/hatchback/review/n25891">BYD Dolphin</a> is a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/car-of-the-year-awards-small-electric-car-of-the-year/n25362">small electric car</a>&nbsp;that’s affordable, roomy and well equipped. In terms of adult and child occupant protection it’s up there with the best alternatives, and its score of 85% for pedestrian protection is only exceeded by the BMW 5 Series.

7: BYD Dolphin

As well as being fairly kind to smaller vehicles&nbsp;in frontal collisions, the Dolphin is designed to minimise injuries to vulnerable road users. Its AEB system reacts well to pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists and it will prevent the driver’s door from being opened onto a cyclist.

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

Adult occupant protection&nbsp;87%&nbsp;Child occupant protection&nbsp;90%&nbsp;Pedestrian protection&nbsp;80%&nbsp;Safety Assist&nbsp;85%

Total Euro NCAP score&nbsp;342/400

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/eqe/saloon/review/n25101">Mercedes EQE</a> is a refined and comfortable electric car with a long range. The EQE 300 and 350 have an official range of 388 miles and, although you’re only likely to get around 325 miles in real-world driving, that’s still five miles more than a Tesla Model 3 Long Range.

6: Mercedes EQE

With strong scores in all four EuroNCAP rating areas, the EQE is a great safety all-rounder. It stands out for gaining the highest marks for child occupant protection, with its score bolstered by an automatic front passenger airbag deactivation system (most systems have to be manually turned off or on to accommodate a child seat safely), and a child presence detection system. In addition, the AEB system is good at detecting pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.&nbsp;

Adult occupant protection&nbsp;89%&nbsp;Child occupant protection&nbsp;88%&nbsp;Pedestrian protection&nbsp;84%&nbsp;Safety Assist&nbsp;83%

Total Euro NCAP score&nbsp;344/400

The 001 is a swoopy, pure electric estate model that aims to rival the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/taycan/saloon/review/n20184">Porsche Taycan</a>. Although its EuroNCAP score is slightly behind the Zeekr X, it's still a very safe vehicle. As well as performing well in the frontal crash tests, it gained maximum points in the collision with a side barrier, providing good protection for all critical bodyparts of those inside the car.&nbsp;

Like the X, the 001 has a system that applies the brakes after an accident, and it enables those inside the car to get out if it's enters water. It also comes with an alert system to tell parents if a child as accidentally been left in the car. Although it has a driver monitoring system, this only detects fatigue and not distraction, so it didn't gain full marks.

5: Zeekr 001

Owned by Mercedes-Benz and with a reputation for making small, clever cars, Smart offers a striking, upmarket alternative to more conventional rivals.

It currently has a two-car line-up, the smaller of the two being the distinctive Fortwo, which, as its name suggests, is an ultra-short two-seater that uses an unusual rear-engined configuration to deliver the sort of turning circle that even London taxis can only dream of. It's a doddle to park in small spaces, too.

Smart's 'family car' is the Forfour, which is little more than a stretched version of the Fortwo, with a second row of seats and a larger boot. It's more of a natural rival for cars like the Hyundai i10 or Kia Picanto.

On paper, both cars come at a considerable price premium when compared with rivals, something it says is justified by its badge appeal and the technology in the cars.&nbsp;However, sales have been slow and there are often keen Target Price deals to be found.

SMART

HASHTAG 3

Adult occupant protection&nbsp;90%&nbsp;Child occupant protection&nbsp;86%&nbsp;Pedestrian protection&nbsp;84%&nbsp;Safety Assist&nbsp;85%

Total Euro NCAP score&nbsp;345/400

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/hashtag-3/estate/review/n26674">Smart #3</a> is a longer, wider coupé version of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/hashtag-1/hatchback/review/n25016">Smart #1</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUV</a>&nbsp;that promises a slightly sportier drive and a sleeker roof line that doesn’t significantly compromise practicality.&nbsp;

=3: Smart #3

It’s also exceptionally good at protecting those inside and outside of the car in the event of an accident. The AEB system reacts well to the presence of vulnerable road users, particularly cyclists and motorcyclists, and it’s good at detecting other vehicles in the various test scenarios. There’s also a driver monitoring system that can spot various forms of inattention as well as fatigue.

Adult occupant protection&nbsp;96%&nbsp;Child occupant protection&nbsp;85%&nbsp;Pedestrian protection&nbsp;83%&nbsp;Safety Assist&nbsp;81%

Total Euro NCAP score&nbsp;345/400

The NIO ET5 is the Chinese brand’s answer to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a>. An electric&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/executive-cars/n2004">executive</a>&nbsp;saloon and estate, it is good to drive and well-appointed, and it’s made by a brand that’s starting to gain credibility in Europe. It's expected to go on sale in the UK in early 2025.&nbsp;

Its adult occupant protection is exemplary, and it’s also pretty good at protecting children onboard.&nbsp;

The AEB system responds to vulnerable road users, as well as to other vehicles. It worked well at spotting pedestrians and children in daylight, and motorcyclists in all conditions.&nbsp; The lane-keeping support system worked well, but was not too intrusive. The only shortcoming was with the system that detects cyclists pedalling alongside the car, which didn’t work that well.

=3: NIO ET5

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

ID.7

Adult occupant protection&nbsp;95%&nbsp;Child occupant protection&nbsp;88%&nbsp;Pedestrian protection&nbsp;83%&nbsp;Safety Assist&nbsp;80%

Total Euro NCAP score&nbsp;346/400

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id7/saloon/review/n26282">VW ID 7</a> is the safest car of all those tested under the latest EuroNCAP test regime. It gained full marks for the full-width frontal crash test, providing excellent protection for a wide range of people of different statures sitting in a number of positions in the vehicle.

2: Volkswagen ID 7

It also excels in some of the newest tests aimed at protecting the most vulnerable road users. It has a pop-up bonnet that helps to reduce head injuries of pedestrians and cyclists should they be struck by the car, and its crash avoidance system is able to detect motorcyclists extremely well and avoid collisions with them.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The ID 7’s active driver assistance systems are effective yet unobtrusive. They are a significant improvement over previous versions of the group’s active driver safety systems, especially lane keeping assistance, which was considered too abrupt and intrusive by drivers.&nbsp;

Adult occupant protection&nbsp;91%&nbsp;Child occupant protection&nbsp;90%&nbsp;Pedestrian protection&nbsp;84%&nbsp;Safety Assist&nbsp;83%

Total Euro NCAP score&nbsp;348/400

The Zeekr X&nbsp;is the safest car of all those tested under the latest EuroNCAP test regime. It gained full marks for the side impact crash test, offering good protection to all those seated inside the vehicle. In the front-end crash,&nbsp;it demonstrated that it would be&nbsp;moderately benign&nbsp;in a collision with another vehicle.&nbsp;

Protection for other road users is also good. The Zeekr X's autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system&nbsp;was able to prevent collisions with cyclists in all test scenarios, gaining the maximum possible points for this area of testing.&nbsp; It's also fitted with a system that prevents&nbsp;front seat occupants from opening a door onto a cyclist riding beside the car.&nbsp;

The Zeekr X comes as standard with a system that automatically applies the brakes after a collision to avoid a secondary impact, and it's designed so that&nbsp;the car doors can be opened and the electric windows can be used by occupants after the car has been submerged in water.&nbsp;

1: Zeekr X

The safest cars on sale in 2024 

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Five-star Euro NCAP rating and high scores across all four categories: adult occupant, child occupant, vulnerable road user and safety assist  </li> <li>Standard-fit crash avoidance systems, including automatic emergency braking that can detect pedestrians and cyclists as well as other vehicles</li> <li>Driver assistance systems, such as adaptive cruise control and lane support, that work together to reduce fatigue for motorway drivers</li> <li>A reasonably affordable purchase price, providing the potential to be a high-volume seller in order to make the biggest overall impact on safety</li></ul>

The What Car? Safety Award, sponsored by Thatcham Research, awards those cars that have achieved the highest Euro NCAP scores within the past year. The maximum score is five stars, with individual scores presented for&nbsp;the safety and protection of adult occupants, child occupants, vulnerable road users&nbsp;(such as pedestrians or cyclists)&nbsp;and its list of safety assistance features, such as automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keeping assistance.&nbsp;

The judges for our 2020 awards are: Matthew Avery, head of safety for&nbsp;Thatcham Research;&nbsp;Professor Pete Thomas, the director of the Transport Safety Research Centre at Loughborough University; Michiel van Ratingen, secretary general of Euro NCAP; and Claire Evans, What Car?'s consumer editor.&nbsp;

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