Are you looking for the safest cars to buy to buy new right now? Unsurprisingly it’s a subject which many car buyers will place at the top of their priorities while searching.
A useful source when trying to determine the safest new cars around is the research provided by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP).
What is Euro NCAP and how does it work?
Euro NCAP is an independent body that gives new cars sold in Europe an official safety rating based on a series of tests. This includes tests on how well a car can protect passengers from injury during different potential accident scenarios.
New cars are scored by Euro NCAP out of five stars, and this rating is based on four key areas – Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Pedestrian Protection and Safety Assistance Systems. While the first three categories cover the car’s structure and safety systems (like airbags), the fourth covers whatever special driving technology is standard (such as traction control or electronic stability).
Euro NCAP updates and toughens its assessments each year. This makes it tricky to compare the safety of a car launched in one year to another launched in a different year. However, Euro NCAP does publish an annual report called ‘Best in Class Cars’. This can help new car buyers consider some pretty important factors; such as the safest cars on the market and the safest cars to drive.
Here are then the safest new cars on sale in Britain right now, based on the most recent Euro NCAP round-up. All but one of the cars in this guide received a maximum five-star rating from Euro NCAP.
Supermini – Honda Jazz
The small but tall and practical Honda Jazz is a likeable entry in the supermini class. There are several reasons for this, including its spacious interior, lengthy standard kit list, plus it’s surprisingly fun to drive.
On top of these plus points, the latest Jazz scored impressively in Euro NCAP’s crash safety tests and was recognised as the best of all the superminis that were launched in 2015. It particularly impressed for Adult Occupant safety, were it got an excellent 93 per cent score; which is it features on our list of the top safest cars to buy.
Read our full review of the Honda Jazz
Find prices for the Honda Jazz hatchback
Small Family Car – Infiniti Q30
The Infiniti Q30 topped the very competitive small family car category in their most recent assessment of the safest new cars to buy since the start of last year.
Representing Infiniti’s first ever entry into the family hatchback segment, the Q30 is comfortable and has a plush cabin and it’s really safe too as it turns out. The Infiniti Q30 scored over 80 per cent in all four main categories that Euro NCAP uses. The Q30 particularly impressed for pedestrian safety, scoring 91 per cent, making it one of the safest cars to drive in the current market.
Find prices for the Infiniti Q30 hatchback
Large Family Car – Jaguar XE
When the Jaguar XE was finally launched it faced a tall order taking on the likes of the hugely popular BMW 3 Series. However, Jaguar have done a great job delivering something that feels like a genuine contender, thanks to the XE’s sharp and enjoyable handling and smart, premium feel.
Something else that helps make the case for Jaguar’s executive car is how well the XE performs in terms of safety. Euro NCAP gave it a super 92 per cent score for adult occupant safety and in all other three categories the Jag caught the eye again with ratings all just above 80 per cent. It is certainly one of the safest cars on the market.
Read our full review of the Jaguar XE
Find prices for the Jaguar XE saloon
Small MPV – Volkswagen Touran
Volkswagen’s latest Touran MPV is a very spacious and sensible family car with great buld quality and a strong range of engines. If you’re looking for a car to transport a family, then you’ll appreciate not just the Touran’s practicality but also how well it can protect occupants.
In its most recent run of Euro NCAP tests, the Touran performed brilliantly for Adult and Child Occupant safety, scoring 88 and 89 per cent in the respective categories.
Find prices for the VW Touran MPV
Large MPV – Ford Galaxy
The Ford Galaxy is a really useful family car that offers everything you’d want from a large MPV and more.
The cabin is the biggest strength of the Galaxy, offering spacious seating all-round, loads of standard kit, a very user-friendly layout and a massive options list. It’s also really safe for occupants within. The Galaxy scored 87 per cent for both adult and child occupant safety in Euro NCAP’s assessment, which helped this Ford towards a five-star overall rating.
Read our full review of the Ford Galaxy
Find prices for the Ford Galaxy MPV
Small Off-Road – Mercedes GLC
Mercedes latest compact crossover, the GLC, is a sophisticated rival to the likes of the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, offering a smooth and quiet drive plus low running costs.
It also did really well in Euro NCAP’s assessment of its safety, scoring a near-perfect 95 per cent rating for adult occupant safety. The GLC is certainly one of the safest cars to buy which is currently available.
Find prices for the Mercedes GLC crossover
Large Off-Road – Volvo XC90
The Volvo XC90 is a large premium SUV which has a lot of presence on the road and feels super-luxurious while you are in it. Boasting a quality interior and comfy ride, the XC90 is a technical and luxury marvel of a car.
It also boasts loads of great safety kit, so much so in fact that in Euro NCAP’s assessment, the Volvo scored a perfect 100 per cent score in the safety assist category. It also scored 97 per cent for adult occupant safety and 87 per cent for child occupant safety.
Read our full review of the Volvo XC90
Find prices for the Volvo XC90 SUV
Roadster Sport – Mazda MX-5
The latest Mazda MX-5 convertible was actually given a four-star overall safety rating by Euro NCAP, rather than the maximum five. However, it still performed well enough to be named class leader out of all the cars it assessed last year in its ‘roadster sport’ category dedicated to sports cars.
The Mazda MX-5 is a car that can offer a tremendous amount of driving fun with its precise, responsive steering and mesmerising agility. It also scored 80 per cent or better in three of Euro NCAP’s four main categories for assessing a car’s safety. The MX-5 did particularly well for pedestrian safety, scoring 93 per cent which lead the car to be named one of the safest of all in this particular area.
