Choosing a safe car is about more than stylish looks, impressive performance, or the latest technology. Buyers also want confidence that their vehicle can protect them when an accident happens. Euro NCAP helps provide that confidence by testing new vehicles and awarding safety ratings based on their performance in several crash and safety assessments.
In 2024, several automakers earned attention for their highly rated models, including Mercedes-Benz, ZEEKR, Škoda, Volkswagen, Mazda, and MG. Their vehicles offer a useful starting point for anyone comparing safety-focused cars. Here are six brands and the models that earned five-star ratings, including those recognised in Euro NCAP’s 2024 Best in Class awards.
1. Mercedes-Benz: E-Class (Best Performer of 2024)
Mercedes-Benz earned one of the highest honours in Euro NCAP’s 2024 safety results with the E-Class. The luxury sedan was named Best Performer of the year after delivering an impressive showing across the organisation’s safety assessments.
The E-Class combines a protective passenger structure with driver-assistance technologies designed to help prevent accidents. Depending on the version and equipment, available systems can assist with braking, maintaining a safe distance, and monitoring potential hazards.
These features complement the vehicle’s passive safety equipment, including airbags and carefully engineered crumple zones. Its recognition matters because Euro NCAP examines more than a vehicle’s ability to withstand a crash.
Testing also considers adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, vulnerable road user protection, and safety assistance. Strong results across these areas demonstrate a broad commitment to protecting people inside and outside the car.
For shoppers considering a premium sedan, the E-Class provides a compelling example of how comfort and safety can work together. Its award does not mean accidents are impossible or that every version has identical equipment.
Buyers should check the specific model year, trim, and safety features offered in their market before making a decision.
2. ZEEKR: ZEEKR X (Best in Class Small SUV and Pure Electric)
Here’s a headline that surprised a lot of people. The ZEEKR X, a small SUV from a Chinese brand, was Euro NCAP’s Best in Class Small SUV for 2024, and it also took Best in Class Pure Electric. It outperformed competing vehicles from European manufacturers in its class.
Think about what that means. A newer name taking two awards in a single year shows that the competition is wide open, and that safety leadership doesn’t belong to one region or one badge.
Best in Class winners come from the top scores in their category. Since 2021, Euro NCAP has also given a separate award for the safest pure electric car, so the X earned recognition for both its size and its powertrain.
If you’re shopping for a small electric SUV, this result deserves a look. But don’t stop at the trophy. Check how the car is sold in your area, what warranty and service support you’d get, and whether the tested safety equipment is standard on the version you’d buy.
A great crash test is excellent news. A great crash test plus good local support is the real prize.
3. Škoda: Superb (Joint Best in Class Large Family Car)
The Škoda Superb earned a place among Euro NCAP’s leading 2024 safety performers after receiving a five-star rating and sharing the Best in Class Large Family Car award with the Volkswagen Passat.
Family vehicles must accommodate a range of everyday needs, from school runs and shopping trips to long-distance journeys. The Superb combines a spacious cabin with a design intended to protect occupants in a collision.
Its safety equipment includes airbags and electronic assistance systems, with availability depending on the particular version.
Euro NCAP evaluates the protection provided to adults and children, along with the vehicle’s ability to help prevent or reduce the severity of certain accidents.
Its assessment also examines protection for vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists. These measures help buyers understand how a car performs across several safety-related areas instead of relying solely on its size or reputation.
The Superb’s recognition is especially relevant to people seeking a roomy family car without giving up modern safety features. Its generous passenger space and luggage capacity can make it suitable for households that travel regularly or carry substantial cargo.
A five-star rating should still be viewed as a result tied to a specific tested model and specification. Buyers should check the vehicle’s model year and equipment list, since safety technology can vary between trims and markets.
4. Volkswagen: Passat (Joint Best in Class Large Family Car)
Volkswagen’s Passat shared Euro NCAP’s 2024 Best in Class Large Family Car award with the Škoda Superb. Its five-star rating places it among the highly rated family vehicles assessed during that year.
The Passat is designed for drivers who value passenger comfort, useful storage space, and technology suited to regular travel. Its safety provisions include occupant restraint systems and electronic driver assistance, with exact features varying according to specification and market.
These systems can support the driver by warning of certain hazards or helping respond to dangerous situations. Euro NCAP’s testing offers a way to assess the Passat beyond its cabin design and everyday practicality.
The organisation examines crash protection for adult and child occupants, pedestrian and cyclist safety, and the performance of driver-assistance systems. A five-star result indicates strong performance under the rating criteria applicable to the tested vehicle.
Sharing the award with the Superb also gives buyers a useful comparison point. Both vehicles received high recognition within the same family-car category, so the choice can come down to price, comfort, driving preferences, equipment, and ownership costs.
Before buying, check whether the exact Passat available to you includes the safety features you want. A high rating is valuable, but attentive driving, properly fitted child restraints, suitable tyres, and regular maintenance remain essential parts of road safety.
5. Mazda: CX-80 (Best in Class Large SUV)
Mazda’s CX-80 received a five-star Euro NCAP rating and was named Best in Class Large SUV for 2024. The award recognises the model’s performance in safety testing against eligible vehicles in its category.
The CX-80 is a large SUV designed to accommodate families and passengers who need extra interior space. Depending on configuration, it offers three rows of seating, making it an option for households that regularly carry several people.
Its safety engineering combines a protective body structure with restraint systems and electronic assistance features intended to support safer driving.
Large SUVs can offer a commanding driving position and substantial cabin space, but their size alone does not establish how well they protect occupants or other road users. Independent crash testing helps buyers assess these factors more clearly.
Euro NCAP considers occupant protection, child safety, vulnerable road user protection, and safety assistance when determining a vehicle’s rating.
The CX-80’s award makes it worth considering for drivers who want a spacious vehicle with strong tested safety credentials. However, shoppers should examine the seating configuration and available safety equipment for the specific version they intend to purchase.
A five-star rating is not a promise of complete protection in every collision. Safe driving habits, appropriate speeds, correctly installed child seats, and the use of seat belts continue to play an essential role in reducing injury risks.
6. MG: HS (Five-star safety rating, but not a Best in Class winner)
Not every good result comes with a trophy, and that’s okay. The MG HS earned a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, but it wasn’t a Best in Class winner. Both facts are true, and a fair article should say both.
So what does five stars mean? It means the car met Euro NCAP’s standards across its tests of adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, vulnerable road user protection, and safety assist technologies.
That’s a solid result by any measure. Best in Class simply means a car posted the top score in its category in a given year.
Why does the difference matter? Some shoppers hear “five stars” and assume every car with that rating is identical. Others hear “not Best in Class” and assume the car is risky. Neither is accurate. A five-star car can still sit below a class winner.
If the HS is on your shortlist, read the full report, compare it with rivals in its class, and check what safety equipment comes as standard on the version you’d buy.
Remember too that Euro NCAP will change how it assesses cars from 2026, so newer results may not line up neatly with older ones. A good rating is a strong start, and your research completes it.
