The esteemed Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) is a trusted, independent body funded by various governments, offering some of the most respected evaluations of vehicle safety in Europe.
As a benchmark for automotive safety, Euro NCAP examines how effectively a car protects its occupants and other road users during a crash.
At Xcite, we’ve reviewed the latest 2024 Euro NCAP safety scores to highlight some of the safest vehicles currently available for lease.
In honor of Road Safety Week, here are ten of the safest cars in Xcite’s lineup (listed in no particular order):
1. Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer boasts an excellent Euro NCAP safety rating and comes equipped with a range of advanced safety features as standard.
These include Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) for vulnerable road users, pedestrian reverse, cyclist dooring prevention, AEB for motorcyclists and car-to-car scenarios, speed assistance, lane assist, and distraction detection.
The Explorer is further enhanced with seatbelt reminder technology, center, side chest, and side head airbags, as well as a belt pretensioner and belt load limiter.
A front airbag is also standard, though it lacks a knee airbag and side pelvis airbag. Combined with its below-average running costs, the Ford Explorer is an excellent choice for those seeking a safe, economical small SUV.
2. Volkswagen Passat
The latest Volkswagen Passat has earned a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, making it one of the top-rated mid-sized models of 2024.
The Passat 2.0 TDI “Business” achieved an impressive 93% score in the Adult Occupant protection category, alongside high marks in Child Occupant protection (87%), Vulnerable Road Users (83%), and Safety Assist (80%).
At its base level, the Passat includes numerous safety assist systems such as a lane change system, lane keeping system, Adaptive Cruise Control, Park Distance Control, and a rearview camera system.
A standout feature is the Autonomous Emergency Braking Front Assist with Pedestrian and Cyclist Monitoring, which significantly enhances safety for vulnerable road users.
During both frontal and side impact tests, the Passat provided excellent protection for all critical body areas of the child dummies, earning maximum points. These qualities make it a superb choice for both business and family use.
3. Skoda Superb
The Skoda Superb secured the maximum five-star rating in the rigorous Euro NCAP crash safety evaluation, achieving 87% of the total possible points.
Since 2008, every new Skoda model has received a five-star rating, even under the stricter assessment standards introduced in 2023.
The Superb demonstrated exceptional performance in protecting both child and adult occupants.
It provided robust protection for all critical body areas of the driver and passenger, with full points awarded for dynamic dummy results.
In both the frontal offset and side barrier tests, the vehicle scored maximum points by ensuring excellent protection for all critical body areas of the child dummies. These results reinforce the Skoda Superb as a top-tier option for safety-conscious drivers.
4. Toyota C-HR
The Toyota C-HR has received the full five-star rating from Euro NCAP, earning an impressive 95% score for adult occupant protection, 77% for child occupant protection, 76% for pedestrian safety, and 78% for safety assistance.
The vehicle comes with Toyota’s Safety Sense pack as standard, which includes essential features such as adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, pedestrian detection, and lane-departure warning.
Additionally, it offers standard road-sign recognition, along with optional rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring, helping drivers stay informed to avoid accidents.
As a crossover with a futuristic design, the C-HR is available as a hybrid and stands out for its safety ratings, making it a reliable choice for both economical and safe driving in business and family settings.
5. VW Tiguan
The latest Volkswagen Tiguan has earned a five-star rating from Euro NCAP, with the highest scores in impact protection and accident prevention technologies.
It performed particularly well in the Child Occupant protection category, making it an excellent choice for families.
The entry-level Tiguan comes equipped with a comprehensive set of safety features, including an exit warning system that alerts passengers to potential danger before using the door handle.
Standard safety systems also include lane-keeping and lane-changing technologies, driver attention monitoring, oncoming vehicle braking when turning, swerve support, airbags for the driver and front passenger (with front passenger airbag deactivation), curtain and side airbags for both the front and rear, a center airbag, rear traffic alert, park distance control, i-Size compatibility, and Autonomous Emergency Braking Front Assist with Pedestrian and Cyclist Monitoring, among others.
6. Subaru Impreza
With exceptional performance across all four key safety categories, the Subaru Impreza stands out in the Euro NCAP Child Occupant safety category.
The Euro NCAP tested the Subaru Crosstrek 2.0 hybrid, LHD, but the five-star result has been extended to the entire Subaru range.
The Crosstrek excelled in Child Occupant protection with a rating of 90%, and also scored highly in the other three categories: Vulnerable Road Users (85%), Adult Occupant protection (83%), and Safety Assist (72%).
Subaru credits its impressive safety performance to the vehicle’s Global Platform, which enhances rigidity and crash energy absorption to reduce the risk of injury.
Features such as EyeSight driver assist technology, which includes Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, and Pre-Collision Throttle Management, further contribute to accident prevention.
The Subaru Impreza is also equipped with a full suite of airbags, including front, side, curtain, and driver’s knee airbags, ensuring comprehensive protection in a crash.
Active safety features, including Autonomous Emergency Steering, enhance pedestrian protection.
7. Audi Q6 e-tron
The Audi Q6 e-tron shines as one of the top-rated vehicles in 2024, earning a five-star rating from Euro NCAP. Notably, it is recognized as “Best in Class” for child safety, achieving a remarkable 92% score.
The vehicle performed exceptionally well across all test categories, receiving a score of 91% for adult occupant protection.
For the first time in an Audi model, post-crash functions such as rescue data sheets for emergency services and e-call were evaluated, with the Q6 e-tron excelling in this area.
In terms of child safety, the Q6 e-tron stands out as one of the few vehicles in its segment to offer three “i-Size seats” two in the rear and one in the front passenger seat ensuring full compatibility with child seats according to European safety standards.
The front passenger seat is equipped with an automatic deactivation feature for the front passenger airbag when a rear-facing child seat is installed.
The restraint systems have been enhanced to provide optimal protection for children of all sizes, further demonstrating the Q6 e-tron’s commitment to safety.
8. Subaru Crosstrek
The Subaru Crosstrek is a great option for those seeking a safe vehicle for off-road adventures. It has received a five-star rating from Euro NCAP, which applies to the entire Subaru lineup.
In the 2024 tests, the Crosstrek excelled in child occupant safety, earning full marks for crash test performance in both frontal and lateral impacts involving 6- and 10-year-old dummies, as well as in the CRS (Child Restraint System) installation check.
The Crosstrek is equipped with a system that automatically deactivates the front passenger airbag when a rearward-facing child seat is placed, along with an indirect ‘child presence detection’ feature that alerts the driver if a child may have been left in the car.
In the Vulnerable Road Users assessment, the Crosstrek achieved full marks for its Autonomous Emergency Braking System for Cyclists and its Lane Support System for Motorcyclists.
For Adult Occupant protection, the vehicle earned maximum points in side barrier and side-pole impact tests.
The front seats and head restraints provided effective protection against whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions.
In the Safety Assist category, the Crosstrek received full marks for its Lane Support, with its Lane Keep Assist system also offering aggressive intervention during emergency situations.
9. Skoda Kodiaq
The Skoda Kodiaq achieved an impressive 84% of the total maximum points in Euro NCAP’s assessments, continuing the strong tradition of high ratings for Skoda, even under the more stringent evaluation criteria introduced in 2023.
The Kodiaq scored 89% for Adult Occupant protection, 83% for Child Occupant protection, 82% for Vulnerable Road User protection, and 78% for Safety Assist systems.
The Kodiaq is built with hot-formed, high-strength steel components, providing robust protection for occupants in the event of an accident.
The vehicle’s bodywork, along with generous crumple zones, and up to nine airbags offer excellent protection. In addition, several safety systems are integrated to alert the driver to potential collisions and to help prevent or mitigate them.
These technologies include Front Assist with predictive pedestrian and cyclist protection, Side Assist with Rear Traffic Alert, Collision Avoidance Assist, Turn Assist, Crossroad Assist, and Exit Warning.
The Travel Assist system actively supports the driver in both longitudinal and lateral control of the vehicle, and when combined with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), it includes Adaptive Lane Assist with various recognition and assistance features.
A new Attention and Drowsiness Assist system evaluates the driver’s fatigue levels and provides warnings when necessary.
10. Hyundai Ioniq 5
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is one of the few electric vehicles featured on the NHTSA list, securing a spot in our top 10 due to its advanced electric performance, sleek design, and comprehensive safety features.
Hyundai’s commitment to innovation and safety is evident in the Ioniq 5, positioning it as a standout choice in the rapidly expanding electric vehicle market.
With a mix of cutting-edge technology and robust safety systems, the Ioniq 5 offers an appealing option for eco-conscious drivers who also prioritize safety.
The Ioniq 5 delivers impressive performance with its electric powertrain, generating up to 320 horsepower that powers all four wheels, providing enhanced grip.
The Ioniq 5 stands out for its safety, offering a suite of advanced features such as blind-spot collision avoidance assist and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance. Enhanced forward collision avoidance assistance actively works to prevent potential accidents.
Additional safety measures include safe exit assist and highway driving assist, providing extra layers of protection. Moreover, navigation-based smart cruise control ensures added convenience and safety during long journeys.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5’s blend of cutting-edge safety features, outstanding performance, and innovative electric design solidifies its position as a top contender in the market.