The renowned Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) is independent, funded by a number of governments that provide the most respected assessments of car safety in Europe. This benchmark in the automotive industry assesses how well a vehicle protects its occupants and other road users in the event of a crash. Here at Xcite we've analysed recent 2024 top safety scores from Euro NCAP to list some of the safest cars we offer on lease at the moment. In recognition of Road Safety Week, here are 10 of the safest vehicles stocked by Xcite today (in no particular order):
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer has an excellent Euro NCAP safety rating and features various safety systems fitted as standard including AEB for vulnerable road users, pedestrian reverse, plus cyclist dooring prevention, AEB for motorcyclists and car-to-car, speed assistance, lane assist and distraction detection. The Ford Explorer also incorporates seatbelt reminder technology, centre, side chest and side head airbags, a belt pretensioner and belt loadlimiter and a front airbag. It doesn’t include a knee airbag nor a side pelvis airbag. Coupled with lower-than-average running costs, the Ford Explorer is a good, safe bet if you’re in the market for a safe, economical small SUV.
Volkswagen Passat
The new Volkswagen Passat has been awarded the top rating of 5 stars by Euro NCAP making it one of the best-rated mid-sized models of 2024. The Passat 2.0 TDI "Business" scored the highest in the Adult Occupant protection category with a rating of 93%, as well as achieving very good results across the remaining categories; Child Occupant protection (87%), Vulnerable Road Users (83%) and Safety Assist (80%). At entry level, numerous assist systems are included, such as a lane change system, a lane keeping system, Adaptive Cruise Control, Park Distance Control and a rear view camera system, among other features. Particularly noteworthy is the Autonomous Emergency Braking Front Assist with Pedestrian and Cyclist Monitoring, increasing protection for vulnerable road users. In both the frontal and side impact tests, the Passat was found to provide very good protection for all critical body areas of the 2 child dummies and was awarded the maximum score, making this not only a great business vehicle but a safe family car too.
Skoda Superb
The Skoda Superb has achieved the maximum 5 stars in the independent Euro NCAP crash safety reference test and 87% of the total maximum points. Each new Skoda model since 2008 has achieved a 5 star rating, even since more stringent assessment criteria were implemented in 2023. The Skoda Superb achieved strong results for its protection of child and adult occupants. Protection was good for all critical body areas of both the driver and passenger, and full points were scored for the dynamic dummy results. In both the frontal offset and side barrier tests, protection was good for all critical body areas of both child dummies and the Superb scored maximum points.
Toyota C-HR
Euro NCAP has awarded the Toyota C-HR the full 5-star rating, with a chart-topping 95% rating for adult occupants and 77% for child occupants, as well as 76% for pedestrians and 78% for safety assistance. The C-HR comes with Toyota’s Safety Sense pack as standard, which includes adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, pedestrian detection and lane-departure warning, among other features. Standard road-sign recognition – along with optional rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring – help to make sure drivers have the information needed to avoid accidents. As a crossover that's futuristically styled, available as a hybrid and rates among the top for safety, it's a vehicle you can rely on for both economy (particularly the hybrid) and safety, across business and family use.
VW Tiguan
The new Volkswagen Tiguan has been awarded the 5-star rating from EURO NCAP with its highest scores awarded for impact protection and accident prevention technologies. The Tiguan scored well in the category of Child Occupant protection which increases its appeal as an ideal vehicle for families. The entry-level version of the latest Tiguan includes a wide range of safety systems including an exit warning system which warns passengers of any danger before the door handle's used. Other features which come as standard include lane keeping and lane changing technologies, driver attention monitoring, oncoming vehicle braking when turning and swerve support, airbags for driver and front passenger (with front passenger airbag deactivation), curtain and side airbags in front and rear, a centre airbag, rear traffic alert, park distance control, i-Size compatibility, Autonomous Emergency Braking Front Assist with Pedestrian, and Cyclist Monitoring, among other safety systems.
Subaru Impreza
With excellent scores gained in all 4 key areas, the Subaru Impreza is one of the best performing models in the Euro NCAP Child Occupant safety category. The Subaru Crosstrek 2.0 hybrid, LHD was the model tested by Euro NCAP but its 5 star result has been applied to the full Subaru range. The Crosstrek achieved its best result in the Child Occupant protection category with a rating of 90%. It also scored very highly in the remaining 3 categories: Vulnerable Road Users (85%), Adult Occupant protection (83%), and Safety Assist (72%). Its top-tier safety performance has been accredited by Subaru to its Global Platform, enhancing rigidity and crash energy absorption and minimising the risk of injury to occupants. EyeSight driver assist technology includes features like Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, and Pre-Collision Throttle Management, which help prevent accidents. A full suite of airbags, including front, side, curtain, and driver’s knee airbags, provide all-around protection in a crash. Advanced Driver Assistance System features and pedestrian protection design includes active safety features like Autonomous Emergency Steering.
Audi Q6 e-tron
The Audi Q6 e-tron is another shining light among the top rated 5 star EURO NCAP awarded vehicles and is “Best in Class” with 92% for child safety. The vehicle achieved excellent results in all test categories. It was rated 91% for its protection of adult occupants. For the first time in an Audi model, post-crash functions (including rescue data sheets for emergency services and e-call) were assessed, with the Audi Q6 e-tron scoring very well. In the child safety category, the Q6 e-tron's one of the few models in the vehicle segment to have 3 “i-Size seats”, 2 in the rear and 1 in the front passenger seat (a European safety standard ensures unrestricted compatibility between child seat and vehicle). The front passenger seat in the Q6 e-tron's equipped with automatic deactivation of the front passenger airbag for rear-facing child seats. The restraint systems have been further improved for use with child seats and offer optimal protection for children of all sizes.
Subaru Crosstrek
A safe choice for drivers seeking off-road adventures, the Subaru Crosstrek was awarded 5 stars by Euro NCAP which was applied to the entire Subaru range. In terms of child occupant safety, the Subaru Crosstrek was among the top performers tested in 2024, earning full marks in crash test performance for both frontal and lateral impacts involving 6- and 10-year-old dummies, as well as for the CRS installation check. It's fitted with a system that automatically disables the front passenger airbag when a rearward-facing child seat's in place, as well as an indirect 'child presence detection' feature, which alerts the driver to a child potentially 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 the Adult Occupant safety category, the Crosstrek scored maximum points in the side barrier and side-pole impact tests. The tests conducted on the front seats and head restraints demonstrated effective protection against whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions. In the Safety Assist category, the Crosstrek received full marks for Lane Support, with its Lane Keep Assist system also intervening more aggressively in emergency situations.
Skoda Kodiaq
The Skoda Kodiaq achieved 84% of the total maximum points, continuing the consistent string of top NCAP ratings for Skoda, even under the more stringent assessment criteria introduced in 2023. The Kodiaq achieved 84% of the total maximum points, scoring 89% for Adult Occupant protection, 83% for Child Occupant protection, 82% for Vulnerable Road User protection, and 78% for Safety Assist systems. The Kodiaq incorporates hot-formed, high-strength steel components. In an accident, occupants are protected not only by the rigid bodywork and generous crumple zones but also by up to 9 airbags. Numerous systems alert the driver to potential collisions and help to prevent them or mitigate consequences. Technologies include Front Assist with predictive pedestrian and cyclist protection, Side Assist including Rear Traffic Alert, as well as Collision Avoidance Assist, Turn Assist, Crossroad Assist and Exit Warning. Travel Assist actively supports the driver in longitudinally and laterally controlling the vehicle and, along with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), also includes Adaptive Lane Assist with various recognition and assistance features. The new Attention and Drowsiness Assist assesses the driver’s possible level of fatigue and triggers warnings.
