If you're on the hunt for a new family car that doesn’t just look the part but actually keeps everyone safe, this one’s for you. Euro NCAP — the independent vehicle safety testing body — has just released its latest batch of crash test results. And seven cars walked away with a full five-star rating.
Whether you're after a reliable runaround or an electric SUV that’ll keep your passengers protected, these are the models worth checking out.
Here's a quick breakdown of the top performers:
Polestar 3 This electric five-seater SUV absolutely smashed the child safety tests, scoring 93% – the highest child occupant rating Euro NCAP has given in nearly a decade. It aced both frontal and side crash tests and even has built-in tech to stop the car being locked if a child is still inside. It’s a strong all-rounder that looks sharp and delivers on safety.
BYD Sealion 7 Made in China, the Sealion 7 matched the Polestar 3’s 93% child safety score but didn’t perform quite as strongly in other categories. Still, it did enough to earn the full five-star safety rating overall.
Cupra Terramar This one’s available as a standard petrol model or a plug-in hybrid — and it scored well across the board. Euro NCAP gave it 89% for adult safety, 87% for children, and 82% for protecting pedestrians and cyclists. It’s a great pick if you want style, practicality, and peace of mind.
Jaecoo 7 PHEV The Jaecoo 7 also landed five stars, but it did lose a few points after an issue was found with a poorly installed airbag during testing. The brand’s since fixed the production fault, and the car still passed with flying colours overall. One to keep an eye on.
Audi A6 Not an SUV, but the Audi A6 saloon made the cut too. It scored 88% for child safety and earned a five-star rating. If you prefer a low-slung saloon over a high-riding SUV, this is your safest bet right now.
Geely EX5 Another electric SUV from China, the Geely EX5 scored well on tech safety and protection for vulnerable road users (both 83%). It did lose a few marks on child safety (87%) due to a failed child presence detection system and also showed some structural issues in crash testing. Even so, it still came out with a five-star rating.
Hongqi E-HS9 This large electric SUV also earned five stars. A post-crash inspection found a small tear in the driver’s airbag, but the manufacturer has since improved their quality checks. The E-HS9 isn’t available in the UK yet but is expected to launch here in 2026.
| Car Model | Rating | Adult occupant | Child occupant | Vulnerable road users | Safety assist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi A6 | 5 stars | 87% | 88% | 78% | 77% |
| BYD Sealion 7 | 5 stars | 87% | 93% | 76% | 79% |
| Cupra Terramar | 5 stars | 89% | 87% | 82% | 76% |
| Geely EX5 | 5 stars | 86% | 87% | 83% | 83% |
| Hongqi E-HS9 | 5 stars | 82% | 87% | 73% | 82% |
| Jaecoo 7 PHEV | 5 stars | 81% | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| Polestar 3 | 5 stars | 90% | 93% | 79% | 83% |
Why Euro NCAP Ratings Matter
If you’re not familiar with Euro NCAP, they’ve been testing car safety since 1997. Their star rating system helps you easily compare how well cars protect occupants and avoid crashes. For a car to earn five stars, it has to perform exceptionally in four areas:
- Adult occupant protection
- Child occupant protection
- Vulnerable road users (like pedestrians and cyclists)
- Safety assist features (like automatic emergency braking)
In this latest round of testing, SUVs dominated — which makes sense, since they made up 54% of all new car sales globally last year. With more electric SUVs hitting the market, having independent safety data is a must.
Safety tech has come a long way, and if you're choosing a new car — especially one that’s going to be used for family life — it’s worth looking past the badge and checking the safety rating. These seven models prove that good looks, practicality, and cutting-edge protection can go hand in hand.
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