Safest new cars REVEALED: Five models that aced crash tests

Need to know which of the newest vehicles to hit the market will provide one of the best safety to you and your loved ones?

UK security and safety skilled Thatcham Analysis has revealed which fashions demonstrated spectacular security credentials when being slammed into partitions and poles throughout rigorous crash check assessments within the final 12 months. 

The 5 standout fashions it chosen are all within the working to win the 2022 What Automotive? Security Award, which can be introduced later this week.

And whereas this handful of motors signify the cream of the crop relating to defending occupants and different street customers, That is Cash may also let you know which three new vehicles scored the bottom scores when scrutinised by security specialists.  

Under, we checklist the the reason why every mannequin impressed (or didn’t impress) throughout numerous judging standards in 2021, together with how properly they carried out in Euro NCAP’s crash exams.

BEST PERFORMERS

Mercedes EQS

Value: from £99,995 

Mercedes’ new EQS is without doubt one of the most superior, tech-filled electrical vehicles to hit the market. But it surely is not low-cost

It was one of many electrical fashions to ace Euro NCAP crash exams, impressing judges with its improved security help expertise and occupant safety

The EQS is Mercedes’ reply to an all-electric S-Class.

Which means it will get all of the expertise, luxurious and new techniques forward of some other mannequin within the German model’s ranks.

It scored a few of the greatest Euro NCAP check outcomes of final 12 months, impressing judges with its improved security help expertise and occupant safety, together with a centre console-mounted airbag to comprise occupants throughout aspect impacts.

Matthew Avery from Thatcham Analysis: ‘That is a particularly protected automobile which achieved spectacular Euro NCAP check scores. 

‘As you’ll count on from Mercedes-Benz, the EQS is a superb security performer with its ‘grownup occupant safety’ rating of 96 per cent and its Youngster Occupant Safety rating of 91 per cent being the joint highest in these classes throughout testing. 

‘However a worth level of just below £100,000 means the EQS gained’t be a typical sight on the roads.’ 

Nissan Qashqai

Value: from £24,555  

Nissan’s Qashqai has been the UK’s best-selling SUV for some 15 years – and the newest model that arrived final 12 months was among the many most secure examined 

In addition to providing numerous crash safety, it’s full of numerous superior options, together with reverse computerized braking, lane help and emergency lane maintaining features

The Qashqai is the epitome of a quantity vendor. Because it hit the UK market 15 years in the past, it has been the nation’s most-bought SUV constantly.

The newest model, delivered to market final 12 months, is one in every of best-ever performing vehicles in Euro NCAP exams, reaching greater than 90 per cent in three out of 4 security classes. 

Applauded for its reverse computerized braking, lane help and emergency lane maintaining features, the Qashqai’s reputation and worth level offset the present absence of all-electric or hybrid variations from its vary. 

It’s tipped to make a huge impact on street security resulting from its mass-market enchantment and Nissan’s dedication to rolling out security options throughout its vary.

MA: ‘The Qashqai is well-priced at round £25,000 and security is the elemental standards above all else. 

‘It is the most effective automobiles we have examined by way of security scores throughout the board and if you add within the worth level, together with the very fact it’s produced within the UK, we really feel it actually deserves its place. 

‘It’s additionally a longtime and in style household automotive, which may’t but be mentioned of sometimes costlier EV fashions.’ 

Skoda Enyaq iV

Value: from £34,850

The second fully-electric mannequin to make it into the checklist is the spectacular Skoda Enyaq iV – which additionally occurs to be considerably cheaper than the Mercedes EQS

The Skoda Enyaq iV’s grownup occupant safety rating of 94% is the second highest of all of the vehicles examined in 2021

Whereas the Mercedes EQS represents the costly finish of the electrical automotive spectrum, the Enyaq iV provides a extra attainable choice to drivers, with costs beginning at just below £35,000.

This entry-level compact crossover SUV scored properly in frontal offset testing, with the automotive engineered to minimise injury to different automobiles in a collision, and its grownup occupant safety rating of 94 per cent was the second highest of all of the vehicles examined. 

Skoda is planning enhancements to the Enyaq’s Lane Help expertise, which judges felt was somewhat ‘over-zealous’.

MA: ‘Skoda’s Enyaq is a household automotive with numerous room which was solely bettered in security efficiency by rather more costly automobiles. 

‘It’s satisfying to see the Enyaq characteristic in our high 5 most secure vehicles checklist, because it represents the way forward for all-electric motoring and can account for a lot of gross sales within the EV crossover section. 

‘Spectacular outcomes present the VW Group hasn’t compromised security within the transition to electrical propulsion.’ 

Toyota Yaris Cross

Value: from £24,140 

The Yaris Cross is basically a supermini on stilts. The crossover – mixing small automotive dimension with SUV look – gives the look of higher safety. And it delivers, too

Judges of the security panel felt the Yaris Cross’ reputation will assist democratise security expertise, permitting many motorists to entry and profit from current improvements

The Yaris Cross – which is accessible completely as a petrol-electric hybrid – was counseled for its encouraging general efficiency in security exams and its affordability. 

Primarily a Yaris supermini on stilts, this crossover – mixing small automotive dimensions with SUV look – gives the look of higher safety. And it delivers, too. 

Judges felt the automotive’s reputation will assist democratise security expertise, permitting many motorists to entry and profit from current improvements.

MA: ‘Different vehicles carried out equally properly in testing however few, if any, got here in wherever close to the Yaris Cross’s low-entry worth. 

‘It’s reassuring to see Toyota are demonstrating that lower-cost fashions can nonetheless provide high-end security techniques, and {that a} deal with general worth needn’t be on the expense of driver security. 

Polestar 2

Value: from £49,900

The two is the primary Polestar to be examined in opposition to Euro NCAP protocols and has all the security options you’ll count on from a Volvo-derived full EV

Scoring extremely throughout all classes the Polestar 2 is a automobile match for the long run, with over-the-air updates providing probably improved efficiency over the automotive’s lifetime

That is the primary mannequin from the brand new electric-car model to be examined in opposition to Euro NCAP protocols and has all the security options you’ll count on from a Volvo-derived full EV. 

The automotive was counseled for its spectacular passive security efficiency, resulting from its glorious physique construction and really efficient restraint techniques.

MA: ‘Scoring extremely throughout all classes the Polestar 2 is a automobile match for the long run, with over-the-air updates providing probably improved efficiency over the automotive’s lifetime. 

‘It additionally boasts superb lane help features, that are risk delicate and don’t nag the motive force. 

‘As a brand new model, Polestar ought to be applauded for maintaining security so excessive on the agenda.’ 

WORST PERFORMERS

Renault Zoe

Value: from £28,595 (with Plug-in Automotive Grant)

The Renault Zoe is seen as the most effective small electrical vehicles at the moment in the marketplace, however one choice made by the French model round its security tools has seen it rating the bottom Euro NCAP ranking ever

Zoe acquired a zero-star ranking as a result of Renault had deleted a head-protecting airbag from the automotive throughout a mannequin replace

Renault’s Zoe electrical automotive was awarded the bottom doable crash check ranking by Euro NCAP – a zero ranking – because of the French model eradicating a life-saving piece of security tools. 

The present model of the small zero-emission automobile not has a seat-mounted airbag to guard an occupant’s head in a aspect impression. Because of this, in a sideways collision with a pole it was discovered to instantly impression a driver’s cranium with none extra safety.  

The Zoe turns into solely the third automotive in 25 years of testing to realize a zero-out-of-five ranking from famend automobile security assessor, Euro NCAP, making it the least protected new automotive Britons can purchase in showrooms as we speak. 

Dacia Spring

Value: from approx £14,500

There’s nonetheless no official phrase if the all-electric Dacia Spring can be offered within the UK, however whether it is it will likely be with a one-star crash check ranking

The Spring scored poorly within the final 2021 spherical of crash exams resulting from poor and weak safety throughout a number of areas of the crash check dummies used for the collision simulations

Dacia’s all-electric Spring, a Sandero-sized crossover, obtained a one-star ranking in Euro NCAP exams final 12 months.

Whereas it hasn’t been confirmed for the UK market, there’s a sturdy probability that it’s offered in British showrooms. 

An grownup occupant safety rating of simply 49 per cent represented poor and weak safety throughout a number of areas of the crash check dummies used for the collision simulations, which might lead to life-threatening accidents in a real-life crash state of affairs.

Nonetheless, it ought to be famous that the Dacia is fitted with the airbag that had been faraway from the brand new Renault Zoe, which protects in opposition to head damage in aspect impacts.

The Spring additionally had a low 56 per cent ranking for baby occupant safety. 

Dacia Sandero 

Value: from £7,995

Finances model Dacia made up two of the three worst performers for automobile security final 12 months (and an undesirable hat-trick for Renault, which is Dacia’s mum or dad firm). The newest Sandero scored a two-star ranking in 2021

The Sandero was marked down for that includes security expertise that solely mitigates impacts with different vehicles and is ‘not designed to stop crashes with pedestrians or cyclists’

The nation’s most inexpensive new automotive, the Dacia Sandero, acquired a low two-star ranking within the industry-leading crash exams early in 2021.

Euro NCAP confirmed a two-out-of-five-stars rating for the budget-friendly supermini with the automotive marked down for that includes security expertise that solely mitigates impacts with different vehicles and is ‘not designed to stop crashes with pedestrians or cyclists’.

The Stepway Crossover, which sits increased above the bottom however is mechanically nearly equivalent to the traditional supermini, was additionally given the identical ranking. It begins from £11,495 within the UK. 

Dacia says ‘the security of our clients is of the utmost significance,’ however specialists have accused its proprietor, Renault, of placing worth earlier than security.