10 Safest New Cars You Can Buy in Britain This Year

10 safest new cars you can buy in Britain this year – does yours make the list?

If safety is important to you when you’re looking to buy a new car, this is a must-read list for you.

Crash-test experts Thatcham Research have compiled the top 10 models available in showrooms today with the best safety standards that could be the difference between life and death in an accident.

All cars featured are listed because they not only offer a high level of protection in a crash but have the latest technology that could mean avoiding a collision altogether. 

Thatcham Research said the cars to make the top 10 list in 2019 have to offer more than a five-star Euro NCAP rating – the European standard for vehicle safety.

Thatcham’s team of expert UK judges said the 10 nominees for the overall award need to excel in the prevention of crashes too. Meaning the performance of Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) systems are reviewed and models fitted with adaptive cruise control, speed recognition and control and steering support.

Matthew Avery, director of research at Thatcham said: ‘It’s clear that occupants of the latest cars are at a lower risk than ever. But not resting on our laurels, we raised the bar in safety testing for 2018. This means the ten cars in this list are some of the safest ever made, anywhere in the world.’ 

So, who is the winner of 2019 and which cars have made the final cut?

Winner:

1. Mercedes-Benz A-Class

  • Rating: 
  • Adult Occupant: 96%
  • Child Occupant: 91%
  • Vulnerable Road Users: 92%
  • Safety Assist: 75%

Matthew Avery, Director of Research, Thatcham Research:

“The Mercedes-Benz A-Class has the highest overall Euro NCAP score of the year. It aced the AEB Cyclist test, scoring 100%, and achieved an impressive 97% for the system’s ability to detect pedestrians. This high-performance safety technology is available – at no extra cost – on a car with UK sales of more than 43,000. That means it’s delivering real-world safety.”

“It’s Driving Assistant Plus package is also intuitive and easy to use, working quietly in the background to support the driver, without taking too much ownership away. Its ability to identify roundabouts and junctions and slow the car accordingly is also impressive, along with its Active Lane Changing function. Crucially, the system doesn’t disengage should the driver need to take over the steering, continuing to aid in the driving task.”

Photo of car being crash tested

And the runners up are… (In no particular order):

Audi A6

  • Rating: 
  • Adult Occupant: 93%
  • Child Occupant: 85%
  • Vulnerable Road Users: 81%
  • Safety Assist: 76%

2. Audi Q3

  • Rating: 
  • Adult Occupant: 95%
  • Child Occupant: 86%
  • Vulnerable Road Users: 76%
  • Safety Assist: 85%
Another photo of a car being crash tested

3. Ford Focus

  • Rating: 
  • Adult Occupant: 85%
  • Child Occupant: 87%
  • Vulnerable Road Users: 72%
  • Safety Assist: 75%
Photo of a car on display

4. Jaguar I-Pace

  • Rating: 
  • Adult Occupant: 91%
  • Child Occupant: 81%
  • Vulnerable Road Users: 73%
  • Safety Assist: 81%
Another photo of a car being crash tested

5. Lexus ES

  • Price: from £35,150
  • Rating: 
  • Adult Occupant: 91%
  • Child Occupant: 87%
  • Vulnerable Road Users: 90%
  • Safety Assist: 77%
Photo of car being crash tested

7. Nissan Leaf

  • Rating: 
  • Adult Occupant: 93%
  • Child Occupant: 86%
  • Vulnerable Road Users: 71%
  • Safety Assist: 71%
Photo of car being crash tested

8. Peugeot 508

  • Rating: 
  • Adult Occupant: 96%
  • Child Occupant: 86%
  • Vulnerable Road Users: 71%
  • Safety Assist: 79%
Photo of car being crash tested

9. Volvo V60/S60

  • Rating: 
  • Adult Occupant: 96%
  • Child Occupant: 84%
  • Vulnerable Road Users: 74%
  • Safety Assist: 76%
Photo of car being crash tested

10. Volvo XC40

  • Rating: 
  • Adult Occupant: 97%
  • Child Occupant: 87%
  • Vulnerable Road Users: 71%
  • Safety Assist: 76%
Photo of car being crash tested

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