Euro NCAP names its safest cars tested in 2021

Euro NCAP has announced the safest cars it tested in 2021, which includes everything from compact hatchbacks through to flagship electric saloons. 

The safety body tested 33 new cars last year, and out of them an impressive 22 achieved the top five-star rating, though at the complete opposite end of the spectrum, some scored no stars whatsoever. 

Euro NCAP hands out Best-in-Class titles across various categories of cars, with this award only given to models that received a five-star rating, and with ‘no critical body region coloured red in the full-scale tests’. At least three cars must have been tested in the category too for a Best-in-Class to be given out.

Starting in the small family car class, the Skoda Fabia received the title, with this new affordable supermini impressing judges in this area. In the ‘Small MPV’ class, it was Toyota’s high-riding Yaris Cross that was the overall winner, with the latest Volkswagen Caddy being the runner-up. 

In the Executive class, it was electric cars that dominated, with Mercedes’ flagship EQS saloon being crowned winner, followed by the Polestar 2 in second place. These two cars were also placed the same in the ‘Pure Electric’ category. 

Moving to ‘Small Off-road’, the new Nissan Qashqai impressed judges to get top honours, followed up by the electric Volkswagen ID.4. Meanwhile in the ‘Large Off-road’ segment, electric cars once again dominated, with the Skoda Enyaq iV winning the class, and the BMW iX named as runner-up.

Dr Michel van Ratingen, secretary general at Euro NCAP Secretary General, said: “Last year was a tough one for the car industry: a shortage of parts, semiconductors in particular, was the sting in the tail of the Covid crisis, affecting development timelines, production and sales. 

“Still, we saw quite a number of new car models coming to the market, many of them electric or hybrid, and many of them achieving five-star ratings despite the demanding requirements. Well done to the winners as well as to the runners-up, some of which were very close contenders for the top slot in their respective categories.”