Top 10 safest family cars of 2021 tested by Euro NCAP

With a price point that firmly places it as competition to top-range Teslas, the Mercedes EQS is an all-new, all-electric, luxury saloon that instantly impresses with its sharp styling and high-quality interior. It’s also the safest family car tested in the Euro NCAP test of 2021, scoring a full five stars with outstanding results for both adult and child occupant protection. If the EQS is a fraction out of your price range, then check out the Mercedes A Class. When it comes to the safest used cars for families, the A Class scored 96% for adult occupant protection and 91% for child protection in the 2018 Euro NCAP tests.

• Adult occupant protection: 96%
• Child occupant protection: 91%
• Pedestrian protection: 76%
• Safety assist: 80%

Designed with a family focus, the latest Nissan Qashqai is hot on the heels of the Mercedes EQS in terms of the Euro NCAP rating for safety. And that’s not surprising, considering its list of standard safety equipment and active driver-assists systems. Across the range, all models feature automatic emergency braking (AEB) and blind spot assist, as well as lane keeping assistance – all of which are designed to prevent a collision in the first place.

• Adult occupant protection: 91%
• Child occupant protection: 91%
• Pedestrian protection: 70%
• Safety assist: 95%

Positioned just below the bigger and more luxurious E-Tron in the Audi range, the Q4 E-Tron aims to conquer the all-electric family SUV market. And it just might with its fantastic car safety rating. As standard, it comes with a lane departure warning, cruise control with speed limiter, and Audi Pre-Sense Front, which uses radar to provide you with visual and acoustic warnings of any potentially hazardous situations in front of the car. Plus, it has ISOFIX fittings for a child seat to be used in the rear seats and passenger seat too. And with the 77kWh battery, it also offers up to 317 miles in range.

• Adult occupant protection: 93%
• Child occupant protection: 89%
• Pedestrian protection: 66%
• Safety assist: 80%

Another all-electric vehicle ranking as one of the safest family cars in its Euro NCAP test of 2021, the Polestar 2 builds on Volvo’s 90 years of safety research. That’s right, Polestar is an off-shoot of Volvo, one that’s dedicated to electric vehicles. The Polestar 2 is the company’s five-door hatchback aimed at giving Tesla a run for its money. It comes with a wealth of safety features and assistance systems, including multiple radar and camera units. Couple that with a stunning, high-quality cabin and impressive range and you have a recipe for success.

• Adult occupant protection: 93%
• Child occupant protection: 89%
• Pedestrian protection: 80%
• Safety assist: 86%

Yet another EV in the top five, the Volkswagen ID4 is a superb choice for families, joining the other vehicles on this list as one of the safest cars on UK roads. The SUV has a high 93% adult occupant protection score and an 89% rating for child protection. It also scores highly in the safety assistance category at 85%, which is unsurprising as it comes with AEB, Lane Assist System, and Speed Assistance as standard.

• Adult occupant protection: 93%
• Child occupant protection: 89%
• Pedestrian protection: 76%
• Safety assist: 85%

The Skoda Enyaq iV is an all-electric SUV that has similar Euro NCAP safety ratings across the board as the VW ID4. So, if you’re after a safe SUV for the family these two cars are definitely worth a look. The Skoda Enyaq offers impressive range up to 333 miles with the largest battery, and is a well-balanced vehicle for everyday use. It’s an all-rounder of an SUV ticking many boxes, offering an excellent turning circle, a comfortable cabin, and a quiet ride experience. Helping to avoid collisions in the first place, the Skoda Enyaq also has a range of driver assists, such as Front Assist with predictive pedestrian and cyclist protection, Side Assist including Rear Traffic Alert, and Collision Avoidance Assist.

• Adult occupant protection: 94%
• Child occupant protection: 89%
• Pedestrian protection: 71%
• Safety assist: 82%

If you put safety assistance technology above adult occupant protection, especially with its capability to prevent accidents, then go ahead and boost the Subaru Outback into third place. Why? Well, this car scored an outstanding 95% in the safety assist category of Euro NCAP tests. It’s also highly rated for pedestrian safety too. Fitted with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive for superior grip on and off the road whatever the weather, the Subaru Outback also comes with a whole range of active and passive safety technologies to keep you and your family safe. Features include: EyeSight driver assist technology (including Adaptive Cruise Control and Pre-Collision Braking), Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection, and a Front, Rear and Side View Camera.

• Adult occupant protection: 88%
• Child occupant protection: 89%
• Pedestrian protection: 84%
• Safety assist: 95%

New to the UK market, the Genesis brand impresses from the get go. Like the Subaru Outback, you can apply a similar boost in rankings on this list to the Genesis G80, if you place a premium on safety assist tech. Equipped with kit like Forward Collision Assistance, the G80 luxury saloon scored a high 91% in the safety assist category, as well as in adult occupant protection, and a very respectable 87% for child protection. It has an elegant interior, it looks beautiful, and it offers a refined driving experience too.

• Adult occupant protection: 91%
• Child occupant protection: 87%
• Pedestrian protection: 77%
• Safety assist: 91%

The first release from Seat’s off-shoot performance brand, the Cupra Formentor is a sharp looking SUV that is fun to drive, offering a high driving position, lots of interior space for families, and a healthy dose of style. It’s also amongst the safest family cars, with excellent scores in both adult and child occupant protection. Whilst the pedestrian protection score lets the car down somewhat, the Cupra Formentor has a strong rating for safety assist technology, featuring: Autonomous Emergency Braking, Side and Exit Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Traffic Jam Assist, Light Assist, and Pre-Crash Assist.

• Adult occupant protection: 93%
• Child occupant protection: 88%
• Pedestrian protection: 68%
• Safety assist: 80%

Rounding off our top 10 safest family cars is the BMW iX, a large electric SUV that features brand-new EV architecture and the fifth generation of BMWs e Drive electric motors. It’s an impressive car, boasting up to 380 miles in range, excellent performance, and plenty of space for the whole family. Here’s the safety system highlights; it features Driving Assistant Professional as standard, Steering and lane guidance assist, Emergency steer assist, and Lane keeping assistant with side collision warning. You can also get Parking Assistant Plus to help with tight parking spaces.

• Adult occupant protection: 91%
• Child occupant protection: 87%
• Pedestrian protection: 73%
• Safety assist: 81%