The world’s foremost car safety rating agency, European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) has announced its selection of safest cars tested in the past year. Vehicle safety is one of the primary considerations for buyers when looking at new cars.
Crash test ratings serve as a benchmark for minimum safety requirements for modern vehicles. Euro NCAP has developed a five-star rating system that helps buyers to compare vehicle safety standards.
The ratings are determined by a vehicle’s performance in a series of crash tests. These tests represent real-life accident scenarios, so the higher the rating, the better the chance of occupant survival and minimal injury in an accident.
What the five-star safety rating means
The following explanations shed some light on the meaning of the five stars in the safety ratings:
- 5-star safety – Overall excellent performance in crash protection. The vehicle is well-equipped with robust crash avoidance technology.
- 4-star safety – Overall good performance in crash protection. Additional crash avoidance technology may be present.
- 3-star safety – Average-to-good occupant protection but lacking crash avoidance technology.
- 2-star safety – Normal crash protection but lacking crash avoidance technology.
- 1-star safety – Marginal crash protection.
The cars below all received outstanding safety ratings in their respective categories for the past 12 months. Best In Class awards were given to the following: The Mercedes-Benz A-Class for small family cars, Lexus ES for the large family car and hybrid/electric classes, Hyundai NEXO for off-road SUV.
Safest family cars
- Mercedes-Benz A-Class – safest small family hatchback, highest overall score
- Lexus ES – safest large family car, safest hybrid/electric model, best in class
- Volvo S60
- Volvo V60
- Peugeot 508
- Mazda 6
- Nissan Leaf
- Ford Focus
Safest executive cars
- VW Arteon – safest executive hatchback
- Volvo V90 – safest executive sedan
- Audi A6
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class
- BMW 5 Series
Safest hybrid/electric cars
- Lexus ES – safest hybrid/electric model, safest large family car, best in class
- Hyundai NEXO – safest off-road SUV, best in class
- Nissan Leaf – safest small hybrid family hatchback
- Jaguar I-Pace – safest hybrid executive hatchback/SUV
- Honda CR-V – five-star rating for off-road hybrid SUV
Safest pickup trucks
- Mercedes-Benz X-Class
- Ford Ranger
- Toyota Hilux (with safety package)
Safest small MPVs
- Volvo XC40
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
- VW T-Roc
- VW Tiguan
- Audi Q3
- Toyota C-HR
- Mazda CX-5
- Range Rover Velar
- Jaguar F-Pace
- BMW X3/X4
- Jeep Compass
- Hyundai KONA
- Jaguar E-Pace
- Opel Grandland X
Safest small hatchback
- Mercedes-Benz A-Class
- Nissan Micra
- VW Polo
- Ford Fiesta
- Suzuki Ignis
- Toyota Yaris
Please note that the above information is simply a safety rating of each car according to Euro NCAP. It is not a reflection of the value, performance or overall ranking of the vehicles.
Formex Industries is a metal forming and assembly company that supplies a variety of complex products to the local automotive industry and export market. The company is based in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropole, South Africa’s foremost region for automotive manufacturing and export.
Formex specialises in producing components for the catalytic converter industry, as well as metal components and assemblies for the various vehicles. Formex aims to become one of the foremost suppliers for the South African automotive industry by 2035, aligning itself with the South African Automotive Masterplan (SAAM) which takes effect in 2020.
Formex is a Level 2 B-BBEE supplier with over 80% black ownership, of which more than 40% are black women. The company is owned by Deneb Investments Limited – a subsidiary of Hosken Consolidated Investments Limited (HCI) – one of South Africa’s biggest true B-BBEE companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Google+ for the latest industry news and features relating to our products and services.
