Euro NCAP has announced its Best-in-Class cars for 2025, highlighting the safest models evaluated during its busiest testing year to date. The Mercedes-Benz CLA achieved the highest overall standing, securing the title of Best Performer.
Highlights
- Mercedes-Benz CLA earned the titles of Best Performer and Best Small Family Car.
- Tesla secured victories in the Large Family Car and Small SUV categories with the Model 3 and Model Y.
- Electric vehicles dominated the results, matching or exceeding the safety performance of traditional combustion engines.
- New entrants smart and Polestar topped the Large SUV and Executive Car segments, respectively.
Assessment Methodology
To define the Best-in-Class winners, Euro NCAP calculates a weighted sum of scores across four primary assessment areas: Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Vulnerable Road User, and Safety Assist.
Eligibility for the award requires vehicles to possess standard safety equipment and achieve a five-star Euro NCAP rating.
Top Performer: Mercedes-Benz CLA
The Mercedes-Benz CLA returned to the top of the rankings, having previously won the Small Family Car category in 2019. The vehicle set the 2025 benchmark for safety in the compact premium segment.
Key performance metrics for the CLA include:
- Vulnerable Road User: A class-leading score of 93%, attributed to refined AEB systems and an active bonnet.
- Adult Occupant: A near-perfect performance rating of 94%.
Category Winners
The 2025 results reflect a diverse automotive landscape, with electric vehicles (EVs) delivering strong safety outcomes across multiple segments.
Large Family Car and Small SUV
Tesla maintained a strong presence in the rankings. The updated Tesla Model 3 was named Best Large Family Car, demonstrating high scores in Child Occupant protection.
The Tesla Model Y secured the Best Small SUV title. It excelled in Safety Assist tests, reflecting the company’s continued updates to driver assistance technologies.
Executive and Large SUV Segments
Polestar 3 was named the Best Executive Car, outperforming rivals through structural integrity and next-generation driver assistance technologies.
In the Large SUV category, the smart #5 took top honors. Despite being a newcomer to larger vehicle segments, the model delivered robust occupant protection without compromising safety.
City and Supermini
The MINI Cooper E was awarded Best City & Supermini. The all-electric model achieved high structural crash testing scores, proving effective safety performance within compact dimensions.
2025 Safety Performance Data
The following table outlines the specific score breakdowns for the 2025 Best-in-Class winners:
| Vehicle Model | Category | Adult Occupant | Child Occupant | Vulnerable Road User | Safety Assist |
| Mercedes-Benz CLA | Small Family Car | 94% | 89% | 93% | 85% |
| Tesla Model 3 | Large Family Car | 90% | 93% | 89% | 87% |
| Tesla Model Y | Small SUV | 91% | 93% | 86% | 92% |
| smart #5 | Large SUV | 88% | 93% | 84% | 92% |
| MINI Cooper E | City & Supermini | 89% | 87% | 77% | 79% |
| Polestar 3 | Executive Car | 90% | 93% | 79% | 83% |
Industry Outlook and Future Protocols
The 2025 testing cycle indicated that the industry is successfully navigating the transition to electric mobility while adhering to robust safety protocols.
According to Dr. Aled Williams, Programme Director at Euro NCAP, EVs are now frequently exceeding the safety performance of traditional fuel-burning cars.
Looking ahead, Euro NCAP has announced that it will alter its safety assessment methods starting in 2026. However, the five-star rating system will remain the primary indicator for vehicle safety performance.
For full results, visit www.euroncap.com.
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