LEUVEN, BELGIUM – Euro NCAP has revealed its Best-in-Class cars of 2025 – the safest models its experts tested over the past year.

In a year defined by a dramatic increase in the variety of new electric cars available to consumers and the fitment of sophisticated autonomous safety systems, the results show that carmakers are successfully navigating a changing automotive landscape while meeting the challenge of Euro NCAP’s robust testing protocols.

During Euro NCAP’s busiest year to date, with more new cars tested than at any other time, the highest-scoring car was the Mercedes-Benz CLA, which topped the Small Family Car category and earned the title of Best Performer of 2025.

Scoring strongly across all four assessment areas – Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Vulnerable Road User, and Safety Assist – the CLA set a benchmark for safety in the compact premium segment last year. And it continues a trend started in 2019, when the previous-generation CLA was awarded Best in Class for the Small Family Car category.

The other top performers of 2025 are the MINI Cooper E, Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, smart #5, and Polestar 3.

To define the ‘Best in Class,’ a calculation is made of the weighted sum of the scores in the four areas of assessment: Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Vulnerable Road User, and Safety Assist. Only vehicles with standard safety equipment are eligible for the award, and they must have achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating.

Dr. Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of Euro NCAP, says the Best-in-Class awards help drivers choose the safest car for their needs.

Euro NCAP names its Best-in-Class cars to help consumers easily identify the highest-performing cars that the organisation has evaluated over the past year. 2025 has had its challenges, but despite this, it has been pleasing to observe that the car industry has remained committed to improving vehicle safety.

Mercedes has a long-standing belief in investing in vehicle safety, so it feels appropriate for the CLA to earn the title of 2025’s Best Performer, as well as Best Small Family Car. It was a close-run competition, however. Tesla was only fractionally behind, and new entrants like firefly and Leapmotor show how global competition continues to grow, which can only be a good thing for consumers who value safety as much as style, practicality, driving performance, and running costs from their next car. — Dr. Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General Euro NCAP

Euro NCAP 2025 Best-in-Class cars

Best Performer & Best Small Family Car: Mercedes-Benz CLA

The latest CLA impressed judges with a near-perfect performance in Adult Occupant protection and a class-leading score for Vulnerable Road User safety, thanks to its advanced active bonnet and refined AEB systems. It previously topped the Small Family Car class in 2019.

Best City & Supermini: MINI Cooper E

The all-electric MINI Cooper E proves that small cars can deliver big safety. Despite its compact dimensions, it achieved high scores in structural crash testing, making it the safest choice in the supermini class of the models assessed by Euro NCAP in 2025.

Best Large Family Car: Tesla Model 3

The updated Tesla Model 3 remains a leader in safety. The electric family car achieved high scores across the board and particularly impressed in Child Occupant protection. Its Safety Assist score shows Tesla’s continued improvement of driver assistance safety features.

Best Small SUV: Tesla Model Y

Reinforcing Tesla’s dual-category victory this year, the company’s best-selling Model Y proved the gold standard for small SUVs, specifically excelling in Child Occupant protection and Safety Assist tests.

Best Large SUV: smart #5

A newcomer to the SUV segment, the smart brand began making small cars without any compromise toward safety. The new, large smart #5 impressed Euro NCAP’s experts with a robust five-star performance, proving that the brand’s evolution into larger segments has not come at the cost of occupant protection.

Best Executive Car: Polestar 3

Continuing Polestar’s reputation for safety innovation, the Polestar 3 outperformed rivals in the executive car class. Its structural integrity, impressive

Child Occupant protection rating, and suite of next-generation driver assistance technologies secured its place as the safest executive vehicle of 2025.

2025 has been a year where safety technology has truly caught up with the ambition of Euro NCAP’s testing protocols. We are seeing electric vehicles not just matching but often exceeding the safety performance of traditional cars. This should reassure those consumers who are considering switching from a fuel-burning car to an EV. Electric cars are delivering in other areas, too. The Mercedes-Benz CLA, Tesla Model 3, and Model Y show that safety can be integrated into appealing, aerodynamic designs, while the MINI Cooper E brings a touch of fun and personality to the road. As we look toward 2026, we encourage all manufacturers to maintain this momentum toward our goal of Vision Zero. — Dr. Aled Williams, Programme Director Euro NCAP

Editor’s note Please note that from 2026, Euro NCAP will be changing the way we make our safety assessment. The five-star rating, however, will continue to remain a valid and trusted indicator of a new car’s safety performance. For full results, visit www.euroncap.com or Euro NCAP’s newsroom for journalists.

For media information, please contact Cordelia Wilson at media@euroncap.com.