When shopping for a car for you and your family, or for your fleet, we understand that while good looks and the latest technology are important, your chief concern is much more likely to be how safe a car is.
UK car safety is rated by Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) which gives each car tested a star rating. Ratings have become more important than ever and today's manufacturers clamour to get a five-star rating, so there's no need to sacrifice style for safety.
How is a car safety tested?
Euro NCAP tests cars by crashing them head-on, side-on and in a slightly offset position, and recording the results. Each car contains sensor-laden crash test dummies sized to replicate an adult and a child. Euro NCAP also tests pedestrian safety, seatbelt and airbag effectiveness, and car rigidity in the event of an accident.
After testing, each car is given a % rating in 4 areas: Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection, and Safety Assist, to determine its overall star safety rating. Here's a roundup of some of the safest used cars for families and fleets right now. All of the cars listed below have a 5-star Euro NCAP Safety Rating and are either listed as Safest Family Cars or Safest Fleet Cars on the Euro NCAP website (correct as of summer 2023).
The Safest Family Cars
Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is a popular family car known for its reliability and safety features. Over the years, the Golf has consistently performed well in Euro NCAP tests, earning high safety ratings. The Golf's safety technology typically includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking, making it a safe and family-friendly choice. The Golf earned an 88% safety rating for adult occupants and 87% for child occupants.
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is another family car that emphasises safety and has received favourable safety scores over the years. Honda is known for incorporating advanced safety features into its vehicles, and the Civic offers technologies like vehicle stability assist, electronic brake distribution, seatbelt reminders and lane-keeping assist, ensuring a high level of safety for families on the road. The Civic has an 89% safety rating for adults and 87% for child occupants.
Kia Sportage
As a mid-sized SUV, the Kia Sportage offers ample space and a range of safety features suitable for families, and the Sportage has historically performed well in safety tests. Safety features on the Sportage include autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist and collision avoidance technology, enhancing overall safety and peace of mind for families. It achieved an 87% safety rating for adults and 86% for child occupants.
SEAT Arona
The SEAT Arona is a compact SUV that caters to families with its spacious interior and practicality, and it includes multiple airbags, seatbelt reminders and anti-lock braking systems. Additionally, modern safety technologies such as lane-keeping assist, high beam assist and a tiredness recognition system may be available in newer models or as optional packages. It has an 83% safety rating for both adult and child occupants.
The Safest Fleet Cars
Lexus NX
The Lexus NX is a luxury compact SUV that places a strong emphasis on safety. The NX offers a comprehensive suite of safety features, including pre-collision systems, adaptive cruise control, and intelligent headlights, providing a high level of safety for fleet drivers and passengers. The NX scored 91% for both adult occupants and safety assist.
Land Rover Discovery Sport
As a premium mid-sized SUV, the Land Rover Discovery Sport is designed with safety in mind. The Discovery Sport may feature advanced safety technologies like emergency braking, driver condition monitoring, and adaptive cruise control, making it a reliable and safe choice for fleet use. It achieved an 84% safety rating for adult occupants and 85% for safety assist.
BMW X1
The BMW X1 is a popular choice among fleet cars and offers a combination of performance and safety. BMW is known for incorporating cutting-edge safety features in its vehicles, so it is unsurprising that the X1 is equipped with features such as frontal collision warning, traction control, lane departure warning, and pedestrian detection, ensuring a high level of safety for fleet drivers. Thanks to these features, the X1 secured a 92% safety assist rating and 86% adult occupant safety rating.
Mercedes-Benz C Class
The Mercedes-Benz C Class is a luxury sedan known for its safety features and performance. Mercedes-Benz vehicles are generally equipped with advanced safety technologies and the C Class is no exception; it benefits from features including blind spot assist, adaptive high beam assist, and lane-keeping assist, providing enhanced safety for fleet drivers and passengers. The C Class scored a Euro NCAP safety rating of 93% for adult occupants and 82% for safety assist.
Selected for their excellent safety ratings, these are just a few of the great used cars we have in stock here at Carbase. All our cars are RAC approved under the RAC BuySure scheme, so you can rest assured that the car you are buying has undergone a thorough audit inspection before we placed it on sale. What's more, you'll get a three-month warranty and 12 months of complimentary breakdown cover.
Search for your new used Carbase car today or visit one of our locations.
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