06:30 15-01-2026

Euro NCAP 2025 safest cars: Mercedes-Benz CLA tops, Tesla close, EVs shine

Euro NCAP has wrapped up its 2025 evaluations and named the year’s safest cars. The Mercedes-Benz CLA took the overall Best Performer 2025 title and topped the Small Family Car category. According to Euro NCAP, the model posted strong results across all four pillars: protection of adult occupants, child safety, vulnerable road users, and the performance of driver-assistance systems.

The Best-in-Class 2025 list also includes the all-electric MINI Cooper E, Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, the Smart #5, and the Polestar 3. To earn the accolade, vehicles are judged on a weighted total across the four assessment areas, while a five-star rating and a standard suite of safety systems remain compulsory.

Euro NCAP’s Secretary General, Michiel van Ratingen, said the race for the top spot was tight: Tesla trailed Mercedes by a narrow margin, and new entrants are intensifying the contest. The organization added that electric cars not only match the safety of combustion models but often surpass it—an important signal for anyone looking at 2026 purchases. The takeaway is that consistent strength across categories now matters more than a single standout metric, underscoring how assistance technologies and active safety anchor real-world confidence.