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The best cars of 2019 according to Euro NCAP

Mónica Redondo @MonicaRedondoD 11 January 2020 5 min.

As every year, the best cars of 2019 according to Euro NCAP are here to make it easier to choose when buying a new car. Which one will you go for?

Every year, Euro NCAP publishes a list of the cars that have performed best in their respective categories. Star ratings cannot be compared directly between different vehicle categories, so the “Best in Class” is published, showing which vehicles have performed better than their competitors. As the requirements for each star rating become stricter every year, the ‘Best in Class’ comparison is made only within each year so that all vehicles are assessed against the same standards.

To define Best in Class, a calculation is made of the weighted sum of the scores in each of the four assessment areas: Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Pedestrian and Safety Assist. This sum is used as the basis for comparing vehicles. Cars qualify for ‘Best in Class’ based only on their rating with standard safety equipment. Additional ratings based on optional equipment are excluded.

Which cars are the best of 2019 according to Euro NCAP?

Some categories may not be represented, as Euro NCAP has tested very few models in that class during that year.

Since 2018, Euro NCAP has also awarded a prize for the best safety performance of electric and hybrid cars it has tested. Although these vehicles may be in different size categories, the award is expected to guide consumers seeking maximum safety in their electric or hybrid vehicle.

Fifty-five cars were evaluated, of which forty-one achieved the top award. This makes 2019 one of the most impressive years in history since Euro NCAP began assessing consumer car safety in the European market.

Mercedes-Benz has regained its crown in the best-performing small family car category. The CLA is the sporty alternative to the A-Class Saloon, last year’s Best in Class winner. It scored over 90 percent in three of the four safety areas and achieved the best overall rating of the year. Remarkably, Mercedes-Benz launched five more five-star vehicles in 2019, all with excellent crash protection and driver assistance technology.

Euro NCAP Best in Class 2019: small family car

The Mercedes-Benz CLA shares its active safety technology with the A-Class, assessed by Euro NCAP in 2018. The hardware is the same and the systems in the two cars work equivalently. Consequently, the active safety results are based on those of the A-Class. As the front seats and head restraints are also identical, the A-Class results have also been used for rear whiplash protection. All full-scale crash tests have been repeated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9uQMJS5ajg&feature=emb_logo

Euro NCAP Best in Class 2019: large family car, hybrid and electric

The Tesla Model 3 achieves a very good score in the offset deformable barrier frontal crash test, which has been synonymous with EuroNCAP tests since their creation in 1997. This is largely due to the chassis layout, which produces a low centre of gravity and the absence of a combustion engine, which could otherwise intrude into the passenger compartment in a collision. The full safety analysis of the Tesla Model 3 can be seen here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMiZa3HgRVE&feature=emb_logo

Euro NCAP Best in Class 2019: large family car

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBAIytptrBQ&feature=emb_logo

It shares first place in the family category with the Tesla Model 3. The two cars finish with identical overall scores; the BMW 3 Series achieved better pedestrian protection scores, and the Tesla beat it in Safety Assist. Škoda’s new Octavia is second in this category.

Euro NCAP Best in Class 2019: small SUV

In the combined Small Off-road / Small MPV class, Subaru wins with the new Forester, with excellent all-round performance. The CX-30 from Mazda and the T-Cross from Volkswagen are close followers in this category. Despite missing out on first place, Mazda had an excellent year, with the Mazda 3 delivering exceptional adult occupant protection and taking second place to the Mercedes-Benz CLA in the small family car category.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRuACDnjDXQ&feature=emb_logo

Euro NCAP Best in Class 2019: city compacts

In the city compact class we have a tie: the sporty Audi A1 and the best-selling Renault Clio have been among Europe’s most popular and desirable hatchbacks for years. Their latest generations arrived in 2019 and performed equally well in our tests.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1CpzPPSqfE&feature=emb_logo

The newcomer Ford Puma is second in this category. The segment remains the most competitive on the market, as illustrated by the presence of 3-, 4- and 5-star cars on the list, and the winners deserve extraordinary credit for their uncompromising stance on safety.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vatlgud7TnM&feature=emb_logo

Finally, a special mention goes to the outstanding performance of the BMW Z4, the only roadster tested in 2019, which has undoubtedly set a new safety benchmark for the segment. The BMW Z4 is also one of the best Euro NCAP cars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL0qjxVqTS8