MG HS
AO: 90% CO: 85% VRU: 83% SA: 74%
The previous MG HS was a top-seller for the brand because it was cheap and spacious. The new model is still cheap and even more practical than it was before, but now has some other feathers in its cap – and a five-star Euro NCAP rating is one of them.
A great score of 90% for adult occupant protection, and 85%, 83% and 74% in child occupant, vulnerable road user and safety assist categories respectively, are all very good scores especially for a large SUV that undercuts some small hatchbacks in price.
Even MG’s semi-autonomous features are quite good – though it has to be said that activating or deactivating them through the slow, awkward touchscreen is an exercise that’s best done while stationary if you want to remain safe.
You can get the HS with a regular petrol engine which is very cheap to buy, but the more impressive powertrain is the plug-in hybrid – this has up to 75 miles of all-electric range, which means incredibly low company car tax and the potential for very cheap running costs if you charge the battery up from a low-cost home supply.
Volvo EX30
AO: 88% CO: 85% VRU: 79% SA: 80%
The Volvo EX30 is one of the best small electric cars out there. It’s so good that we named it Carwow Car of the Year for 2023, and even a couple of years from its introduction it’s still highly-rated.
Volvo is a company that’s fastidious about safety, so it’s perhaps no surprise that the EX30 scored the full five stars in Euro NCAP’s safety tests. It scored 88% for adult occupant protection, 85% for child occupant protection, 79% in the vulnerable road user category and 80% in the safety assist category.
Volvo’s Pilot Assist semi-autonomous driving aids are some of the best around – they’re not fazed by other road users and rarely react unpredictably. The EX30, however, does operate absolutely everything – including small functions like opening the glovebox – through its central touchscreen. You’ll even find the driving information there. This might mean it’s not quite as safe as some alternatives on the move, especially if you’re a bit of a technophobe and don’t get on too well with modern touchscreen infotainment systems.
Subaru Crosstrek
AO: 83% CO: 90% VRU: 85% SA: 72%
Subaru might not be the first company that springs to mind when you think of safety, but perhaps it should be – every Subaru car tested by Euro NCAP since 2009 has scored a full five-star rating.
The Crosstrek might not be the most efficient, roomy or luxurious car, but it does do certain things well – and scores of 83%, 90%, 85% and 72% in Euro NCAP’s four categories are testament to its commitment to safety.
Subaru’s assisted driving tech is very good – it uses a system called ‘Eyesight’ which is based off two cameras above the rear-view mirror. Also worth noting is that all Subaru vehicles have all-wheel drive – this is fantastic for safety, as it provides welcome traction in slippery conditions and reduces the risk of being out of control if you enter a corner too fast.
The Crosstrek isn’t perfect – it’s quite pricey, uses a lot of fuel and its hybrid engine is pretty gutless. But it’s great off-road and really safe, and being a Subaru you can be sure it’ll last forever.
