The cars leading the way in child safety
April 09, 2025 by Siobhan Doyle
Car changing is a big deal
On the hunt for a new family car that’s as safe as it is reliable? Euro NCAP has just revealed seven cars with five-star safety scores.
Among the cars awarded five-star ratings by the car safety performance assessment programme are the Polestar 3, BYD Sealion 7, Cupra Terramar, Jaecoo 7 PHEV, Audi A6, and two new Chinese SUVs, the Geely EX5 and the Hongqi E-HS9.
Before getting down to the nitty gritty, here’s an overview of Euro NCAP’s test results for these cars:
| Car Model | Rating | Adult occupant | Child occupant | Vulnerable road users | Safety assist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi A6 | 5 stars | 87% | 88% | 78% | 77% |
| BYD Sealion 7 | 5 stars | 87% | 93% | 76% | 79% |
| Cupra Terramar | 5 stars | 89% | 87% | 82% | 76% |
| Geely EX5 | 5 stars | 86% | 87% | 83% | 83% |
| Hongqi E-HS9 | 5 stars | 82% | 87% | 73% | 82% |
| Jaecoo 7 PHEV | 5 stars | 81% | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| Polestar 3 | 5 stars | 90% | 93% | 79% | 83% |
Polestar 3
This five-seat electric SUV earned a five-star Euro NCAP rating, scoring 93% for child occupant protection – the highest in the past nine years – assessed under the latest, most demanding protocols.
The Polestar 3 excelled in child occupant tests, offering strong protection in both frontal and side crash tests for six and 10-year-old dummies. It also features clear airbag status indicators for rear-facing child seats and a system that prevents the car from being locked if a child is left inside.
BYD Sealion 7
This large electric SUV made in China matched the Polestar 3’s impressive child occupant score of 93 per cent but didn’t perform as robustly in the other tests. However, the Sealion 7 was also awarded a five-star Euro NCAP rating.
Cupra Terramar
This SUV, which the Spanish car company offers as a conventional petrol-powered model or a plug-in hybrid (as tested by Euro NCAP), also performed strongly, with solid results in the adult occupant (89%), child occupant (87%), and vulnerable road users (82%) categories, ensuring it was awarded a five-star safety rating.
Jaecoo 7 PHEV
This funky-looking SUV earned a five-star rating but lost points in the frontal collision test due to a trapped side curtain airbag. Jaecoo found that one of the clips holding the airbag in place had not been properly installed during production and has since improved its production line quality.
Audi A6
Although not an SUV, also reviewed was the latest generation Audi A6. This large saloon received a five-star safety rating with an 88% child occupant score.
Two new Chinese electric SUVs also earned five stars
The Geely EX5, an electric SUV made in China, earned a five-star rating with strong results in vulnerable road users (83%) and safety assist (83%) tests but lost points in the child occupant (87%) test due to a failed ‘child presence detection’ system. It also lost points in adult protection (86%) after welds around the A-pillar detached, though Geely demonstrated minimal damage in a more severe test.
The Hongqi E-HS9, another new Chinese electric SUV, also earned a five-star rating but lost points due to a tear in the driver’s airbag found during post-test inspections. Hongqi has since improved quality checks at the assembly plant and with the airbag supplier.
You won’t be able to get your hands on these two cars just yet, as they haven’t entered the market. However, the Hongqi E-HS9 is set to arrive in the UK in 2026.
About the Euro NCAP
Since 1997, the European New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) has been certifying vehicle safety, awarding five stars only to cars that excel in crash protection and are equipped with advanced crash avoidance technology. This rating system helps consumers easily compare and choose the safest vehicles.
In the latest round of assessments by the independent body, seven cars underwent a series of tests across four categories: adult occupant, child occupant, vulnerable road users, and safety assist.
The majority of cars on the list are SUVs, reflecting their popularity in the market. SUVs accounted for 54% of new car sales worldwide last year, with families particularly drawn to their perceived practicality and safety. But with more choice coming from a wave of new, electrically powered SUVs, impartial buying guidance is invaluable.
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