What is the safest car on the road?

Determining which vehicle is the safest on the road is difficult as there are so many vehicle types at different price points, so we have compiled a list of the top-performing products in two different vehicle crash test safety programmes in 2022. Not all of these products are for sale locally, but the list should provide valuable insight into which brand(s) are producing the safest products.

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Euro NCAP

The Euro NCAP assessment programme is considered among the best in the world when it comes to evaluating new vehicle safety, and recently, the organization released its best performers across a variety of categories. 

Hyundai IONIQ 6

Hyundai's all-electric IONIQ 6 was rated as the safest large family car, with 97% for adult occupant safety, 87% for child occupant safety, 66% for pedestrian safety and 90% for its safety assistance systems.

ORA Funky Cat

The all-electric ORA Funky Cat, which is most likely to be badged the ORA Cat when it arrives in South Africa, achieved the best safety rating in the Small Family Car category in 2022 with 92% for adult occupant safety, 83% for child occupant safety, 74% for pedestrian safety and 93% for its safety assistance systems.

Tesla Model S

Tesla's Model S grabbed top honours in the executive vehicle category, with 94% for adult occupant safety, 91% for child occupant safety, 85% for pedestrian safety and 98% for its safety assistance systems.

Tesla Model Y

The Tesla Model Y was rated as the safest small off-road vehicle with scores of 97% for adult occupant safety, 87% for child occupant safety, 82% for pedestrian safety and 98% for its safety assistance systems.

WEY Coffee 01

WEY is yet another sub-brand from Chinese auto giant GWM and based on its recent offerings, GWM has some compelling products. The Coffee 01 is a PHEV, and scored 91% for adult occupant safety, 87% for child occupant safety, 79% for pedestrian safety and 94% for its safety assistance systems, making it the safest in the large off-road category.

Image courtesy of: https://www.wey-eu.com/de/en/coffee01.html

 

ANCAP

The ANCAP programme is particularly relevant to South Africans as many of the right-hand drive models sold locally are available in Australia and New Zealand, making their crash test programme worthy of consideration.

 

Tesla Model Y

The Model Y has received more honours, this time from ANCAP where the electric crossover received the top scores in 2022 for both adult occupant safety at 97% and in its safety assistance systems, where it scored 98%.

 

Ford Ranger/ Ford Everest

The locally produced Ranger and its Everest sibling bagged the award for best child occupant safety, with a score of 93%.

 

Toyota Corolla Cross

Yet another car that is built right here in SA received a top award, this time for best pedestrian protection in 2022, with a score of 87%.