The European organization for assessing the safety of new cars, Euro NCAP, has revealed the winners of the prestigious “Best-in-Class” awards for 2025. In a year marked by the largest number of models tested so far and the strong penetration of electric vehicles, manufacturers have shown exceptional adaptation to increasingly strict testing protocols. The title of absolute winner (“Best Performer”) for the year 2025 went to the Mercedes-Benz CLA, which dominated the category of small family cars, and was recently crowned with the title of Car of the Year.
This success for Mercedes-Benz represents a continuation of the tradition, given that the previous generation of the same model won the same title back in 2019. The CLA impressed experts with almost perfect results in the protection of adult passengers (94%) and leading ratings in the protection of vulnerable road users (93%), thanks to the active hood systems and refined automatic emergency braking technology.
Dominance of electric models
The rest of the best-in-class list confirms that electrification does not come at the expense of safety. Tesla won a double crown this year: the Model 3 was named the best large family car, while the popular Model Y took first place in the small SUV category. Both models particularly stood out in the segment of child protection and safety assistance systems, which confirms Tesla’s continuous work on software solutions for avoiding collisions.
In the category of city cars and supermini cars, the all-electric MINI Cooper E celebrated. Despite its compact dimensions, this model achieved high results in structural crash tests, proving that even small cars can offer a top level of protection. Experts emphasized that the MINI Cooper E represents the safest choice in its class among the models tested over the past year.
Innovations and new brands
A big surprise and confirmation of quality was brought by the category of large SUVs, in which the smart #5 celebrated. Once known exclusively for micro-cars, the smart brand has successfully transferred its safety philosophy to a larger segment, winning the maximum five stars without compromising on passenger protection. Along with it, the Polestar 3 triumphed in the premium segment of executive cars, which surpassed the competition with the integrity of the structure and the implementation of the next generation of driver assistance technologies.
To win the “Best in Class” title, vehicles must be equipped with standard safety equipment and achieve an overall rating of five stars. The winner is determined by calculating the weighted sum of results in four key areas: protection of adult passengers, protection of children, protection of vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists) and safety assistance systems. These awards, according to Euro NCAP, serve as a key reference point for drivers when choosing the safest vehicle for their needs.
| Protection of adult passengers | Protection of children in the vehicle | Protection of vulnerable road users | Active security | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Performer, Best Small Family Car: Mercedes-Benz CLA | 94% | 89% | 93% | 85% |
| Best Large Family Car: Tesla Model 3 | 90% | 93% | 89% | 87% |
| Best Small SUV: Tesla Model Y | 91% | 93% | 86% | 92% |
| Best Large SUV: smart #5 | 88% | 93% | 84% | 92% |
| Best City & Supermini: MINI Cooper E | 89% | 87% | 77% | 79% |
| Best Executive Car: Polestar 3 | 90% | 93% | 79% | 83% |