Euro NCAP has announced the winners from 2022, the safety organisation’s busiest-ever year. These are the cars that achieved the highest overall scores in the road safety tests.

The test scores are based on their results for Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable User Protection and Safety Assist technologies.

For the very first time, this list includes two cars from Tesla and two Chinese newcomers to the European market.

The results represent an important safety credit that all manufacturers look for in order to place their latest models in the best light for consumer confidence. Euro NCAP five-star ratings establish  safety, credibility, and quality in the European market, but also beyond Europe’s borders.

The winners

Hyundai IONIQ 6

It achieves exceptionally high results in Adult Occupant Protection with 97%. Fully electric, and with the latest safety technologies, the IONIQ 6 certainly follows the trajectory of recent automotive developments.

For child occupants, the IONIQ 6 provided good protection for all critical body regions of both the 6- and 10-year dummies in the frontal offset and side barrier tests and scored maximum points in this part of the assessment.

ORA Funky Cat

2022 was notable for the number of new Chinese brands coming to Europe and achieving great results. Following some less-than-successful attempts to break into the European market in the past, several manufacturers are showing that Chinese brands can now compete on safety with well-established European brands.

In the Small Family Car category, the ORA Funky Cat is exceptionally well equipped and, being at the top of its class, outperformed several familiar brands.

WEY Coffee 01

The second Chinese brand car in our best-in-class list is the WEY Coffee 01, again highly equipped and performing well in all categories. It was closely followed by the LEXUS RX, which deserves a mention here.

Tesla

Tesla has made a huge impact on the European car market due to its design and ethos. The company has also been determined to make a name for its brand in safety performance.

Tesla Model S and Tesla Model Y are both high achievers in Adult Occupant Protection and both vehicles achieved the highest score of 98% in Safety Assist of all the vehicles in this list.

Tesla Model S is also the best in class achiever in the Pure Electric category.

Top work

Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP’s Secretary General, says the number of new models, especially electric vehicles (EV) launched in the las year, has meant a busy time for testers.

Post pandemic lockdown lulls in activity, alongside the approaching ban on petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030, all manufacturers are looking to grab part of the EV market. Whilst EVs are the tag customers are looking for more and more, safety remains key to successful sales.

“2022 has been one of Euro NCAP’s busiest years yet and we have seen a lot of new car makers and new technologies.  It’s clear a good Euro NCAP rating is seen by car manufacturers as critical to success in Europe.  This can only mean better safety equipment and safer cars for European consumers all round”.

You can watch a video compilation of all 2022 Best in Class cars here.