Safest SUVs 2024/2025
These SUVs are wise investments if the unthinkable happens
There’s no shortage of SUVs on British roads, so the pressure is on for manufacturers to build cars that are worthy of being declared as the safest SUVs on sale. One of the biggest advantages of this fierce competition is that you no longer need to pay top dollar for the latest safety tech.
Whether you’re looking for a big family car, a capable off-roader or simply something with a bit of road presence, these are the safest SUVs you can buy, according to the latest Euro NCAP testing.
Audi Q6 e-tron
- Prices from £61,000
- Euro NCAP Rating: 5 stars (2024)
- Adult occupant score: 91%
- Child occupant score: 92%
- Vulnerable road users score: 81%
- Safety assist score: 80%
If you’re considering switching over to an electric car, you’ll be pleased to hear that the Audi Q6 e-tron is currently one of the safest SUVs on the market. While it’s not quite as distinctive to look at as the similarly priced BMW iX, the Q6 e-tron is one of the most spacious and practical cars in the mid-size SUV class. There’s plenty of top-shelf technology to be found throughout the cabin, too, and even the smaller 83kWh battery is good for an official WLTP combined range of 326 miles.
MG HS
- Prices from £25,000
- Euro NCAP Rating: 5 stars (2024)
- Adult occupant score: 90%
- Child occupant score: 85%
- Vulnerable road users score: 83%
- Safety assist score: 74%
The reborn MG brand has quickly become a byword for budget motoring, and the latest MG HS has been designed to see off some hugely popular competitors such as the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage. While the HS offers many of the same features and qualities as its rivals, it undercuts pretty much all of them by several thousands of pounds. During testing, our road testers were impressed by the latest HS’s big step up in terms of build quality, and MG is backing this up further with a seven-year/80,000-mile warranty.
Skoda Kodiaq
- Prices from £36,500
- Euro NCAP Rating: 5 stars (2024)
- Adult occupant score: 89%
- Child occupant score: 83%
- Vulnerable road users score: 82%
- Safety assist score: 78%
If you have a particularly large family to drive around (and are willing to fork out some extra pennies) the Skoda Kodiaq comes with the option of seven seats. If you have fewer passengers, the five-seater has a stonking 845-litre boot, so this should give you some idea of the capacity of this large SUV. The Kodiaq is practical in other ways, too, with useful storage cubbies throughout and plenty of the Czech brand’s ‘simply clever’ touches, including an ice scraper and an interior touchscreen cleaner.
Safest SUV Euro NCAP scores
| Adult occupant | Child occupant | Vulnerable road users | Safety assist | |
| Audi Q6 e-tron | 91% | 92% | 81% | 80% |
| MG HS | 90% | 85% | 83% | 74% |
| Skoda Kodiaq | 89% | 83% | 82% | 78% |
| Cupra Tavascan | 89% | 86% | 80% | 79% |
| Ford Explorer/Capri | 89% | 86% | 80% | 72% |
