Euro NCAP sets record with 108 assessments in 2025; 98% of cars score four stars or more
Euro NCAP delivered a record 108 new-car safety assessments in 2025, with 98% of models earning four or more stars.
- 108
- 98%
- 421,000
- over 58%
What Happened
Euro NCAP conducted a record 108 safety assessments of new cars from more than 50 global brands in 2025, and 98 per cent of models tested achieved four stars or more. The organisation's influence grew sharply: media interest exceeded 421,000, a 54 per cent increase over the previous year, while total page and profile impressions rose 47.7 per cent to nearly 3.8 million.
108
A record for Euro NCAP, covering more than 50 global brands.
The Mercedes-Benz CLA was named the year's Best Performer, becoming the first vehicle to earn the title twice, having previously won in 2019. The year also saw a surge of new market entrants, including EV brands Togg, firefly, and EXLANTIX, which largely achieved excellent safety scores.
Euro NCAP's role as a catalyst for change was shown when a seat latch failure was identified in the MG 3 family hatchback; the manufacturer redesigned the affected components and initiated a market recall in direct response to NCAP's findings. Battery-electric vehicles accounted for over 58 per cent of all cars tested in 2025.
Beyond passenger cars, Green NCAP moved to a full Life Cycle Assessment approach, evaluating environmental impact from manufacturing through end-of-life. The Safer Trucks Programme released 15 new truck ratings and won the 2025 Prince Michael International Road Safety Award.
- Safe driving
- Crash avoidance
- Crash protection
- Post-crash safety
“As we transition into this era of safety innovation and new Euro NCAP 2026 protocols, we remain committed to providing the independent, impartial safety ratings that empower consumers and drive industry innovation.”
Why this matters
Euro NCAP's independent ratings help car buyers compare how well vehicles protect occupants and avoid crashes. With 108 models from more than 50 global brands tested and 58% of them battery-electric, the results guide both consumers and automakers. The 2026 rating overhaul will set even higher safety standards, and the MG 3 seat-latch recall shows manufacturers act on NCAP findings.
Terms in This Story
- Euro NCAP
- European New Car Assessment Programme, an independent organization that crash-tests and rates new cars for safety.
- BEV
- Battery-electric vehicle, a car powered entirely by electricity stored in rechargeable batteries.
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
- A method evaluating a product's environmental impact from production through use to end-of-life.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.