The safest cars you can buy in 2018 – and Volkswagen motors dominate the list
From large off-roaders and people movers to compact hatchbacks, these are the safest cars on the market in 2018
FOR most drivers looking for a new car, making sure both you and your passengers are safe is at the top of the priority list.
And while the majority of modern vehicles have great safety features, some are still better than others.
Each new car that hits the market is first tested by safety organisation Euro NCAP, and given a rating based on how well they perform in crash tests.
The top models in each category are revealed each year so that drivers know which motor would protect them the best should they be involved in a traffic collision.
of the best cars from each of the six categories, all of which received five stars in their crash tests - and Volkswagen has three models in the group.
Read on to see the safest cars on sale in 2018.
Volvo XC60 - Safest large off-road car
Earlier this year we revealed the large family SUV was the overall safest car for 2018.
The £35,000 motor was praised for its protection of passengers in a head-on shunt and a classic T-junction smash, scoring 98 per cent for adult and 87 per cent for child safety.
Passengers suffered very little impact and were unlikely to get whiplash thanks to clever seatbelt tech.
The 2017 model is also loaded with safety tech like lane assist and auto emergency braking as standard - and that helps it score 95 per cent in safety assist.
Its occupant ratings are among the highest on record for vehicles tested in 2017.
Volkswagen Arteon - Safest executive car
The Arteon competes with cars like the Audi A5 Sportback, but scored higher in safety tests.
The £30,000 motor aims to offer a more premium alternative to the similarly-sized Volkswagen Passat.
It scored a massive 96 per cent in Euro NCAP’s adult occupant safety test, and 85 per cent in tests for child occupant safety.
Volkswagen T-Roc - Safest small off-road car
Volkswagen’s smallest SUV, the T-Roc is packed with safety features.
And with a starting price of around £18,00, its strong Euro NCAP score is even more impressive.
The organisation awarded it 86 per cent for adult safety and 87 per cent for child safety.
Both the front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive models received the same safety scores.
Subaru XV and Subaru Impreza - Safest small family cars
Apart from their appearance, the XV SUV and Impreza hatchback are virtually identical in how they are made.
And because of their similarities, Euro NCAP gave both Subarus the same award.
The family cars both scored 94 per cent in tests for adult safety, and 89 per cent for child safety.
One of the key safety features that added to such high ratings is the camera system, EyeSight, that monitors upcoming traffic and the car’s position on the road.
Volkswagen Polo - Safest supermini
Similar to the Ford Fiesta, the small Polo hatchback aced Euro NCAP’s safety test despite its diminutive size.
It scored 96 per cent for adult safety and 85 per cent for child safety and includes some of the latest safety systems as standard.
The latest Polo starts at just £11,300, making it one of the best small cars you can buy.
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Vauxhall Crossland X - Safest small MPV
Closer to an SUV than a people carrier, the Crossland X took out Euro NCAP’s MPV category.
The small, high-riding car is super-safe, and is the perfect family car.
It scored 85 per cent for adult safety and 84 per cent for children, with a starting price of around £16,500.