Mercedes star shines bright as Euro NCAPs final results deliver safer options for every buyer

LEUVEN, BELGIUM – Euro NCAP’s independent assessment of the new CLA shows an outstanding safety performance with a five-star result and demonstrates Mercedes’ long-standing commitment to developing safer cars. It scores highly across all four categories that contribute to Euro NCAP’s overall star rating.

Other noteworthy performers in this final round of testing for 2025 that achieved Euro NCAP’s five-star ranking are the MAZDA CX-5, also rated highly in its Safety Assist performance, and the Deepal S05, Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen T-Roc, all achieving excellent Adult Occupant protection scores.

Once again, Euro NCAP highlights the influence and safety importance of optional Safety Packs – demonstrated here by the differing scores of the standard and optionally-equipped versions of the Kia EV4.

And below the top tier, there are good all-round results for the new Alpine A390, Jeep Compass, and the Toyota Aygo X city car.

The Mercedes star shines bright with the new CLA

Generally, carmakers respond positively to Euro NCAP’s challenging testing process, which evolves every three years to ensure road safety never stands still. Mercedes-Benz is a case in point. Its new CLA, a four-door coupé available with a choice of electric and petrol powertrains, emerged from testing with a robust set of scores across the board. This is a testament to Mercedes’ long-standing commitment to safety. In 2019, the previous CLA achieved the coveted Best in Class award – an annual line-up of cars per vehicle class with Euro NCAP’s best overall scores.

For Adult Occupant Protection, the CLA achieved 94 percent, its structure and systems offering good crash protection throughout. Child Occupant protection was equally impressive, with a score of 89 percent, and of note was the CLA’s ability to sense when a child restraint has been fitted and automatically disable the relevant airbags.

The CLA is similarly capable when it comes to protecting Vulnerable Road Users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Its autonomous emergency braking was noted for its robust performance, while it responded well in tests assessing how effectively a car prevents an occupant from opening their door into the path of an oncoming cyclist or another vehicle.

With high scores throughout, it appears Mercedes remains committed to the long term in ensuring its cars provide excellent protection for its passengers and other road users.

Deepal S05, MAZDA CX-5, Porsche Cayenne and VW T-Roc score highly

Within this group of tested vehicles, there are solid performances from the Deepal S05, MAZDA CX-5, Porsche Cayenne and VW T-Roc.

The new Deepal S05, an electric SUV, achieves a 94 percent score for Adult Occupant protection. Just behind are the latest generation Porsche Cayenne and VW T-Roc, both scoring 91 percent. While Deepal is to be congratulated on a good result for the S05, Euro NCAP is disappointed that it has downgraded its driver monitoring system for the S07, assessed in 2024, by allowing drivers to permanently disable distraction alerts, rather than addressing user complaints and improving the system’s overall robustness.

When it comes to mitigating injuries to pedestrians and cyclists, the MAZDA CX-5 impressed with a Vulnerable Road User score of 93 percent. Like the Mercedes-Benz CLA, it demonstrated sound structures and systems – in particular, the ‘dooring’ feature that helps prevent someone from opening their door into the path of a cyclist or vehicle.

Hydrogen-powered Hyundai holds its own against other SUVs

It may be only the third hydrogen-powered car yet tested by Euro NCAP’s experts, but the new NEXO proved more than capable of standing comparison with other, conventionally powered SUVs.

Hydrogen is often said to be a promising power source that has the potential to offer drivers the comparative speed and convenience of filling with fuel while reducing the environmental impact associated with combustion-powered cars. For consumers, the peace of mind that a hydrogen-powered car can be just as safe as an electric or combustion equivalent is likely to reassure those keen to be ‘early adopters’ of the alternative power source.

Four-star runners-up

With its standard safety equipment, Kia’s new EV4 achieved a four-star rating. When fitted with the optional DriveWise ADAS Safety Pack that offered the fitment of added radars to improve crash avoidance and cyclist ‘dooring’ prevention, it was able to score a full five stars. The difference illustrates the need for consumers to carefully consider which options they order with a new car, as some bring proven safety benefits.

The new Alpine A390, Kia PV5, and the latest Aygo X and Yaris from Toyota also were awarded four stars. The electric ‘sport fastback’ A390 managed an Adult Occupant protection score at only 74% percent, the same as the Toyota Yaris – a significantly smaller, more affordable car. The Jeep Compass, Kia PV5 and Toyota Aygo X all lost points in the absence of less performing crash avoidance systems.

Other vehicles assessed in the final batch of testing performed by Euro NCAP are the EXLANTIX ET, CHERY TIGGO 4, EBRO s400, GEELY STARRAY EM-i, MG MG4 EV Urban, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, and Renault Clio.

As 2025 draws to a close, Euro NCAP continues to see impressive scores roll in. This is especially pleasing given this year has seen more cars tested than any previous year in the organisation’s history.

For the most part, car manufacturers continue to respond to our impartial and rigorous testing, improving the safety of their models, generation by generation.

With new protocols in place from 2026, the bar will be raised higher still, and we look forward to a positive response from carmakers as they continue to prioritise passive and active safety for consumers.

Dr. Aled Williams, Programme Director Euro NCAP

Euro NCAP December 2025 star ratings