For some of us, car safety is without a doubt one of the most important factors when choosing a car, especially if it’s going to be used as a family car.
A family car should be safe and reliable, so you can have peace of mind whether you’re driving around with teenagers, toddlers, or babies on board. The good thing is, car safety standards have risen greatly over the years, meaning that almost all new cars have a very high safety standard as a basic.
With that being said, some cars are still better suited as a family car due to added safety features compared to those that have the basic high safety features but have different focal points, such as being sporty or the aesthetic look etc. Moreover, as a shopper, there will be other aspects other than safety that will help you determine what car is best for you, such as price, features, visual appeal, performance, reliability and so on.
Below we have compiled together the top 5 safest family cars, as tested and determined by Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme), all with a 5-star rating that we think would make great family cars.
5 Safest Family Cars
1. Mazda 6
Our first pick is the Mazda 6 (2018 plate) which is a large, 5-door family car. It’s offered only as either a saloon or tourer estate body, whereas previous versions of this car were available as a hatchback.
The car also boasts a SkyActiv engine which is a Mazda branded next-generation technology.
Why is it a good family car?
The Mazda 6 is a comfortable, reliable, long-distance car that’s safe, making it an ideal choice as a family car.
Being spacious is an important aspect for a family car, and the Mazda 6 is just that. It’s large for a saloon/estate car, making it a comfortable ride for the whole family. And although the boot isn’t overly big, it’s still spacious enough for a family of 5 to take advantage of.
Also, the SkyActiv engine in the car increases fuel efficiency and engine output, which will save your family money in the long run.
What makes it a safe family car?
With a 95% safety rating for adult occupants and a 91% safety rating for child occupants, the Mazda 6 has a high rating for safety according to the Euro NCAP, so you can be sure that this car is a safe choice for your family.
Some of the Mazda 6’s safety features include:
- Front & side airbags
- Isofix anchor points in the rear (to fix car seats into place)
- Active bonnet (to reduce the impact of a collision)
- AEB systems (to prevent a collision)
- Speed assistance system
- Lane assist system
2. Mercedes-Benz A-Class
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2018) is a small family car. The car is a 5-door hatchback equipped with the latest technology, making it a great contender in our list of safe family cars.
What makes it a good family car?
As mentioned above, the car is equipped with technology, including its MBUX infotainment system. Also, smaller cars (such as hatchbacks) are cheaper to run than larger cars, which is usually an important element when choosing a family car, and the A-Class is the most affordable out of the Mercedes-Benz range.
With this car being a hatchback, it isn’t overly spacious, however, isn’t cramped either. So, this may be a car better suited for families with younger children; and if you’re holidaying on the regular with your family, you may just need to take extra care to pack lighter.
What makes it a safe family car?
The Mercedes-Benz A-class has very high standards of crash protection, child protection, safety assist and safety systems that make it a great family safe car, as proven by their 96% safety rating for adult occupants and 91% safety rating for child occupants by Euro NCAP.
Some of the main safety features include:
- Isofix anchor points in the rear
- Active bonnet
- AEB systems
- Speed assistance system
- Lane assistance
3. Hyundai Santa Fe
For those of you who love big cars, this may be your ideal pick. The Hyundai Santa Fe is a large off-road, 5-door SUV that’s great for a family that needs a lot of space.
What makes it a good family car?
The Santa Fe can seat up to 7 people, making it ideal for a larger family, without having to feel cramped. Also, as you would expect most larger cars to have, the Santa Fe has plenty of storage options within the car.
The car also has a focus on being safe, reliable, efficient and versatile, which are all crucial when choosing your family car.
What makes it a safe family car?
The Hyundai Santa Fe has a 94% safety rating for adult occupants and an 88% safety rating for child occupants, making it a solid choice for a family car.
Some of the main safety features of the Hyundai Santa Fe include:
- Front & side airbags
- Isofix anchor points in the rear and passenger seats
- AEB systems
- Speed Assistance
- Lane Assistance
4. Ford Focus
Probably a more famous car, the Ford Focus is a strong choice as a 5-door family hatchback.
What makes it a good family car?
Although the Ford Focus is a small family car, it’s still comfortable, and reasonably spacious (more so than some of its competitors such as the VW Golf and Audi A3).
The Ford Focus is also well-equipped in general, it has everything you would expect a family car to have such as decent storage space (door/cubby spaces), USB ports, and a decent infotainment system that’s easy to use.
Where the Ford Focus lacks in luxury aesthetics, it makes up for it in practicality, also making it a cheaper choice which is generally preferred by families.
What makes it a safe family car?
The Ford Focus has an 85% safety rating for adult occupants and an 87% safety rating for child occupants from Euro NCAP. So, although its safety rating isn’t as high as the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Mazda 6 cars, it’s still a highly safe car for families.
Some of the main safety features of the car include:
- Front & side airbags
- Isofix anchor points in the rear
- AEB systems
- Speed assistance system
- Lane Assist system
5. Audi Q3
The Audi Q3 is a 5-door SUV boasting comfort and practicality. And because of this, it makes it a good choice for a family car.
What makes it a good family car?
Small 4x4s are becoming increasingly popular among families, and for good reason, as although smaller than regular 4x4s they are still very spacious, providing good luggage space and equipped with good sized side-door pockets and cubbyhole spaces for extra storage.
Being such a spacious car, this also makes for a comfortable ride for all the family.
What makes it a safe family car?
The Audi Q3 has a 95% safety rating for adult occupants and an 86% safety rating for child occupants. So, overall although it doesn’t have the highest safety rating for child occupants, its safety rating is still on the higher end.
Some of the Audi Q3’s main safety features include:
- Front & side airbags with additional options for the rear seats
- Isofix anchor points in the rear with added options for the passenger seat
- AEB systems
- Speed Assistance
- Lane Assist System
Choose your next family car with us
We all have our preferences when it comes to choosing our ideal car, but safety is one element that should never be overlooked.
We hope this article has given you more insight to help you choose your next ideal and safe family car.
To compare quotes for your next new or used family car, click here.
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