Thatcham Research has unveiled its list of the 10 safest new cars launched during 2022.

The 10 safest cars list was selected by judges based on Euro NCAP test scores, plus other core criteria

The 10-strong line-up, which will be used as the shortlist for the What Car? Safety Award 2023, was selected by judges based on Euro NCAP test scores, plus other core criteria such as mass-market appeal, safety technology innovation and the performance of the car’s Assisted Driving technology.

The judges noted the increased prevalence of partition airbags that prevent occupant interaction in a side collision and Driver Monitoring Systems – boosting new vehicle safety standards

Notably, nine of the nominees are full electric or hybrid vehicles while this year’s list also features a new entrant to the UK market in the form of Great Wall Motor’s Ora brand, which made an impressive safety debut in 2022.

Thatcham, which is a lead contributor to the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), also highlighted that all the cars tested during the past 12 months scored at least a four-star rating for the first time in the programme’s history. Even more encouragingly, 80% received the highest five-star accolade – showing that safety performance remains a top priority for carmakers and motorists.

“Thatcham Research actively promotes innovation in both impact protection and crash avoidance technologies, and as leading advocates for the Euro NCAP programme, it is satisfying to see 50 out of the 66 cars tested in 2022 achieving a five-star rating, resulting in perhaps the strongest safest cars list we have seen,” explained Matthew Avery, Thatcham Research chief research strategy officer. “This is something for which carmakers should be applauded, and we are pleased so many are continuing to prioritise motorist and vulnerable road user safety – especially during times of great technological and economic disruption.”

Thatcham’s list of the 10 safest cars that can be bought today – in alphabetical order:

BMW X1

The only ICE vehicle on the list of nominations for this year’s Safety Award. This SUV is aimed at families and judges were encouraged that BMW is continuing to develop safe diesel or petrol vehicles – despite the continuing market shift towards full electric vehicles.

Hyundai Ioniq 6

A close relative of the fully electric Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, the Ioniq 6 comes from a stable of carmaker brands that are very good at pushing the safety envelope. The car’s Adult Occupant Protection score is a highlight at 97%.

Lexus NX

Lexus has a strong track record for safety and the NX SUV is no different. Available as a normal or plug-in hybrid, it shares the same platform as the Toyota RAV4 and comes with a level of passive and active tech that provides strong protection.

Mazda CX-60

This plug-in hybrid marks Mazda’s first entry into the large SUV segment. Judges liked the fact the CX-60 already features a next-generation Driver Monitoring System, along with centre airbags to compartmentalise occupants in side impacts. It also achieved the highest Vulnerable Road User Protection (89%) and Child Occupant Protection scores (91%) of the shortlisted vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz EQE

“Everything you’d expect from a carmaker that excels in vehicle safety,” according to Thatcham. The EQE’s Assisted Driving system was rated ‘very good’ during tests. Judges liked the car’s unique ability (in Assisted mode) to automatically move into the slowest lane and perform a controlled stop when an unresponsive driver is detected.

Nissan Ariya

The brand’s second full EV to hit the UK market after the Leaf, the Ariya features new design architecture and has been hailed as an electric version of the Qashqai – last year’s Safety Award winner. Judges felt the Ariya’s Autonomous Emergency Braking system, which can detect pedestrians behind the vehicle, is particularly well placed on a family-focused SUV.

Ora Funky Cat

A brand-new entrant into the UK, and another full EV with an accessible price tag of around £31k. Co-engineered by BMW, the Funky Cat has good passive safety performance, as well as impressive active safety tech.

Smart #1

A high-performing SUV in the safety stakes – and with a relatively affordable price tag of around £35k for a full EV. This is a well-engineered car and judges were impressed by one of the year’s highest scores (96%) for Adult Occupant Protection, matching results achieved by larger vehicles with larger crumple zones.

Tesla Model Y

This fully electric SUV sets the standard for emergency safety system performance – across both active and passive features. Its Adult Occupant Protection score of 97% was the highest of the year, while its Safety Assist grading of 98% is the best-ever recorded.

Toyota bZ4X

Toyota’s first fully electric car, this SUV is a twin of the Subaru Solterra. Judges found it to be a solid-performing car during tests and were comforted to see safety tech and expertise drilling down from the premium Lexus brand.

The 2023 What Car? Safety Award winner and two runners-up will be announced on 19 January.