ANCAP’s 2025 Safety Champions Across Vehicle Classes
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ANCAP has named the safest new vehicles for 2025, and the results read like a who’s who of sensible engineering. These are the cars and utes that scored best across the board, showing buyers and fleet managers which models put safety first, not just as an afterthought.
The standout this year was the Tesla Model Y, which took the top overall weighted score. It delivered strong protection for adults and children and did well on vulnerable road user and active safety tech. This is the Model Y’s second time topping the list, the first being the pre-facelift version back in 2022.
Close behind, and not far off the pace, was the Tesla Model 3. It posted outstanding child occupant protection and solid all-round scores that keep it among the safest medium cars on the market.
The Volvo EX90 led the large SUV category, scoring very highly for adult and child occupant protection while also showing reliable performance in active safety systems.
In the large car bracket, the IM 5 proved that roomy vehicles can still be very safe, combining good crash protection with capable safety assist features.
Among small SUVs, the MGS5 EV stood out with excellent adult occupant protection and an effective suite of safety assist technologies, making it a smart choice for buyers wanting compact practicality without compromising safety.
The Mini Cooper E topped the light and small car segment. It may be pint sized, but it posted impressive scores across adult and child protection and held its own in active safety measures.
And in a year when a number of new utes arrived, the Toyota Hilux came out on top for the utility segment. It showed balanced performance across occupant protection and safety assist systems, proving that a workhorse can also be a safe choice.
How Winners Were Chosen
ANCAP’s rankings are based on a weighted sum of four assessment pillars: Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection, and Safety Assist. Those components are combined to produce an overall score, with an emphasis on physical crash protection. That approach favours vehicles that are consistently strong across all areas rather than those that excel in just one.
Why This Matters
The takeaway is simple. Safety is becoming widespread across segments, so you do not have to pick a luxury SUV to get top-level protection. Improvements in autonomous emergency braking, lane support, and driver monitoring systems are translating into better real-world outcomes. For buyers, it means clearer choices: you can prioritise safety without sacrificing the body shape or features you want.
If you care about safety, these results point to sensible, proven options across different vehicle types, from compact city cars to large SUVs and utilities.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
