Safe cars - which is the world's safest car?

Is there such a thing as a “safe car”? How much does it really matter which car you are in if an accident occurs? In fact, the risk of being in an accident is ten times higher in the least safe car than in those with the highest rating.

There is one car brand that dominates when it comes to safety in the event of an accident. When Folksam examined accident statistics from 184,000 Swedish traffic accidents between 1994 and 2020, 55 out of 383 car models were classified as “at least 40%safer than the average car.” Of the seven safest cars in the study, five come from Swedish Volvo .

What is the safest car in the world?

In the list below you will find the seven car models that ranked highest in the statistics. The average value is taken as the basis, and the cars are then listed according to how much lower the risk is of being in an accident or seriously injured, compared to the average car.

1. Volvo S80/ V70 2010-2016 : 48% lower risk of death or injury.

2. Toyota RAV4 2015-2018 : 45% lower risk.

3. Mercedes E-Class 2015-2016 : 44% lower risk.

4. Volvo V40 2012-2019 : 43% lower risk.

5. Volvo S60 / V60 2010-2018: 42% lower risk.

6. Volvo S90/ V90 2016- : 41% lower risk.

7. Volvo XC60 2008-2017 : 41% lower risk.

See how safe your car is at Folksam.

Safe small car – does it exist?

In general, large cars are safer than small and mid-size cars. They are also generally safer the newer they are. However, there are older cars that are over 40%safer than the average car, such as the 1998 BMW 3 Series and the 1996 Mitsubishi Charisma.

But no rule without exceptions. A safe choice, according to the survey, among older small cars is the VW Golf from 2004-08. It is small and light, but is also 40%safer than the average car.

What is the safest small car?

It’s not easy to single out a specific small car as the safest. But we return to the survey’s long list and sort out “smaller small cars.” There we find 12 cars that are classified as Good Choice, meaning they received the highest rating in their accident investigation or in Euro NCAP’s crash tests, as well as the highest ratings for whiplash, anti-skid and automatic braking as standard.

All are from 2017 or newer. Topping the list is the VW Polo model year 17. Also included are:

• Toyota Yaris (2020-)

• Seat Ibiza (2017-)

• Renault Clio (2019-)

• Peugeot 2008 (2019-)

• Nissan Micra (2017-)

• Honda Jazz (2020-)

• Ford Puma (2019-)

• Ford Fiesta (2017-)

There is no doubt that even small cars can be considered safe. But ultimately, it is you as the driver who is responsible. There is no car that is so safe that it is impossible to crash it.

What is Euro NCAP crash test?

Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) is a collaboration between several European countries, including Sweden, car manufacturers and voluntary organisations. This road safety collaboration aims to create a safer road environment and reduce road injuries and fatalities.

Euro NCAP tests have been around since 1997 and are today the most respected crash test and are more or less considered the benchmark for car safety. It is voluntary for car manufacturers to test, but most do anyway. A good test result often has a positive impact on car sales.

NCAP crash test on cars

Euro NCAP's crash tests rate how well adults, children and pedestrians are protected and what safety aids are available – such as driver assistance, cruise control, automatic braking, etc. Tests are carried out in frontal crashes, side crashes and pole tests.

This is how the tests are performed:

• Frontal collision: The car is driven into a fixed, deformable barrier at 64 km/h.

• Side impact: A barrier is driven into the car from the side at 50 km/h.

• Pole test: The car is driven into a pole from the side at 29 km/h.

It also tests how seriously a pedestrian is injured in accidents. When the test is done, the results are compiled in the form of stars. The maximum number a car can receive is 5 stars.

Safety testing of cars is an important part of road safety work

The crash tests carried out by Euro NCAP are an important part of the work to improve road safety. They are one of the main sources of information to the public about how well a car can withstand a crash. This gives consumers a good basis for choosing the safest car possible.

However, the crash tests are carried out on new cars. Once the cars have been in traffic for a few years, the picture is complemented by Folksam's surveys, which show results and statistics on how safe the cars are in real accidents.

And the statistics clearly show how car safety has improved over the years. A comparison between cars launched in 1981-1990 and cars launched in 2011-2020 shows that the risk of dying in a car accident has decreased by 60-70 percent. The risk of becoming disabled has been halved.

Car safety through the years

The first cars that rolled out of the factories in the late 1800s were anything but safe to drive. But since then, a lot has happened on the safety front. One of the most important inventions historically came in the 1950s with the launch of the three-point seat belt. However, it would not be until 1988 before seat belt laws became law in Sweden. Another important milestone for car safety was the airbag, which was introduced in the USA in 1971.

It is said that 90% of all accidents are caused by “distracted” drivers. Whatever one may say, in modern times a lot of work has been done on so-called driver assistance systems. And cars are becoming increasingly advanced and equipped with technical systems that assist the driver.

These systems do more than just warn and alarm. Some actively intervene and adjust the speed, brake when faced with obstacles or keep the car in the right lane. There are even systems that slow the car down, pull over and stop if your hands are not on the wheel – for example, if you nod while driving. The system is found in the Ford Focus, for example.

Despite all the clever inventions – snow, fog, rain, dirt and poor lane lines can affect the functioning of all driver assistance systems. So it's important not to blindly trust them. You are the one driving – even if there are "self-driving" cars.