Road Safety Week is around the corner (17-23 November) and safety is as high a priority as ever among electric car drivers. Using data sourced from manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Euro NCAP, we bring you, in no particular order, 5 of the safest electric cars for drivers today.
Ford Explorer
Following crash testing by Euro NCAP in September 2024, the Ford Explorer has received the full five-star rating, providing peace of mind to electric car drivers who are looking for a safe, economical small SUV. The Electric Ford Explorer features various safety systems that come fitted as standard. Drivers benefit from a front and rear parking aid with brake assistance which can also apply the brakes when the system detects an object in the vehicle’s path. In addition, there’s cyclist dooring prevention, speed assistance, lane assistance and distraction detection, among many other safety technologies. The Ford Explorer features a seatbelt reminder system, as well as front, centre, side chest and side head airbags, a belt pretensioner and a belt loadlimiter.
Audi Q6 e-tron
The Audi Q6 e-tron is another high performer in safety tests, featuring among the top rated 5 star EURO NCAP awarded vehicles. It also secured the “Best in Class” Designation For Child Safety. The vehicle was rated 91 percent for the protection of adult occupants. With a rating of 92 percent in the child safety category, the Q6 e-tron is one of the few models in the vehicle segment to have three “i-Size seats”, two in the rear and one in the front passenger seat, which is also equipped with automatic deactivation of the front passenger airbag for rear-facing child seats. The restraint systems offer optimal protection for children of all sizes.
Nissan Leaf
When tested by the experts at Euro NCAP in 2018, the Nissan Leaf scored 93 per cent for adult safety and 86 per cent for child occupant protection. The 2024 Nissan Leaf comes with Nissan Safety Shield 360 as standard. It features Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Departure Prevention. Optional features include Intelligent Around View Monitor, which provides a 360-degree view of the car’s surroundings, and ProPILOT Assist. Standard on Tekna trim and optional elsewhere, ProPILOT controls the accelerator, brakes and steering. It can stop the car where necessary, keep you centred within your lane, and even park your car for you. The 2024 Leaf is a great choice for those who want an electric car that is safe yet affordable.
Hyundai Ioniq 6
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is equipped with the next level of Hyundai Smart Sense Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. Features include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, and High Beam Assist. Safe Exit Warning (SEW) warns when a vehicle is approaching from the rear-side when exiting. Various parking convenience features make parking safe and easy, including Forward/Side/Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (PCA), which helps avoid collisions with pedestrians and objects around the vehicle. The Ioniq 6 was named IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ and Euro NCAP crash tested it in 2022 when it received the industry body’s maximum five-star safety rating, excelling in the adult occupant, child occupant and safety assist categories.
Tesla Model S
The 2024 Tesla Model S is a safe choice for those looking for an electric vehicle with high-end performance. Euro NCAP reviewed the Model S in 2022 against its newest, most stringent 2020-2022 testing protocol. The Model S received a 5-star safety rating and the highest overall score among any vehicle tested in this protocol. It also performed exceptionally well in three of the four individual categories, gaining 98% in Safety Assist, 91% in Child Occupant Protection and 94% in Adult Occupant Protection. It also received a respectable 85% rating for protecting vulnerable road users. Maximum points were awarded in the ‘Far-Side Impact’ subsection. Safety features include crash mitigation, braking, lane departure warning, and blind spot detection.
Find out more about the latest salary sacrifice deals on the Electric Ford Explorer, Audi Q6 e-tron, Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Tesla Model S by getting in touch with our team today.