Tesla has picked up two major safety titles in Europe for cars tested in 2025. The Model 3 led the Large Family Car category, and the Model Y topped the Small SUV class in Euro NCAP’s Best in Class list.
Euro NCAP bases its Best in Class awards on four areas: Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Vulnerable Road User, and Safety Assist. Only cars that earned a five-star rating with standard safety equipment were eligible for these category wins.
The program said 2025 was its busiest test year so far, with more cars on the list and more electric vehicles in the mix. So the awards came in a crowded field, and safety experts say that puts extra weight on a category win for brands competing in Europe.
Model 3 scores and focus on safety
The updated Tesla Model 3 drew strong marks in several areas. It recorded 90% for Adult Occupant protection, 93% for Child Occupant protection, 89% for Vulnerable Road Users, and 87% for Safety Assist in Euro NCAP’s detailed breakdown.
Euro NCAP highlighted its Child Occupant performance in particular, pointing to high protection levels for both frontal and side impacts. And the group noted that the Safety Assist score tracked Tesla’s ongoing work on driver-assistance systems, including features that help prevent collisions and maintain safe positioning on the road.
Model Y called “gold standard” small SUV
The Model Y, which is Tesla’s best-selling vehicle globally, matched or topped those numbers in some categories. It posted 91% for Adult Occupant, 93% for Child Occupant, 86% for Vulnerable Road Users, and 92% for Safety Assist.
Euro NCAP described the Model Y as “the gold standard for small SUVs,” underscoring its strong all-round safety package. The shared 93% Child Occupant score with the Model 3 stood out.
Tesla’s pair of category wins did not translate into the top single score across all cars. That distinction went to the Mercedes-Benz CLA, which Euro NCAP named its overall Best Performer for 2025. The CLA landed a 94% Adult Occupant rating and led the combined ranking table.
Euro NCAP Secretary General Dr. Michiel van Ratingen underlined how close the competition was at the top. “It was a close-run competition,” he said, adding that “Tesla was only fractionally behind, and new entrants like firefly and Leapmotor show how global competition continues to grow, which can only be a good thing for consumers who value safety as much as style, practicality, driving performance, and running costs from their next car.”
Wider 2025 field and other winners
Euro NCAP reported that 2025 brought a record number of assessments, with a broad spread of body styles and several pure electric cars under review.
The final list of class leaders included the MINI Cooper Electric, Polestar 3, and smart #5 alongside Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y.
For Tesla, the twin Euro NCAP titles support its safety record for two of its core global products. The Model 3 and Model Y make up a large share of its worldwide sales, with the Model Y leading Tesla’s volume and holding a major slice of the global EV market.
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