• Volkswagen Passat secured victory thanks to a strong performance across all safety criteria
• Mercedes-Benz E Class and Mini Countryman were runners up
• All the finalists showcased excellent implementation of safety technology designed to keep drivers, passengers and other road users safe

Automotive Risk Intelligence company Thatcham Research is today announcing the winner of the What Car? Safety Award 2025.

After a rigorous judging process by a panel of experts from Thatcham Research, What Car? and Euro NCAP, the Volkswagen Passat was crowned 2025’s safest car at last night’s What Car? Car of the Year ceremony.

The Passat was praised by judges for its well-rounded Advanced Driver Assistance (ADAS) performance during the award assessment process and in Euro NCAP impact testing where it secured the highest Adult Occupant Protection score of the shortlisted vehicles.

Its Lane Support System benefited from improved real-world performance when compared to the previous generation, demonstrating that the technology continues to mature and provide a greater safety benefit.

The judges were also impressed with the collaborative performance of its Travel Assist technology, which combines Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Lane Centering to help maintain the vehicle's position within the lane.

(Alex Thompson, principal engineer for automotive safety, showing VW Passat extended bumper structure)

The Passat also demonstrated Volkswagen’s commitment to market-leading passive safety design. It has an extended bumper structure which enables better interaction between it and another vehicle in a head-on collision, improving its ‘crash compatibility’.

This an important step in providing protection not only for passengers, but also the occupants of other vehicles during a collision.

Judge’s comments

Richard Billyeald, chief research and operations officer at Thatcham Research, said: “By implementing well-designed, collaborative ADAS features, Volkswagen cultivates consumer acceptance, helping to realise the intended safety benefits of the technology.

“The Volkswagen Passat also has an excellent collaborative Assisted Driving system which provides detailed information to keep the driver informed.

“During the judging process, we looked for vehicle safety technology which works cooperatively with the driver. It was reassuring to see Volkswagen prioritising this aspect of system implementation.

“If drivers feel that they can trust their car’s safety system and understand what it’s doing, the technology is more likely to save lives.”

Claire Evans, consumer editor at What Car?, said: “With all 2025’s shortlisted vehicles, I was pleased to see vehicle manufacturers taking steps to better integrate ADAS technology.

“At What Car?, we want to advise drivers on how to get the best out of their ADAS, but that’s not possible if they find them irritating and switch them off .

“The Volkswagen Passat demonstrates how to provide unintrusive technology that convinces drivers of the safety benefit.”

Richard Schram, technical director at Euro NCAP, said: “The Volkswagen Passat’s excellent safety performance should be applauded. It is expected to sell in large volumes which will put high performing safety technology into more hands.

“The Passat also shared its Euro NCAP safety rating with its twin model, the Skoda Superb, another vehicle which is expected to enjoy high sales volume, further increasing the presence of this technology on UK roads.”

2025’s Safety Award runners up

Runner-up 1: Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class was one of the top performing vehicles assessed by Euro NCAP in 2024, achieving the highest Safety Assist score (87%) of the year.

Judges found that its speed assist functionality performed particularly well, recording 100% accuracy in speed limit recognition.

Its Autonomous Emergency Braking also performed well across the board, particularly when detecting Vulnerable Road Users, a crucial factor in reducing collisions with pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

Runner-up 2: Mini Countryman

The Mini Countryman’s Safety Assist systems performed well; judges were particularly impressed with how the Countryman displayed speed limit information.

When approaching a new speed limit area, the system counts down into the new zone, rather than changing abruptly as it passes a sign, enabling the driver to better anticipate upcoming changes in the stated limit.

One of the Countryman’s strengths is that it comes with a similar Assisted Driving system to that found onboard the BMW i5, delivering premium technology at a much more affordable price point. As a model expected to be popular in the UK market, this will put high-performance technology in the hands of more drivers.