Do All New Cars Have a 5-Star Euro NCAP Safety Rating?

When choosing your next car, safety is often one of the biggest deciding factors. It's easy to assume that every new vehicle on sale today has achieved a 5-star Euro NCAP rating—but that's not actually the case.

While many manufacturers now build vehicles capable of achieving the highest safety rating, there are still new cars on the market that receive four, three or even one star.

So what does that actually mean, and should you rule them out?

What Is Euro NCAP?

Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) is Europe's independent vehicle safety organisation. It tests new cars across a range of real-world crash scenarios and assesses how well they protect occupants, pedestrians and other road users.

The overall star rating is based on four key areas:

• Adult occupant protection
• Child occupant protection
• Vulnerable road user protection (pedestrians and cyclists)
• Safety Assist technologies, such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), lane keeping assistance and intelligent speed assistance

The higher the score across these categories, the more stars a vehicle receives.

Are there any cars not meeting the 5 star Euro NCAP Safety?

Yes. While most new mainstream cars now achieve 5 stars, there are still models that don't. A lower rating doesn't necessarily mean the car is unsafe, it often reflects missing driver assistance technology as well as crash protection. Euro NCAP has become much stricter over the last few years.

Some examples include:

A lower rating doesn't automatically mean a vehicle is unsafe. In many cases, the difference between four and five stars comes down to the availability or performance of advanced driver assistance systems rather than crash protection alone.

Examples of NCAP ratings that have changed over time:

Euro NCAP regularly updates its testing criteria. Every few years the organisation raises the standard, introducing new crash tests and placing greater emphasis on accident prevention technology.

That means a vehicle which achieved five stars in 2021 have not achieved the same result when tested under 2025's tougher criteria.

Manufacturers therefore need to continually improve both vehicle design and technology to maintain a five-star rating.

Is a 4-Star Car Still Safe?

Absolutely.

Many modern four-star vehicles provide excellent occupant protection and would outperform older five-star cars tested under previous standards.

The missing star is often linked to features such as:

• Enhanced autonomous emergency braking
• Junction collision avoidance
• Cyclist detection
• Driver monitoring systems
• More advanced lane assistance

For many drivers, these systems provide an additional layer of protection, but the vehicle itself may still perform exceptionally well in crash tests.

Should Safety Influence Your Leasing Decision?

Safety should always form part of your research when choosing your next vehicle.

If you're comparing similar models at a similar monthly cost, choosing one with a current 5-star Euro NCAP rating can provide extra reassurance that you're benefiting from the latest crash protection and driver assistance technology.

However, it's worth looking beyond the headline star rating. Reading the full Euro NCAP report will give you a much clearer understanding of where a vehicle excels and where it falls short.

The Bottom Line

Not every new car achieves a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, and that's perfectly normal.

Modern safety standards are continually evolving, making today's tests more demanding than ever before. A four-star vehicle can still be an exceptionally safe choice, particularly if it offers strong occupant protection and suits your needs.

When researching your next lease, don't just compare monthly payments. Take a few minutes to check the Euro NCAP rating and understand exactly what it tells you. A safer car could make all the difference when it matters most.

A few things to keep in mind:

A 4-star car today is often safer than a 5-star car from 10 years ago, because Euro NCAP raises the bar every few years. Modern ratings include:

• Adult occupant protection
• Child occupant protection
• Pedestrian/cyclist protection
• Driver assistance systems (AEB, lane keeping, speed assistance, etc.)

• Some manufacturers also receive dual ratings: for example, a car may score 4 stars with standard equipment but 5 stars if fitted with an optional safety pack.
• If you're looking for a family car or lease, I'd generally recommend choosing a current 5-star Euro NCAP model where possible. The difference in cost is often small compared with the additional safety features included.

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