Five-star cars with five-star safety

Just because you value safety doesn’t mean you have to compromise on driving enjoyment or practicality. To help you choose the best and safest car, we’ve rounded up the models that have both a ve-star What Car? rating and a ve-star Euro NCAP safety rating. They all also won an accolade at our 2018 Car of the Year Awards.

Skoda Superb Estate

The Superb Estate is a great alternative to an SUV as a family car, because it’s good to drive and has a cavernous interior and boot. It’s also exceptionally good value for money, because it comes with all the equipment you’d expect from a premium-brand model but at a far lower price.

Seat Ibiza

Competition is rife in the small hatchback class, but the Ibiza is the class leader, because it’s great to drive and spacious and comes very well equipped. There really are no obvious weaknesses in its armour, including for safety, so it’s no surprise that it has our backing. Nissan Leaf

The new Leaf electric car will cost you more than its main rival, the Renault Zoe, but it’s much better to drive, more spacious inside and considerably safer. And while its real-world range of 108 miles in our winter tests might seem a little short, it’s still more than enough for the majority of people’s commute.

Volkswagen Touran

The Touran is the most polished and well-rounded new MPV you can buy. It has the highest-quality interior, the best infotainment system and the com est ride in its class, as well as spacious and exible seating, enabling the Touran to withstand family use with ease.

Audi A4

Executive car drivers tend to clock up many motorway miles, so a good driving position, a comfortable ride and re ned high-speed cruising manners are vital requirements for their cars. The fact that the A4 saloon also has interior quality that wouldn’t be disgraced by a luxury car also helps to make it our top choice. BMW 5 Series

The 5 Series is our favourite luxury car, because it’s eminently sophisticated, comfortable and great value for money. It’s a consummate all-rounder; you’ll want it as much for the way our recommended 520d version averages almost 45mpg in real-world driving as you will for its beautiful interior.

Volvo XC40

Our overall Car of the Year is decked out with the same automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist systems as the larger XC60, which won our 2018 Safety Award. It also has a sumptuously appointed and roomy interior, composed handling and appealing exterior styling. And its diesel engine is cleaner in the real world than plenty of petrols.

Skoda Octavia

The Octavia hatchback is our 2018 Family Car of the Year, thanks to its broad range of talents. It’s easily roomy enough for a family and all their kit and durable for daily life. On top of that, it’s enjoyable to drive and competitively priced next to its rivals.

Seat Arona

Seat may have been late to the SUV party, but it has already produced two rst-rate models.the newer of the pair, the Arona, is our 2018 Small SUV of the Year. Although it’s not as cheap as some rivals, strong nance deals make it just as affordable to run. Plus, it’s fun to drive and more spacious inside than most. Audi Q7

It takes a lot to become our Luxury SUV of the Year, but the Q7 won that accolade due to its pillowy ride, whisper-quiet driving manners and stunning interior ambience.that it’s also practical and well equipped seals the deal.