Which cars protect their people? Real-world outcomes, graded
Crash-test stars tell you how a car performs in a lab. This is the other half: five years of police collision records showing what actually happens to the people inside each model when things go wrong on real roads.
The outcome grade
For each model, we take every person injured while travelling in one (500+ occupant casualties required for inclusion) and ask: what share were killed or seriously injured rather than walking away with minor injuries? Band A models have the lowest serious-outcome share; Band D the highest. This reflects real crashes of all kinds — but it is shaped by who drives each model and where, not just the car itself, so treat it alongside a model’s official Euro NCAP crash-test rating, not instead of it.
Occupant outcomes by model (2021–2025)
| # | Model | Outcome band | Occupant casualties | Killed or seriously injured | Serious-outcome share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla Model 3 | A | 595 | 49 | 8.24% |
| 2 | Volkswagen Touran | A | 895 | 82 | 9.16% |
| 3 | Toyota Prius | A | 2,947 | 284 | 9.64% |
| 4 | Toyota C-Hr | A | 1,113 | 113 | 10.15% |
| 5 | Hyundai Ioniq | A | 754 | 77 | 10.21% |
| 6 | Ford S-Max | A | 850 | 87 | 10.24% |
| 7 | Mitsubishi Outlander | A | 595 | 62 | 10.42% |
| 8 | Mercedes Gla Class | A | 799 | 86 | 10.76% |
| 9 | Ford Galaxy | A | 657 | 73 | 11.11% |
| 10 | Audi Q3 | A | 1,078 | 120 | 11.13% |
| 11 | Volvo Xc90 | A | 718 | 81 | 11.28% |
| 12 | Kia Sportage | A | 2,436 | 275 | 11.29% |
| 13 | Mercedes B Class | A | 580 | 66 | 11.38% |
| 14 | Mercedes Glc Class | A | 624 | 72 | 11.54% |
| 15 | Vauxhall Zafira | A | 2,607 | 304 | 11.66% |
| 16 | Volkswagen Tiguan | A | 2,027 | 237 | 11.69% |
| 17 | Hyundai Tucson | A | 1,334 | 157 | 11.77% |
| 18 | Bmw X1 | A | 930 | 110 | 11.83% |
| 19 | Volvo Xc60 | A | 658 | 78 | 11.85% |
| 20 | Audi A6 | A | 1,190 | 142 | 11.93% |
| 21 | Land Rover Range Rover Evoque | A | 1,422 | 170 | 11.95% |
| 22 | Ford Ecosport | A | 1,011 | 121 | 11.97% |
| 23 | Mercedes A Class | A | 4,203 | 505 | 12.02% |
| 24 | Ford Kuga | A | 2,455 | 297 | 12.1% |
| 25 | Toyota Corolla | A | 1,986 | 242 | 12.19% |
| 26 | Kia Niro | A | 1,005 | 123 | 12.24% |
| 27 | Toyota Avensis | B | 682 | 84 | 12.32% |
| 28 | Bmw 2 Series | B | 1,319 | 163 | 12.36% |
| 29 | Bmw X5 | B | 783 | 97 | 12.39% |
| 30 | Mg Zs | B | 749 | 94 | 12.55% |
| 31 | Ford C-Max | B | 891 | 112 | 12.57% |
| 32 | Nissan Juke | B | 3,454 | 436 | 12.62% |
| 33 | Mini Countryman | B | 752 | 95 | 12.63% |
| 34 | Vauxhall Mokka | B | 2,381 | 301 | 12.64% |
| 35 | Nissan X-Trail | B | 891 | 113 | 12.68% |
| 36 | Skoda Superb | B | 614 | 78 | 12.7% |
| 37 | Hyundai I30 | B | 981 | 125 | 12.74% |
| 38 | Mercedes Cla Class | B | 1,056 | 135 | 12.78% |
| 39 | Nissan Qashqai | B | 5,737 | 738 | 12.86% |
| 40 | Citroen C4 | B | 2,102 | 271 | 12.89% |
| 41 | Audi Q2 | B | 950 | 123 | 12.95% |
| 42 | Renault Kadjar | B | 552 | 72 | 13.04% |
| 43 | Peugeot 3008 | B | 1,335 | 175 | 13.11% |
| 44 | Vauxhall Insignia | B | 1,991 | 261 | 13.11% |
| 45 | Toyota Auris | B | 2,134 | 281 | 13.17% |
| 46 | Audi Q5 | B | 703 | 93 | 13.23% |
| 47 | Volvo V40 | B | 687 | 91 | 13.25% |
| 48 | Audi A1 | B | 2,877 | 382 | 13.28% |
| 49 | Mercedes E Class | B | 2,222 | 296 | 13.32% |
| 50 | Land Rover Discovery | B | 1,603 | 217 | 13.54% |
| 51 | Jaguar Xf Series | B | 733 | 100 | 13.64% |
| 52 | Ford Focus | B | 9,814 | 1,340 | 13.65% |
| 53 | Mercedes C Class | B | 3,892 | 535 | 13.75% |
| 54 | Peugeot 308 | B | 1,932 | 271 | 14.03% |
| 55 | Peugeot 2008 | B | 1,397 | 197 | 14.1% |
| 56 | Citroen Ds3 | B | 733 | 104 | 14.19% |
| 57 | Mazda 6 | B | 506 | 72 | 14.23% |
| 58 | Fiat 500 | B | 3,877 | 553 | 14.26% |
| 59 | Bmw 1 Series | B | 5,583 | 798 | 14.29% |
| 60 | Bmw 5 Series | C | 2,405 | 346 | 14.39% |
| 61 | Audi A5 | C | 1,229 | 177 | 14.4% |
| 62 | Hyundai I20 | C | 1,221 | 176 | 14.41% |
| 63 | Peugeot 208 | C | 2,131 | 309 | 14.5% |
| 64 | Bmw X3 | C | 745 | 108 | 14.5% |
| 65 | Fiat Punto | C | 1,144 | 166 | 14.51% |
| 66 | Bmw 4 Series | C | 1,102 | 160 | 14.52% |
| 67 | Vauxhall Astra | C | 8,450 | 1,228 | 14.53% |
| 68 | Vauxhall Grandland | C | 859 | 125 | 14.55% |
| 69 | Hyundai Kona | C | 623 | 91 | 14.61% |
| 70 | Volkswagen Polo | C | 8,282 | 1,214 | 14.66% |
| 71 | Ford Mondeo | C | 1,933 | 284 | 14.69% |
| 72 | Volkswagen Up | C | 834 | 123 | 14.75% |
| 73 | Vauxhall Crossland | C | 737 | 109 | 14.79% |
| 74 | Skoda Octavia | C | 2,289 | 340 | 14.85% |
| 75 | Volkswagen Passat | C | 2,026 | 301 | 14.86% |
| 76 | Toyota Yaris | C | 6,018 | 895 | 14.87% |
| 77 | Mg Hs | C | 625 | 93 | 14.88% |
| 78 | Ford Puma | C | 1,054 | 157 | 14.9% |
| 79 | Volvo Xc40 | C | 624 | 93 | 14.9% |
| 80 | Audi A4 | C | 2,485 | 371 | 14.93% |
| 81 | Toyota Rav4 | C | 997 | 149 | 14.94% |
| 82 | Volkswagen Scirocco | C | 560 | 86 | 15.36% |
| 83 | Renault Clio | C | 4,324 | 665 | 15.38% |
| 84 | Renault Megane | C | 1,315 | 204 | 15.51% |
| 85 | Audi A3 | C | 5,401 | 839 | 15.53% |
| 86 | Kia Ceed | C | 1,012 | 158 | 15.61% |
| 87 | Bmw 3 Series | C | 6,328 | 992 | 15.68% |
| 88 | Citroen C1 | C | 1,816 | 285 | 15.69% |
| 89 | Smart Fortwo | C | 554 | 87 | 15.7% |
| 90 | Dacia Duster | C | 669 | 105 | 15.7% |
| 91 | Vauxhall Corsa | C | 13,315 | 2,093 | 15.72% |
| 92 | Renault Captur | C | 1,332 | 211 | 15.84% |
| 93 | Ford Fiesta | C | 17,197 | 2,725 | 15.85% |
| 94 | Vauxhall Adam | C | 542 | 86 | 15.87% |
| 95 | Mini Cooper | C | 3,662 | 583 | 15.92% |
| 96 | Honda Cr-V | C | 1,184 | 189 | 15.96% |
| 97 | Citroen C3 | C | 2,439 | 390 | 15.99% |
| 98 | Suzuki Swift | D | 1,488 | 240 | 16.13% |
| 99 | Nissan Micra | D | 3,003 | 487 | 16.22% |
| 100 | Toyota Aygo | D | 3,043 | 495 | 16.27% |
| 101 | Volkswagen Golf | D | 11,195 | 1,827 | 16.32% |
| 102 | Honda Civic | D | 3,098 | 509 | 16.43% |
| 103 | Vauxhall Meriva | D | 815 | 134 | 16.44% |
| 104 | Land Rover Freelander | D | 745 | 123 | 16.51% |
| 105 | Land Rover Range Rover Sport | D | 896 | 148 | 16.52% |
| 106 | Mazda 2 | D | 1,263 | 209 | 16.55% |
| 107 | Dacia Sandero | D | 1,081 | 179 | 16.56% |
| 108 | Skoda Fabia | D | 2,629 | 437 | 16.62% |
| 109 | Peugeot 207 | D | 1,764 | 294 | 16.67% |
| 110 | Peugeot 108 | D | 689 | 115 | 16.69% |
| 111 | Honda Jazz | D | 3,493 | 585 | 16.75% |
| 112 | Nissan Note | D | 1,468 | 248 | 16.89% |
| 113 | Seat Arona | D | 648 | 110 | 16.98% |
| 114 | Mazda 3 | D | 971 | 165 | 16.99% |
| 115 | Mini One | D | 1,323 | 225 | 17.01% |
| 116 | Seat Ibiza | D | 3,558 | 614 | 17.26% |
| 117 | Seat Leon | D | 2,567 | 443 | 17.26% |
| 118 | Suzuki Vitara | D | 569 | 99 | 17.4% |
| 119 | Peugeot 107 | D | 1,395 | 245 | 17.56% |
| 120 | Hyundai I10 | D | 2,263 | 401 | 17.72% |
| 121 | Kia Picanto | D | 1,795 | 319 | 17.77% |
| 122 | Suzuki Alto | D | 624 | 112 | 17.95% |
| 123 | Ford Ka | D | 1,865 | 336 | 18.02% |
| 124 | Volkswagen T-Roc | D | 858 | 157 | 18.3% |
| 125 | Ford Fusion | D | 618 | 117 | 18.93% |
| 126 | Peugeot 206 | D | 819 | 157 | 19.17% |
| 127 | Kia Rio | D | 973 | 194 | 19.94% |
| 128 | Fiat Panda | D | 753 | 154 | 20.45% |
| 129 | Mazda Mx-5 | D | 533 | 119 | 22.33% |
Source: DfT STATS19 vehicle and casualty records, 2021–2025, Open Government Licence. Occupants = drivers and passengers of the model shown. Outcome shares are shaped by driver demographics, mileage and road types as well as vehicle design — this is real-world evidence, not a controlled test.
How we built this
We joined every vehicle record in the DfT’s STATS19 database (2021–2025) to the casualties travelling in that vehicle, keeping cars only, and models with at least 500 occupant casualties over the period so percentages are statistically meaningful. “Serious-outcome share” is killed-or-seriously-injured casualties as a percentage of all occupant casualties for that model. We deliberately do not call this a “safety rating”: exposure (how much and where each model is driven) and driver profile differ between models. For crash-test performance, see Euro NCAP. Journalists and researchers are welcome to reuse these findings with a link to this page.
A safe car still gets stolen — keep yours yours
Band A protects you in a crash; none of it helps in a car park. These close off the methods thieves actually use.
Our pick · best £-for-risk
Faraday key box / pouch
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Steering wheel lock
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OBD port lock
Many thefts of modern cars go through the diagnostic port — plug in, program a blank key, drive away. A port lock blocks the route.
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GPS tracker (Thatcham-approved)
Doesn't stop the theft — gets the car back. Thatcham S5/S7 trackers materially raise recovery rates and can cut insurance premiums.
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Dashcam (parking mode)
Evidence for theft attempts, vandalism and car-park hits while parked — and after a collision, footage that turns a 50/50 liability dispute into a clear non-fault claim.
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Catalytic converter lock
Hybrids are targeted for the precious metals in their cats — cut out in under two minutes, £1,000+ to replace. A bolted guard plate or clamp makes the job too slow and loud to attempt.
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Locking wheel nuts
Alloys vanish off driveways overnight — four wheels gone on bricks by morning. A decent locking nut set on each wheel makes yours the car they skip.
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