Guide overview:
- For the safest family cars, start with a five-star Euro NCAP rating and a high passenger occupant score.
- If you've got babies or younger children, prioritise cars with ISOFIX points, easy-access rear seats, child locks and rear seatbelt reminders to keep everyone secure on every journey.
- Look for modern safety tech like autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist and blind-spot monitoring.
- Leasing a newer five-star family car means you get the latest safety features, strong reliability and predictable monthly costs, without having to worry about selling the car on later.
With more than 400 car models available in the UK, choosing the right family car can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. You're trying to balance crash protection, technology, interior space, low running costs, and of course, keeping your children as safe as possible.
To make life easier, we've picked ten of the safest family cars you can lease in the UK, based on independent Euro NCAP safety ratings and the latest driver assistance tech.
All of the cars below have a high Euro NCAP rating and are available to lease through Nationwide Vehicle Contracts.
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We've used Euro NCAP as our safety benchmark.
Euro NCAP crash tests new cars independently and releases feedback, giving each model a rating from 0-5 based on performance in four key areas: adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, pedestrian protection and safety assist.
Every car in this guide achieves a high Euro NCAP rating, performs strongly for adult and child occupant protection, and safety assist.
“When you’re choosing a family car, start with Euro NCAP. A five-star rating with strong child-occupant scores tells you the car has been tested hard, not just marketed well.”
Because lease cars are brand new, they include each manufacturers latest safety tech and crash protection, which have improved significantly in recent years.
Below is our selection of the ten safest family cars to lease in the UK. It covers hatchbacks, crossover SUVs, and large family cars.
All have a five-star Euro NCAP rating and are popular with UK families.
1. Tesla Model 3
The Tesla Model 3 continues to raise the bar for EVs in the UK. With its five-star Euro NCAP rating and 90% adult and 93% child occupant protection, it's sure to keep your family safe.
Why it works for families:
- Excellent child protection scores all-around the car
- Standard Tesla active safety tech (which is excellent)
- Powerful electric powertrain with low running costs
2. Leapmotor B10
The Leapmotor B10 is a compact SUV that offers a lot of car for an affordable price. It also excels in terms of safety, coming with a five-star Euro NCAP rating and 93% scores in adult and child occupant protection.
Why it works for families:
- High scores across the board, especially for passenger protection
- Comprehensive suite of driver assistance systems as standard
- Great interior space for an affordable price, perfect if you're looking for a budget family EV
3. Mazda CX-5
The Mazda CX-5 has been around for a few years now and it has a long-standing reputation for being an excellent family car. It has a five-star Euro NCAP rating and has 93% road user protection and 90% adult occupant protection.
Why it works for families:
- Excellent road user protection and adult occupant protection
- Comfortable cabin that works for both young families and teenagers
- Powered by a petrol engine with mild-hybrid tech, keeping running costs low
4. Volkswagen T-Roc
The T-Roc is a tried and tested family SUV that does a great job regarding safety. It has a five-star Euro NCAP score and scores of 91% and 87% in adult and child occupant protection.
Why it works for families:
- Big-car safety in a smaller and more nimble package
- Good passenger protection and ISOFIX points on the outer rear seats
- Petrol and diesel engine options to suit your driving style
5. Cupra Terramar
The CUPRA Terramar is a sporty, electrified SUV that doesn’t forget its responsibilities. It carries a five-star Euro NCAP rating with 89% adult and 87% child occupant scores, plus robust Safety Assist performance.
Why it works for families:
- Sporty driving feel but serious safety credentials
- Plug-in hybrid options for lower CO₂ and fuel bills
- Plenty of space for kids, car seats and everything that comes with them
6. Volkswagen ID.4
The ID.4 is a familiar site on UK roads now, and continues to impress families looking to switch to an EV. With a five-star Euro NCAP rating and scores of 89% and 87% for occupant protection, it's one of the safest EVs on the market
Why it works for families:
- Comfortable interior with a big boot
- Strong all-round safety performance
- One of the most established EVs on British roads
7. Omoda 9
The Omoda 9 is a large plug-in hybrid that offers cavernous space, efficiency, and excellent safety tech. With a five-star Euro NCAP rating and 90% adult and 85% child occupant scores, it's a strong choice for large families.
Why it works for families:
- High adult and child protection scores for a big family SUV
- Long list of driver assistance systems and crash-avoidance tech as standard
- PHEV powertrain offers electric running for school-run miles with petrol backup for longer trips
8. Skoda Enyaq
The Enyaq is cut from the same cloth as the ID.4, but leans a bit harder into practicality. It comes with a five-star Euro NCAP rating, with 90% adult and 87% child occupant protection scores.
Why it works for families:
- Very spacious boot and cabin, perfect for a growing family
- High safety scores, particularly for child occupants
- User-friendly controls and plenty of clever Skoda touches like hooks, nets, and storage
9. BYD Sealion 7
The Sealion 7 is a mid-size electric SUV that's made a strong first impression in Europe. It has a five-star Euro NCAP rating and scores highly across all categories, standing out with a 93% child occupant score.
Why it works for families:
- High child occupant score and robust protection all around the vehicle
- Loads of driver assistance systems, including a child presence detection system
- Big, practical body and up to 520 litres of boot space
10. Porsche Cayenne Estate
The Porsche Cayenne Estate is known for its luxury and performance, but while riding in style it will also keep your family safe. It has a five-star Euro NCAP rating, with 91% adult occupant and 89% child occupant protection, putting it right up there with the safest large SUVs on the market.
Why it works for families:
- Strong scores in passenger protection and is perfect for modern child seats
- Features strong driver assistance tech as standard, including Warn and Brake assist and a 3D surround view system
- Spacious, high-quality cabin with wide-opening rear doors and generous legroom
Beyond the Euro NCAP stars and crash tests, it's worth thinking about how a family car works in everyday life.
If you've got a baby or toddler (or plan on), ISOFIX points are a must. They make fitting a car seat quicker and easier, thanks to a standardised car seat attachment.
ISOFIX points also help keep your child secure. It connects the seat directly to the car's chassis using built-in anchor points, cutting out the guesswork and reducing the chance of incorrect installation.
The safest family cars don't just protect you in a crash, they help you avoid the crash altogether. The following safety tech is a must:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Lane-keep or lane departure assist
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
For a deeper dive, our blog Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Explained breaks down the most common systems in plain English.
On school runs and in busy car parks, visibility really matters, especially around small children.
Helpful features include:
- Rear-view camera and parking sensors
- Large widows and slim pillars
- Good door mirror coverage
“If you often reverse near busy pavements or park in tight spaces, prioritise visibility tech. A good mix of cameras, sensors and mirrors makes it much easier to spot small children, cyclists and obstacles.”
Small details can be just as important for car safety. Look out for:
- Rear door child locks
- Anti-pinch electric windows that automatically reverse if they sense an obstruction
- Rear seatbelt reminders
- Increasingly common child presence detection systems
Reliability is one of the most important factors to consider when looking for your next family car. You need a car you and your family can depend on.
Leasing a new car means:
- You're covered by the manufacturers warranty
- You can add a maintenance package for a fixed monthly cost
Leasing is a great option for families seeking a safe car:
- You'll get up-to-date safety tech and stronger crash protection than a second-hand vehicle
- You can choose a contract of between 2 and 4 years, then upgrade to a new model as safety tech evolves
- Maintenance packages are available to keep your costs in line