Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y received Euro NCAP’s Best in Class safety awards, with Model 3 as the safest Large Family Car and Model Y as the safest Small SUV.
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y take top Euro NCAP safety spots for 2025
Euro NCAP announced its Best-in-Class awards for vehicles tested in 2025, naming the Tesla Model 3 the safest Large Family Car and the Tesla Model Y the safest Small SUV. Both models earned five-star ratings under the organization’s stricter 2025 protocols, which evaluated more electric vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems than in previous years.
Here are the two Tesla models side by side.
How the awards were determined
Euro NCAP calculates Best-in-Class winners using a weighted sum of scores across four areas: Adult Occupant protection, Child Occupant protection, Vulnerable Road User protection (pedestrians and cyclists), and Safety Assist technologies. Only vehicles with standard safety equipment and five-star overall ratings qualify.
The Model 3 achieved high marks particularly in Child Occupant protection and showed improvements in driver assistance features. The Model Y excelled in Child Occupant protection and Safety Assist, described by Euro NCAP as the “gold standard” for small SUVs.
These results come from tests conducted throughout 2025, Euro NCAP’s busiest year for evaluations.
Examples of crash test visuals and safety awards from Euro NCAP protocols.
Tesla’s announcement and immediate reactions
Tesla Europe & Middle East shared the news directly on X, highlighting the dual wins.
Here is the official post from Tesla Europe & Middle East.
Enthusiasts and Tesla-focused accounts quickly celebrated the results, emphasizing the company’s ongoing safety leadership.
Bullish takes from investors and fans.
Official Euro NCAP accounts also posted separate recognitions for each model.
Euro NCAP’s own highlights.
Broader context and impact
Tesla has a long track record of strong Euro NCAP results, with previous generations of these models also achieving top scores. The 2025 awards reinforce this under updated, more demanding criteria.
While the Mercedes-Benz CLA took the overall Best Performer title for 2025 (with Tesla finishing fractionally behind), the dual category wins for Model 3 and Model Y stand out in a competitive field that included more EVs than ever.
No major negative reactions appeared in recent X discussions around the announcement; coverage stayed focused on the safety achievement.
These awards help consumers identify leading safety options in popular segments, especially as electric vehicles continue to demonstrate strong performance in crash protection and active safety systems. The recognition arrives just before Euro NCAP introduces further protocol changes in 2026.
whatsuptesla.com 