Safest family cars

There are many factors to consider when purchasing a car - from cost to aesthetics via green credentials and fuel efficiency. Throw a family into the equation, however - kids of whatever age who are going to need ferrying from A to B and back on a regular basis - and the idea of safety becomes a key factor.

Should the worst happen, you want to know that the car you choose is as well equipped as possible to protect your family. All car manufacturers, by law, have to meet minimum safety requirements, but what we're looking for here are those vehicles which go beyond that, to provide the safest driving environment possible

• Car seats: what's to know?

Small family car

Citroen C4

• Overall NCAP rating: 77
• Additional features: Anti-skid driving devices. Optional, Over the white line, warning device.
• Cost: Hatchback 1.6 16v VTR
  £14,895

Large family car

Toyota Prius

• Overall NCAP rating: 77
• Additional Features: Vehicle stability control
• Cost: Hatchback 1.5 Hybrid T3
  £17,777

Small MPV

Skoda Roomster

• Overall NCAP rating: 74
• Additional features: ISOFIX Child seat mountings
• Cost: MPV 1.4 TDI PD 70 1
  £11,145

Large MPV

Ford S Max

• Overall NCAP rating: 75
• Additional features: Window airbags for the two front rows of seats.
• Cost: MPV 1.8 TDCi Titanium
  £21,295

Off-Road 4x4

Land Rover Freelander

• Overall NCAP rating: 75
• Additional features: Stability control
• Cost: 4x4 2.2 TD4 GS
  £23,460

• Easy riders: from boy racer to dad driver 

What is NCAP?

EuroNCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) is an independent body which tests new cars and publishes the resulting ratings, enabling you to compare different makes and models. The cars are subjected to front and side crash impacts and evaluated for the degree of protection offered to driver, passengers and, specifically, children.

Checking these ratings allows you to make an informed choice, and what we've done is highlighted the safest family cars in different classes, from small family car to off-road 4x4. Where more than one car has achieved top ratings, we've weighed up additional safety features, and tried to opt for a car in the middle of the price range.

The tests 

The tests are designed to mimic the accidents most likely to cause injury or fatality in everyday driving conditions: a front impact at 40 mph, a side impact at 30mph and a pole impact test, in which the car is shunted sideways into a narrow, rigid pole, thus testing the protection from head injuries offered.

Following the tests, readings are taken from the crash test dummies involved, including two dummies which represent children aged 18 months and three years.

The ratings

The maximum rating, scored for the protection afforded during impact, is 80 points, 40 for the protection of adult occupants, and the same again for children.

Where two or more cars have scored the same rating, we have opted for the car which achieved the higher rating for child protection.

Author

Steve Cochrane is a freelance journalist and scriptwriter who is married with three children, varying in age from 17 to eight. As well as writing he has worked as a full time househusband, unofficial family childminder and has spent many years trying to come up with a better word for househusband.

Your thoughts?

What do you think of the cars above? What do you look for in a safe car for your family? Use the comments system below.