Safest cars available in 2016

The safety of a car is one of, if not the most important aspect when it comes to choosing a car. Whether it's for peace of mind or to bring down insurance premiums.

With a range of new pieces of safety equipment being released with new car models arriving in 2016, safety experts Euro NCAP have been hard at work.

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The firm evaluates the safety of nearly all new cars sold in Europe, using several crash tests to review the safety as accurately as possible. A star rating out of five is then awarded.

The rating is decided following a number of cars fitted with crash-test dummies covered in sensors that crash into obstacles head-on, side-on and slightly towards one side.

These sensors can tell researchers the forces applied to various body parts in an impact, giving a picture of how passengers would be effected in a similar accident, as well as seatbelts, airbags and the car's body.

With the recent surge in safety technology features such as autonomous braking and lane-keeping assist, Euro NCAP have introduced the addition of a 'safety assist' category to the test. Achieving five-star Euro NCAP rating is almost impossible without being equipped with some of these safety features.

If safety comes first when looking to buy a new car, take a look at the Euro NCAP list of the safest new cars tested under the 2015 testing procedure.

Safest cars tested by Euro NCAP in 2015

• Supermini: Honda Jazz
• Family hatchback: Infiniti Q30
• Family saloon: Jaguar XE
• Small MPV/people carrier: Volkswagen Touran
• Large MPV/people carrier: Ford Galaxy
• Roadster/convertible: Mazda MX-5
• Small SUV: Mercedes-Benz GLC
• Large SUV: Volvo XC90

The Volvo XC90 is the overall winner of the safest car tested by Euro NCAP last year.

Previous Euro NCAP safest cars were:

• 2014: Mercedes C-Class
• 2013: Jeep Cherokee
• 2012: Fiat 500L
• 2011: Chevrolet Aveo
• 2010: Alfa Romeo Giulietta

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