Thatcham Research reveals What Car? Safety Award winner
Thatcham Research has announced that the Volkswagen Passat has been crowned the overall winner of the What Car? Safety Award 2025.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Mini Countryman were named runners up.
Experts from Thatcham Research, What Car? and Euro NCAP judged the shortlisted models across a range of safety issues, with the Passat praised for its well-rounded Advanced Driver Assistance (ADAS) performance.
It also topped Euro NCAP’s Adult Occupant Protection scores, and underscored Volkswagen’s commitment to passive safety design with an extended bumper structure which enhances protection not only for passengers, but also the occupants of other vehicles during a collision.
Richard Billyeald, chief research and operations officer at Thatcham Research, said: “By implementing well-designed, collaborative ADAS features, Volkswagen cultivates consumer acceptance, helping to realise the intended safety benefits of the technology.
“The Volkswagen Passat also has an excellent collaborative Assisted Driving system which provides detailed information to keep the driver informed.
“During the judging process, we looked for vehicle safety technology which works cooperatively with the driver. It was reassuring to see Volkswagen prioritising this aspect of system implementation. If drivers feel that they can trust their car’s safety system and understand what it’s doing, the technology is more likely to save lives.”
Richard Schram, technical director at Euro NCAP, added: “The Volkswagen Passat’s excellent safety performance should be applauded. It is expected to sell in large volumes which will put high performing safety technology into more hands.
“The Passat also shared its Euro NCAP safety rating with its twin model, the Skoda Superb, another vehicle which is expected to enjoy high sales volume, further increasing the presence of this technology on UK roads.”
