Small cars are a user-friendly and particularly cost-effective segment of the automotive market that help to keep your initial purchase price and subsequent running costs low.
Of course, price is just one consideration when purchasing a new car, with safety becoming increasingly more important for small car buyers.
While previous small cars weren’t the greatest options when it came to safety, the latest ranges of small cars have, thankfully, picked up a range of clever designs and active safety features that make them safer than ever.
Top 10 Safest Small Cars in Australia
Using the latest data from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program, otherwise known as ANCAP, let’s take a closer look at ten of the safest small cars currently on sale here in Australia.
Mazda3
The Mazda3 is one of the best go-to picks in the small car sector for buyers looking for a stylish, well-equipped and super-safe package that is more family-friendly than you might expect from a small car platform.
Atop its five-star ANCAP safety rating, the Mazda3 offers buyers forward and reverse autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assistance, adaptive cruise control and a rear-view camera with parking sensors, even in the base model.
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star
- Adult Occupant Protection: 98%
- Child Occupant Protection: 89%
- Vulnerable Road User Protection: 81%
- Safety Assist: 76%
Volkswagen Polo
While it might be the baby of the VW range, the Polo is far from an underperformer when it comes to a safe and well-equipped package.
The Polo has been awarded ANCAP’s maximum five-star safety rating, and comes fitted with autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, and lane-keep assistance, while the mid-spec Polo Style and range-topping GTI pick up blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts.
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star
- Adult Occupant Protection: 96%
- Child Occupant Protection: 85%
- Vulnerable Road User Protection: 76%
- Safety Assist: 59%
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is one of the most famous names in the world of small cars, and in its latest form, continues to uphold Toyota’s fierce reputation for value, impressive fuel economy and safety packaging.
The Corolla’s five-star ANCAP safety rating comes in addition to a generous safety equipment list for the base model, which includes adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, junction assist, emergency steering assist, lane-keep assistance, lane-departure alerts and a rear-view camera.
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star
- Adult Occupant Protection: 96%
- Child Occupant Protection: 83%
- Vulnerable Road User Protection: 86%
- Safety Assist: 76%
Skoda Scala
For those looking for a stylish European small car package without breaking the bank, the Skoda Scala may be the answer to your prayers.
Atop a five-star ANCAP safety rating from 2019, the Scala comes fitted with autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assistance, adaptive cruise control, driver fatigue monitoring, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors and tyre pressure monitoring.
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star
- Adult Occupant Protection: 97%
- Child Occupant Protection: 87%
- Vulnerable Road User Protection: 81%
- Safety Assist: 76%
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Request a quoteKia Seltos
Kia’s pint-sized small SUV package, the Seltos has been quick to make an impression on the Australian market, with Kia’s impressive value proposition very much extending to the safety side of things.
The Kia Seltos has been slapped with a five-star ANCAP safety rating, and receives autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and car detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assistance, driver attention alerts, a rear-view camera with front- and rear-mounted parking sensors as standard.
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star
- Adult Occupant Protection: 85%
- Child Occupant Protection: 83%
- Vulnerable Road User Protection: 61%
- Safety Assist: 70%
GWM Ora
GWM’s latest electric vehicle, the Ora, is one of the most affordable electric vehicles currently on the Australian market, with buyers picking up a heap of active safety equipment as standard.
Atop the Ora’s five-star ANCAP safety rating, the Ora comes fitted with autonomous emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assistance, reverse collision warnings, driver monitoring and seven airbags.
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star
- Adult Occupant Protection: 92%
- Child Occupant Protection: 84%
- Vulnerable Road User Protection: 74%
- Safety Assist: 93%
Toyota Yaris & Yaris Cross
Toyota’s baby range of hatchbacks and small SUV packages are safe vehicle packages that come well-equipped with active safety features for new and experienced drivers alike.
As standard, the Yaris and its Yaris Cross compact SUV siblings come packaged with autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure alerts, adaptive cruise control, a rear-view camera, and emergency steering assist, while higher-spec variants pick up blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alerts.
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star
- Adult Occupant Protection: 86%
- Child Occupant Protection: 87% (Yaris Cross 86%)
- Vulnerable Road User Protection: 78%
- Safety Assist: 87% (Yaris Cross 82%)
BMW 1 Series
For those looking at the more premium end of the spectrum, the BMW 1 Series offers a slice of European luxury and comes packed with a range of active safety features.
Atop its five-star ANCAP safety rating, 1 Series buyers can expect to find autonomous emergency braking, front and rear collision alerts, lane departure alerts, rear cross-traffic alerts, a rear-view camera and front and rear parking sensors.
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star
- Adult Occupant Protection: 83%
- Child Occupant Protection: 89%
- Vulnerable Road User Protection: 76%
- Safety Assist: 73%
Suzuki Swift
The Suzuki Swift is one of the best new cars for young and inexperienced drivers, and while some key safety gear is reserved for higher-spec variants, the base model remains a great pick for value and safety.
In addition to the Swift’s five-star ANCAP safety rating and autonomous emergency braking, all variants above the entry-level GL and GL S pick up blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-departure warnings and rear parking sensors.
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star
- Frontal Offset: 14.39 out of 16
- Side Impact: 15.74 out of 16
- Pedestrian Protection: Good
- Overall Score: 35.13 out of 37
Volvo CX40
Our final pick of the ten safest small cars in Australia goes to the sleek and stylish CX40 compact SUV which comes jam-packed with safety equipment from a company well-known for its safe and sturdy vehicles.
As standard, the Volvo XC40 picks up autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assistance, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, a rear-view camera with parking sensors and curtain airbags around the cabin.
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star
- Adult Occupant Protection: 97%
- Child Occupant Protection: 84%
- Vulnerable Road User Protection: 71%
- Safety Assist: 78%
How to Pick a Safe Car for You and Your Family
There are a few important considerations when picking a safe car for you and your family, with the ANCAP safety rating being one of the most important.
A five-star ANCAP safety rating, particularly under the latest 2023 test protocols, ensures that the vehicle you’re purchasing meets the highest safety standards in the industry, and maps out everything from adult to child protection scores.
Other important safety considerations for you and your family include:
- Check the ANCAP safety rating date (more recent ratings are more valuable)
- ISOFIX mounts and rear-seat accessibility for installing child seats
- Side, knee & curtain airbags
- Rear occupant and seatbelt alerts
- Lane-keep assistance & departure alerts
- Rear cross-traffic alerts
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Space for three child seats in the third row
Request a Quote
If you’re tossing up your options for a safe new car, reach out to one of our automotive specialists who can help get you behind the wheel of your dream car, at the best possible price.
