Alastair Shephard

Content Writer

Joseph Law

Bumper Content Writer

With modern cars being safer than ever, some buyers tend to overlook the safety ratings, but you may be surprised to know that not all cars meet the highest safety standards as assessed by the Euro NCAP organisation. 

In fact, there are some cars released very recently that have fallen short, with some very poor ratings. In this blog, then we’ll take a look at which cars on sale today are the safest, ranging from family hatchbacks to SUVs.

BYD Seal - £42,985 - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*

A new player in the market, BYD are making some of the most innovative, and safe, electric vehicles. The new SUV; the Seal is no exception. It received a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, with great accident ratings.

 comes with emergency braking assist that registers not only pedestrians and other cars, but motorbikes and vulnerable road users. It also comes equipped with side, chest and pelvis airbags for front passengers. 

Volkswagen Golf - £27,035 - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*

 has been a common sight on UK roads for the 50 years it’s been in production, and for good reason. As well as being just the right amount of car for a small to medium-sized family, the Golf has great safety features and ratings.

Achieving 95% for adult safety and 89% for child safety in NCAP’s testing, the Golf is a safe bet in more ways than one. Additional features such as auto emergency braking, that’s sensitive to pedestrians, cyclists and cars, and driver drowsiness alerts contribute to your peace of mind whether on a long drive or the school run. 

Ford Focus - £28,500 - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*

 is very much VW's direct competitor. Whilst starting prices are slightly higher, standard specifications do tend to be higher with Ford vs Volkswagen, for instance, the basic Focus comes with keyless entry and cruise control.

In terms of safety features, the Ford is pipped slightly by the VW, with 84% and 87% in adult and child safety respectively. However, even the basic model comes with side, chest and pelvis airbags.

Volvo XC40 - £35,254 - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*

An article about car safety wouldn’t be complete without a Volvo, the brand has been focused on safety since before most others even considered seat belts a necessity. 

 is Volvo’s smallest SUV, with the XC60 and XC90 being its larger siblings. 

Despite its relatively small size, the XC40 packs in a lot of safety tech, which grants a 97% adult safety rating and 87% child safety, one of the best on this list. 

That’s probably due to it having every airbag available, including knee, side head and pelvis airbags for driver and passenger. 

Cupra Formentor - £34,190 - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*

, so it's a bonus that it also boasts a 5-star Euro NCAP rating too. It has a higher child occupancy rating than most at 89% and a very respectable adult rating of 93%. 

Auto emergency braking is standard, helping to prevent front-end impacts with other vehicles, pedestrians and motorbikes. 

Alongside this, the Formentor comes as standard with e-call, an SOS service that detects serious accidents and phones for help.

Volkswagen Tiguan - £34,075 - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*

Volkswagen’s answer to the small-medium SUV sector is the hugely popular 

. It combines a higher driving position with VW reliability and build quality. Available with a 1.5 petrol, 2.0 diesel or a plug-in hybrid, there should be one to fit your needs. 

The adult occupancy rating is not as impressive as some here, at 83%, but the child occupancy rating of 88% is up there with the best. 

The Tiguan comes with all but knee airbags and has forward collision control as standard. 

In our opinion, it has to be the Mercedes E-Class (£55,120) - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*.

 is ubiquitous with luxury and quality, it stands to reason then that it should also be the safest car currently on sale, receiving incredible ratings of 92% and 90% for adult and child occupancy respectively. 

It achieves this by being able to deploy one or multiple of its numerous airbags, the E-Class ticks every box on this front, from front and side head protection, and knee airbags for the driver and passenger.

All the expected safety equipment is present too, with emergency braking assistance as standard, alongside a very sophisticated lane guidance system and driver drowsiness detection.

Whilst all manufacturers do their best to improve their cars and make them as safe as possible, the more expertise, investment and time a company has, the more safe their vehicles will be. 

Some manufacturers have spent decades perfecting their systems. These are the brands to look for when buying the safest car possible:

The Euro NCAP, or New Car Assessment Programme, is a testing organisation paid for by various governments across Europe. Their mission is to thoroughly and strategically test as many new cars as possible, on metrics such as occupant safety, pedestrian safety and overall safety. 

They do this by crash-testing hundreds of cars every year and using sophisticated monitoring technology to assess the damage to the car, occupants and even third parties, such as pedestrians or cyclists. 

Alongside physical testing, NCAP delves into the electronic assistance technology of a car, such as emergency braking, stability control and ABS. Once a car has been tested in all aspects, it is given an overall star score out of 5, and ratings for specific categories. 

Most of the occupant safety of a vehicle is derived from the bodywork and structure of the car. In crash protection, slowing the car down as slowly as possible is key, this means absorbing the energy in whatever way is effective. Significant and well-designed crumple zones are the most common way of attenuating the force from a crash. 

However, crumple zones can only go so far, alongside making the body and structure of the car good at absorbing energy, the passenger compartment should remain as intact as possible, to avoid direct impact to the people inside. 

These physical technologies have been around for a few decades now, but in more recent years electronic aids also play a big part in helping to avoid collisions in the first place. Systems such as stability control and emergency braking assist can reduce the likelihood of a crash significantly. 

Hopefully, this has helped narrow down which car is the best bet to protect you and your family should the worst happen. From sophisticated electronics to numerous airbags, the modern safety systems can be bewildering. 

For more information on car safety, we’d recommend checking out the 

 for the latest news on testing and development.

Keep your vehicle safe, reliable and on the road with regular servicing. 

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Apply online in just a few clicks and choose from 1000s of dependable garages and dealerships across the country.

The Safest Cars To Buy In The UK

MOT tests are legal requirements for cars and vans over three years (or four in Northern Ireland). They ensure the vehicle is fit for the road and maintained to a safe standard. Regular maintenance is vital to passing.

 or not notice that the certificate has expired, leading you to ask, "Can you drive without your MOT?" 

Whether you want to avoid accidentally driving without an MOT or are worried about driving to your test, we’re here to help. This article covers whether you can drive your car without an MOT, what happens if you fail your test and other MOT-related FAQs. 

 However, it’s not always that simple. 

For example, you can drive to a pre-booked MOT test at an authorised centre. But you can’t pop down to the shops. 

Driving without a valid MOT - What you need to know

Here are a few common scenarios to help you understand when you can or can’t drive without an MOT. 

If you miss your MOT and have an expired certificate, you will be prosecuted if you’re caught driving. 

Book in for an MOT as soon as possible and keep your car serviced to ensure it’s road-safe. 

Bumper is here to help you split with 0% car repair or service finance. 

Sometimes, cars fail the MOT test even though the current certificate is still in date. 

In this situation, only ‘dangerous’ problems mean you can’t drive the car. You can drive the vehicle home and to repairs if it only has minor issues.

 at all times. Your mechanic will inform you if this isn’t the case.

Most cars only require an MOT certificate on their third registration anniversary (In Northern Ireland, four years). So, there’s no need to worry about MOTs for the first three years.

However, if you’ve bought a second-hand car, make sure to check its MOT status and plan ahead for the next test as soon as you take ownership. The next test might be sooner than you expect. 

Faults and vehicle recalls invalidate your current MOT certification. 

Recalls don’t happen without thorough research. If you’re unsure, contact your manufacturer. Otherwise, you should assume the problem is serious and affects the car’s safety.

Still unsure? Let’s take a closer look at the most common FAQs and when it’s fine for your car to have no MOT.

Can I drive my car without MOT if it’s booked in?

Yes, you can drive your car to a booked MOT test if your current certificate isn’t valid. 

However, you should check your insurance before you do so. Some insurers don’t cover driving the vehicle without an MOT, even if it’s just for the next test.

 on how far you can drive without a certificate. But you should always try to book an MOT nearby to minimise the distance. 

Can you drive your car after a failed MOT?

Driving after a failed MOT depends on whether your current MOT certificate is valid and if any major faults were found.

If your car has ‘dangerous’ or ‘major’ issues, you can't drive it until these problems are professionally fixed. 

In such cases, you’ll be given a ‘refusal of an MOT test certificate,’ but this won’t be recorded in the MOT database.

Don’t be tempted to drive after a failed MOT. You’ll get three points, a driving ban, and a hefty £2,500 fine.

Yes, your car can fail an MOT due to damage that wasn’t your fault. 

If you get into an accident, you should contact your insurance company. They will assess your damage and categorise the car into A, B, S or N. 

It depends. The DVLA uses a point system to determine whether your modifications will require a new registration number. 

If your car keeps the same number, you won’t need to apply for a new MOT. 

Is there a 14-day grace period after an MOT expires?

No, the 14-day grace period is a common misconception! There is no two-week MOT-free period. 

Once your MOT has expired, you are not legally allowed to drive your car from the very next day

Is there a penalty for driving without an MOT?

Yes, as mentioned above, driving without a valid MOT can lead to a fine and points on your licence. If your car is deemed to be dangerous, you could even face losing your licence.

What is the fine for driving without an MOT?

The fine for driving without an MOT is £1,000.

The cost goes up to £2,500 if your car has been deemed ‘dangerous’ by a failed MOT test. This fine will come with three points and a driving ban.

Yes, you can report vehicles being driven without an MOT. 

You should contact your local police and give them the following information:

If found, the police can investigate the certificate and charge the driver up to £1,000.

How do you get caught driving without an MOT?

There’s an MOT database with current information on passes, fails, and out-of-date tests. Anyone can access this information as long as they have 

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and police cars can also flag vehicles without a valid MOT test.

 can create a big dent in your budget, especially if they’re unexpected. 

If you find yourself with expensive repairs or high MOT costs, you might want to consider 

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Can You Drive Without an MOT in the UK?

Keeping your tyres and wheels clean is one of the easiest ways to keep your car looking good. It’s important from both an aesthetic and safety perspective, and doing it yourself is rewarding and not too time-consuming.

In this guide, we’ll explain all there is to know about cleaning your wheels and tyres, including best practices, benefits and pitfalls.

Equipment Needed To Clean Wheels and Tyres?

 If you have multi-spoke alloy wheels, move the car a few feet and check again before putting away the cleaning gear. It’s easy to miss a spot of dirt on a hidden face in between a spoke, and it’s very frustrating finding out once you’ve packed everything away!

Why You Should Be Cleaning Your Wheels Cleaning your wheels yourself has some clear benefits:

Whether cleaning your wheels, bodywork or interior, there is always something to learn, these are the common mistakes to avoid:

How to Keep Safe When Cleaning Wheels and Tyres

No, tyre shine is not essential, but it’s great for achieving that showroom fresh look, giving the rubber a gloss black finish as if they were brand new. 

Whilst it would probably work, WD-40 is not the best product to use to clean tyres or wheels, as it contains solvents that could harm the paint finish. I would recommend a dedicated tyre and wheel cleaner.

How often should you clean your wheels and tyres?

There’s no set time period you should follow, but it’s best to clean them every time you clean the rest of the car. Regular cleaning makes it easier to clean them in the future, preventing the build-up of brake dust and grime.

If your alloys are silver in colour, you may notice the wheels obtaining a black residue, this is brake dust from your brake pads wearing down and road grime.

If whilst cleaning your tyres, you’ve noticed cuts, abrasions or that the tread is too low, you will need to replace your tyres. 

Split the cost of new tyres into monthly payments

 at 1,000s of trusted repairers across the country.

has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his five cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.

Best Way To Clean Wheels and Tyres

La mejor manera de limpiar llantas y neumáticos

So reinigen Sie Ihre Reifen und Felgen richtig 

The allure of a Range Rover is hard to ignore; a plush, luxurious interior, effortless style and the best ride quality in the segment. I find myself constantly checking the used markets for luxury bargains, but my head always intervenes with thoughts of expensive parts bills.

If you have the same thought process, why not take a look at the competition with less reliability woes, in this blog I've outlined some of the best Range Rover alternatives.

As the baby in the lineup, the Evoque is the cheapest Range Rover you can buy new, but for those looking for reliability too, these are some good options.

Marketed as a “Sports Activity Coupe” the 

 has a sweeping roofline akin to the Evoque. Whilst not the best for rear headroom or boot space, the sleeker side profile does give the X4 a more sporty look. 

Starting at £54,035, the X4 is a good bit more expensive than the base model Evoque but is in keeping with the Dynamic HSE and Autobiography level Evoques. Interior build quality is similar to the Range Rover, just with subtle differences in styling.

For those looking for a more budget-friendly stylish SUV, the 

 might be a good choice. Whilst it might lack some of the styling cues the Evoque has, the Skodas of recent years are not without their charm.

For reliability, the Skoda is a solid choice, 

 named Skoda at the 16th most reliable brand, whereas Land Rover products reached the top 10 (placed no. 5) as the most unreliable.

As well as reliability, value for money is another plus point for the Skoda, the base model at £36,645 comes with a fairly limited list of features, but the mid-range SE-L model comes with cruise control, a large touchscreen navigation system and LED headlight as standard, and it’s still on par with the cost of the Evoque.

If luxury and comfort are a priority, then the 

 should be on the shortlist, available with a very dependable petrol-hybrid powertrain, it offers all of the style and elegance as the Range Rover, without any of the build quality concerns.

The base model, the UX 300H Urban, comes with radar cruise control, 17” alloy wheels, and an 8” touchscreen nav system. If all-electric power is of interest, the UX will be available soon, starting at just over £40,000.

The Range Rover Sport was introduced in 2005 as a more sporty and less lavish version of the “full-fat” Range Rover. It still fits this description, but other manufacturers have cottoned on to the formula, and there are some great alternatives.

 was the German marque's biggest SUV and vehicle to date, but it's of similar size and prowess to the Range Rover Sport. Available with a range of powertrains including petrol, diesel and hybrid. The base spec is just over £70,000 on the road, with 298hp and a 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds. This is slightly down on the Range Rover Sport, but at £20,000 cheaper I think it’s plenty of power!

Interior wise it’s typically BMW; high quality materials, precise German styling and loads of tech. Slightly less plush than the Range Rover, but just as well built, if not better.

As one of the hallmark luxury brands, the 

 is the perfect alternative to a Range Rover. The GLE is available brand new from £73,500, making it around £17,500 cheaper than the lowest-spec Range Rover Sport. 

For that you get a turbocharged 3-litre diesel engine, producing enough power to propel the GLE to 60mph in under 6 seconds. Power is delivered to all 4 wheels via a very sophisticated 9-speed automatic gearbox. The interior is suitably Mercedes, with stylish high-quality materials throughout. 

For something a little more left-field, the Maserati Levante offers a unique style that is certain to stand out amongst the crowd. Oozing Italian flair and style, the Levante is Maserati’s large SUV, the model I’d advise, coming in at just over £82,000, has a petrol hybrid powertrain offering 330 horsepower.

Not only does the Maserati look the part, it puts the driving feel at the heart of the experience, with supreme handling and road holding, thanks to the company's racing heritage. The model in question comes with 20” staggered wheels, heated seats and a flash nav system.

The biggest and most opulent Range Rover has been the flagship since the brand name was coined in the 70s. Significantly bigger than the Sport and the Evoque, with more power and more luxury, it also carries a larger price tag of over £100,000. Here are my alternatives.

Introduced in late 2018, the X7 is now the largest vehicle in the BMW lineup, at nearly 30 cm longer and 5cm higher than the X5, it is certainly on the same page as the full-size Range Rover in stature. 

Because the engines in the Range Rover were a joint development between BMW and JLR, the X7 and the Range Rover share most of the powertrain options. My pick would be the 3.0 turbo diesel for efficiency, or the 4.4 V8 petrol for sheer power. 

As the biggest SUV they make, the Merc GLS gives a Range Rover-like experience in a slightly different package. The GLS uses the same 3.0-litre diesel engine and 9-speed gearbox as in the GLE, somewhat surprisingly, still able to accelerate the much larger GLS to 60 mph in under 6 seconds.

A 7 seater as standard, the GLS is perfect for those with a larger family. When not needed the rearmost seats fold flat enabling a cavernous boot space. The levels of tech inside the cabin are where you would expect for a £105,000 car, with opulent lighting control and high-quality materials.

To round off the Range Rover alternative suggestions, another German full-size SUV, this time from Audi. The SQ7 is the sportier version of the Q7, fitted with a turbocharged petrol engine delivering over 500 horsepower and 770 Nm of torque, it certainly ticks the box for power. 

With a seamless touchscreen infotainment and climate control system in the dash, and sporty-looking carbon fibre accents on the dashboard, the interior is as purposeful and sleek as the exterior. At just over £94,000 on the road, the SQ7 sits a good bit below the Range Rover in cost, but not in style or performance. 

What Vehicle is comparable to a Range Rover?

Whilst many consider Range Rovers to be the peak luxury SUV, there are a few cars that can match the style and comfort:

The naming can be quite confusing, but ultimately there are currently 4 types of Range Rover:

As complex luxury cars, with many additional systems and features, Range Rovers can be on the expensive side to maintain and repair. Both parts and labour are also quite costly.

Have Your Luxury SUV Repaired With Bumper

Whether you have a full-fat Range Rover, a baby Evoque or one of the alternatives mentioned above, repairs can get costly. Bumper offers zero-per cent interest financing on repairs through any of our many 

9 Range Rover Alternatives

9 Alternativas al Range Rover

9 Alternativen zum Range Rover

Looking for your next car, and have a budget of up to £50,000? We’ve got you covered with this guide to the 11 best cars, across multiple segments. These are my picks including both new and used, from luxury SUVs to premium sports cars. 

Cupra, SEAT’s premium offshoot brand, make some great cars. We love the styling of the Formentor and the space of the 

. But if you want an SUV with some poke, this VZ2 model with the 2.0-litre engine and drivetrain from the Golf R, is sure to be of interest. 

With 300hp and a 7-speed-lighting fast automatic gearbox, it’ll be easy to forget you’ve got enough cargo space for all the weeks of shopping, and enough seats to carry the whole family along. 

The exterior styling is great too, with an angular silhouette but understated wheel arches and bumper trims compared to the standard Ateca. 

Introduced as the baby brother to the full-size XC90 SUV, 

 is still a large vehicle with significant carrying capacity. Space enough for 5 full-sized adults with a very generous boot, a raised driving position and ground clearance, it’s the epitome of what an SUV should be.

For just shy of £49,000, you can get the mid-range XC60 B5 with the Hybrid AWD drivetrain. This gives a nice blend of power and economy, with a good amount of equipment thrown in too, such as leather seats, a great sound system and 19” alloy wheels.

Buying used comes with one big advantage, the price. 

 lose around 40% of their value by the time they are one year old. That means if you’re happy with your car not being brand new from the factory, you can get something at 60% or less of the MSRP. 

 is a medium to large SUV, placed between the Q5 and Q9. It gives just the right amount of space without the car being enormous, 5 people can be seated comfortably and all their luggage.

As a perfect example of the value available on the used market, this particular example we’ve linked to is up for £48,100 as a 2024 model, a brand new Q7 starts at around £65,000, which makes buying used a no-brainer for us!

Being a luxury SUV it’s kitted out with all the features you’d expect: heated seats, a great navigation system and adaptive cruise and lane control. 

 is BMW’s answer to the above-mentioned Q7. This one is a 2021 reg but has only done 12,000 miles. It comes with the 3.0-litre petrol engine combined with a plug-in hybrid system, for great economy and nearly 400hp on tap.

Inside, the cream leather continues the upmarket feel, with typically BMW accents to the dash and steering wheel. Infotainment is on a huge landscape screen in the dash, but many features can be controlled via the steering wheel and centre console buttons.

Best Brand New Luxury Cars for under £50,000

If you’re spending £50k on a car, luxury is probably a top priority, here are our picks for plush rides, for under £50k.

Whilst undeniably the baby of the Range Rover family, 

 still offers a good deal of luxury and style, but at a cost well under half of that of a “full-fat” Range Rover. We think this a reasonable price considering other luxury SUVs such as the Kia EV9 are around £20k more.

The diesel-engined manual version is the cheapest, but we think if you’re buying a Range Rover it has to be an auto, add around £3,500 to your budget to get one equipped with the 2.0 diesel engine, auto gearbox and 4wd. 

Jaguar has always been known for their luxury cars, and the modern models are no exception, 

 is their midsize SUV, equivalent in size to the Evoque. We love the interior of the E-pace, with its asymmetrical sweeping centre console and tri-spoke steering wheel.

Engine wise this particular car is fitted with JLR’s 2.0 diesel unit, a good engine although not famed for its reliability, but with manufacturer warranty, it’s not a dealbreaker. At one pound under £46,000, this brand-new luxury SUV would be a good option for a £50k budget.

For used luxury vehicles. It doesn’t come much better than a 

 for £49,000. With only 13,000 miles on the clock and the economical hybrid powertrain, we think this is a great deal. 

This particular example has the gorgeous green metallic paint and tan leather interior. Infotainment is suitably opulent with large screens for all passengers, and all the safety and convenience features you could want, such as heated and cooled seats, adaptive cruise control and more. 

With Lexus’ great warranty system, buying a one or two-year-old car makes just as much sense as a brand-new one. This 

’ medium-sized SUV, that carries on the brand's push to make stylish cars that shake off the old-man image.

Both inside and outside of the NX are well styled and equipped, with adaptive cruise,19” alloys, a huge touch screen nav system and plush leather. This example has just 8,152 miles on the clock, and is less than 18 months old. 

If you’re looking for something to get to work in, but that can also be enjoyed on the weekend, there are plenty of great sports car options for under £50,000, from luxury tourers to out-and-out performance cars. 

 is the closest you can get to a brand new M2 for under £50k, whilst it lacks the racing pedigree and suspension setup of the M car, it is still a great drivers car. If you’re looking for a car to do some long road trips in too, it might even be more suitable.

For £49,995 you get a brand new model with the formidable 3.0 turbo petrol engine and a sophisticated auto gearbox that will propel the car to 60 in 4.3 seconds. In addition to the performance capabilities, the M240i comes with black leather seats with contrast stitching and all the usual electronic gadgets.

 has been a firm favourite in the hot hatch sector, the 2024 model sports an aggressive angular style similar to the rest of the lineup in recent years. Inside sculpted wingback seats and flat-bottomed steering wheel cement the sporty pedigree.

The S3 is powered by the familiar 2.0 petrol turbo engine and permanent 4-wheel drive system, running through a 7-speed double-clutch gearbox. At £46,520 it rewards a little bit more change left over from the £50k budget compared to the BMW, but some would argue not as much driving feel or prestige.

In some ways the second-hand sports car market is even more alluring than other body types, as sports cars tend to depreciate faster than most, meaning even better value for money.

If cruising across Europe in a V8 sports car is in your future, 

 has to be considered, it has the performance and power of a top-notch sports car, but enough comfort and mod-cons to be an excellent grand tourer. This one comes in just under budget at £48,990.

Its 5.0 supercharged engine produces over 560hp, and its clever 4-wheel drive system makes sure none of that power is wasted. Available in both soft top and coupe body styles, you have the choice between open-air driving and total chassis rigidity. Inside is everything a premium Jaguar should be, high-quality leather and well-made buttons and controls. 

For many people performance equals Porsche, it can’t be argued that they build some of the best sports cars out there, 

with their famous marketing slogan from the 70s ‘'Porsche…There is no substitute'

 there are many people out there who love the luxury and build of a Porsche.

 is the epitome of that 987 is an older model, the oldest car on our list in fact, but this is a testament to the respect and premium Porsches command.

Built in 2010, this 911 has covered 47,500 miles and is fitted with the lightning-quick PDK gearbox and 4-wheel drive. Whilst it would be great as a tourer, this will also dominate on the road or track.

If you drive a luxury or sports car, it’s wise to be prepared for higher than normal repair bills. This is where 

 comes in, we give you the ability to spread out the cost of such repairs at no extra cost, using zero per cent interest car repair finance.

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