Top Cars with Advanced Safety Features You Shouldn’t Miss in 2025
Modern cars are no longer just about speed, looks, or fuel efficiency. In 2025, safety has become a top priority—and rightly so. With rising urban traffic, unpredictable weather, and longer commutes, Australian drivers are looking for vehicles that offer peace of mind through cutting-edge safety tech. Whether you're a parent, a frequent road tripper, or a new driver, a safe car can make all the difference.
In this detailed guide, we take a deep dive into the top cars with advanced safety features in Australia for 2025, spanning SUVs, sedans, hatchbacks, and electric vehicles. We’ll explore real-world features, crash test ratings, driver assistance tech, and more.
🚘 Why Safety Features Matter More Than Ever
Before we dive into the car list, here’s why you should care about safety tech:
Reduces accident severity: Features like automatic emergency braking (AEB) and blind-spot monitoring (BSM) help prevent crashes or lessen their impact.
Lower insurance premiums: Insurers often offer discounts for cars with top-tier safety ratings.
Resale value: Cars with strong ANCAP safety ratings and modern features retain more value.
Family protection: For parents with kids, things like rear seatbelt reminders and rear cross-traffic alerts are life-saving additions.
🔍 What We Looked For: Our Safety Criteria
We selected cars based on:
ANCAP Safety Ratings (2022–2025)
Presence of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS):
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
Blind-Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS)
Airbag Coverage
Australian availability and sales
🚗 1. 2025 Subaru Outback
Body Style: SUV
ANCAP Rating: 5 stars
Price Range: From $48,000 AUD
Perfect For: Families and adventurers
Key Safety Features:
EyeSight Driver Assist Technology (adaptive cruise, AEB, lane centering)
Reverse automatic braking
Facial recognition for driver monitoring
9 airbags including knee airbags
Rear Seat Reminder
Why It Stands Out
Subaru continues to lead in active safety. Its EyeSight tech is among the best for semi-autonomous driving. Whether on highways or bush tracks, it provides a cocoon of safety for the whole family.
🚙 2. 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Body Style: SUV
ANCAP Rating: 5 stars
Price Range: From $45,000 AUD
Perfect For: Urban families and eco-conscious buyers
Key Safety Features:
Pre-collision system with pedestrian & cyclist detection
Lane trace assist with steering control
Road sign assist
Safe exit alert (prevents dooring accidents)
Rear cross-traffic auto brake
Why It Stands Out
A popular choice for a reason—the RAV4 combines reliability, fuel efficiency, and a robust Toyota Safety Sense suite that’s included even on base trims.
🚗 3. 2025 Volvo XC40 Recharge
Body Style: Electric SUV
ANCAP Rating: 5 stars
Price Range: From $76,000 AUD
Perfect For: Tech-focused buyers and EV adopters
Key Safety Features:
Pilot Assist (semi-autonomous drive system)
Front, side, curtain, and driver knee airbags
Rear collision alert with braking
Pedestrian and cyclist detection with evasive steering
360-degree camera and parking assist
Why It Stands Out
Volvo has always been synonymous with safety. In 2025, the XC40 Recharge continues the legacy with a futuristic and comprehensive safety net, especially impressive in EV territory.
🚘 4. 2025 Mazda CX-5
Body Style: SUV
ANCAP Rating: 5 stars
Price Range: From $39,000 AUD
Perfect For: Daily driving and weekend getaways
Key Safety Features:
Mazda i-Activsense (AEB, ACC, LDW, BSM)
Driver Attention Alert
Adaptive Front-Lighting System (AFS)
Traffic Sign Recognition
Hill Launch Assist
Why It Stands Out
Stylish, practical, and safe—the CX-5 offers premium safety in a mainstream package. It’s ideal for those who want value and tech in equal measure.
🚗 5. 2025 Kia EV9
Body Style: Electric SUV (7-Seater)
ANCAP Rating: Expected 5 stars
Price Range: From $89,990 AUD
Perfect For: Large families and EV trailblazers
Key Safety Features:
Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 2.0
Multi-collision brake system
Parking collision-avoidance assist (rear and front)
Blind-spot view monitor (camera feed in instrument cluster)
Advanced Remote Smart Parking Assist
Why It Stands Out
The EV9 redefines the family SUV with its EV range and futuristic ADAS tech—a strong pick for those who want both innovation and security.
🚙 6. 2025 Hyundai Tucson
Body Style: Midsize SUV
ANCAP Rating: 5 stars
Price Range: From $39,000 AUD
Perfect For: Commuters and families
Key Safety Features:
Blind-spot collision avoidance assist
Lane Following Assist
Safe Exit Warning
High Beam Assist
Rear Occupant Alert
Why It Stands Out
Hyundai’s safety tech punches above its price point. The Tucson offers real-world protection in urban and rural settings alike.
🚗 7. 2025 Honda CR-V
Body Style: SUV
ANCAP Rating: 5 stars
Price Range: From $44,500 AUD
Perfect For: Versatile family use
Key Safety Features:
Honda Sensing suite (adaptive cruise, lane keep, collision mitigation)
Traffic Jam Assist
Rear seat reminder
Front and rear parking sensors
Why It Stands Out
Honda’s updated CR-V includes premium safety once limited to luxury cars, now standard across most variants.
🚘 8. 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Body Style: Luxury Sedan
ANCAP Rating: 5 stars
Price Range: From $85,000 AUD
Perfect For: Luxury and executive buyers
Key Safety Features:
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC
Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function
Evasive Steering Assist
Attention Assist with drowsiness detection
PRE-SAFE® collision system
Why It Stands Out
Luxury meets intelligence. The C-Class is engineered for anticipating crashes before they happen—true to the Mercedes ethos.
🚗 9. 2025 Tesla Model 3 Highland
Body Style: Electric Sedan
ANCAP Rating: 5 stars
Price Range: From $61,900 AUD
Perfect For: Tech lovers and city commuters
Key Safety Features:
Tesla Autopilot with FSD capability (optional)
Automatic emergency braking
Cabin camera-based driver monitoring
Over-the-air safety updates
Collision avoidance side alert
Why It Stands Out
Tesla’s strength lies in AI-powered safety, with continuous improvements and real-world data from millions of kilometres.
🚙 10. 2025 Nissan X-Trail
Body Style: SUV
ANCAP Rating: 5 stars
Price Range: From $40,000 AUD
Perfect For: Families and adventurers
Key Safety Features:
ProPILOT semi-autonomous system
Intelligent Emergency Braking with junction assist
Intelligent Around View Monitor
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Why It Stands Out
The new X-Trail gets a safety overhaul with AI-assisted driving and excellent sensor coverage, making it a versatile all-rounder.
🧠 The Rise of Semi-Autonomous Safety Tech
Many 2025 vehicles feature Level 2 autonomy, where the car can manage braking, steering, and speed in defined situations like highway cruising. Popular systems include:
Subaru EyeSight
Toyota Safety Sense
Honda Sensing
ProPILOT (Nissan)
Tesla Autopilot
This trend will only continue, pushing Australian car safety into a more predictive and preventive direction.
🛠️ What to Prioritise When Choosing a Safe Car
If you’re overwhelmed with tech lingo, here’s a quick list of must-haves in 2025:
| Safety Feature | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| AEB | Avoids or lessens collisions with vehicles or pedestrians |
| BSM | Warns about hidden vehicles in adjacent lanes |
| ACC | Maintains safe distance on highways |
| LKA | Prevents drifting into other lanes |
| DMS | Detects driver drowsiness or distraction |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | Helps while reversing in car parks |
Also, look for child safety ratings, airbag coverage, and whether features are standard across all trims.
🏆 Honourable Mentions
While they didn’t make the top 10, these models also offer excellent safety credentials:
2025 Ford Everest – 7-seat SUV with strong towing safety tech
2025 Peugeot 3008 – Excellent Euro NCAP credentials
2025 Skoda Kodiaq – Big on space and passive safety
2025 MG4 EV – Affordable EV with 5-star ANCAP safety
2025 Audi Q4 e-tron – Smart tech meets design and crash safety
🔚 Final Thoughts: Safety Isn’t Optional Anymore
In 2025, car safety is no longer a luxury—it's a baseline expectation. Whether you're buying for your family, yourself, or your teen P-plater, the vehicles above prove that you don’t have to compromise between style, performance, and protection.
If there’s one takeaway from this guide, it’s this:
Buy the safest car you can afford—because nothing is more valuable than human life.
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