SAFETY organisation Euro NCAP has revealed the best models on the road today out of the 55 vehicles which underwent its rigorous testing procedure in 2019.

Of the cars tested, 41 achieved the top five star rating with Euro NCAP saying that auto manufacturers made huge strides last year to improve vehicle safety.

Among those highlighted were the Mercedes-Benz CLA which came out on top in the Family Car category while the Audi A1 and Renault Clio tied for top spot in the supermini sector.

Tesla also made a strong appearance with its Model X securing top sport on the Large Off-Road category and the Model 3 the best in the Electric and Hybrid vehicle class.

In the Large Family category the Tesla Model 3 shared top spot with BMW's 3 Series with the two models sharing identical scores. The BMW scored better in pedestrian protection while the Tesla had the edge when it came to safety assistance.

In the combined Small Off-road/Small MPV class, Subaru won with the new Forester, with excellent all-round performance while Mazda's CX-30 and VW's T-Cross, were close followers.

Despite missing out on the top spot, Mazda had an excellent year, with the Mazda3 turning in an exceptional performance in adult occupant protection and taking the second place to the Mercedes-Benz CLA in the Small Family Car category.

EURO NCAP BEST PERFORMERS 2019

Large Family Car: Tesla Model 3 and BMW 3 Series Runner up: Skoda Octavia

Large Off-Roader: Tesla Model X Runner up: SEAT Tarraco

Small Family Car: Mercedes-Benz CLA Runner up: Mazda3

Small Off-Road/MPV: Subaru Forester Runners up: Mazda CX-30 and VW T-Cross

Supermini: Audi A1 and Renault Clio Runner up: Ford Puma

Hybrid and Electric: Tesla Model 3 Runner up: Tesla Model X