Tesla Model Y vs Volvo EX90 vs Mercedes-Benz CLA: Which Car Offers the Best Safety Protection?

Choosing a safe car is one of the most important decisions a vehicle buyer can make. Modern vehicles are equipped with increasingly sophisticated safety technologies, but not every car protects its occupants in exactly the same way.

Some vehicles achieve excellent crash-test results because of their structural design. Others perform particularly well in pedestrian protection or collision avoidance systems. A vehicle may also offer excellent child occupant protection while receiving a lower score in another safety category.

Three interesting examples are the Tesla Model Y, Volvo EX90 and Mercedes-Benz CLA.

All three received five-star Euro NCAP safety ratings in 2025. However, their individual assessment scores reveal meaningful differences in their safety performance.

This article compares the three vehicles using published Euro NCAP data, examines their crash-test performance and explores the engineering technologies behind their safety systems.

The objective is not to declare an unsupported universal winner. It is to understand which vehicle performs best in particular safety areas and what those results mean for real-world buyers.

1. Understanding the Three Vehicles

Before comparing the results, it is important to understand that these vehicles belong to different market segments.

Tesla Model Y: An Electric SUV Designed for Everyday Use

The Tesla Model Y is a fully electric SUV designed to combine everyday practicality with electric vehicle technology.

Its safety engineering includes a rigid passenger compartment, airbags, electronic driver assistance systems and automatic emergency braking.

In the 2025 Euro NCAP assessment, the Model Y was named Best in Class in the Small SUV category.

Volvo EX90: A Large Electric SUV With a Focus on Family Safety

The Volvo EX90 is a large, fully electric SUV designed to accommodate up to seven occupants, depending on configuration.

Its safety architecture includes occupant protection systems, advanced driver monitoring, collision avoidance technology and a range of sensors designed to support the driver.

Euro NCAP tested the Volvo EX90 Plus, left-hand-drive specification, in 2025. The tested vehicle had a kerb weight of 2,797 kg.

Mercedes-Benz CLA: A Compact Premium Car With Advanced Safety Technology

The Mercedes-Benz CLA represents a different approach. Rather than being a large SUV, it is a compact premium vehicle available in electric versions assessed by Euro NCAP in 2025.

The tested range included electric CLA variants in both sedan and five-door hatchback body styles.

Euro NCAP identified the CLA as a Best in Class vehicle in the Small Family Car category.

These differences are important. A large SUV and a compact family car do not have identical dimensions, mass or occupant packaging. Their scores can be compared within the same Euro NCAP assessment framework, but they should not be treated as a direct prediction of the outcome of every collision between the vehicles.

2. Euro NCAP Safety Scores: The Overall Comparison

Euro NCAP assesses vehicles across four major safety categories.

The 2025 results for the three vehicles are:

Safety Category	Tesla Model Y	Volvo EX90	Mercedes-Benz CLA
Adult Occupant Protection	91%	92%	94%
Child Occupant Protection	93%	93%	89%
Vulnerable Road User Protection	86%	82%	93%
Safety Assist	92%	86%	85%

All three vehicles received five stars.

However, their category scores show that a five-star rating does not mean every vehicle performs identically.

The Mercedes-Benz CLA achieved the highest adult occupant protection and vulnerable road user scores. The Tesla Model Y achieved the highest Safety Assist score, while the Tesla and Volvo shared the highest child occupant protection score.

3. Adult Occupant Protection: Which Vehicle Protects Adults Best?

Adult occupant protection evaluates how effectively a vehicle protects people inside the passenger compartment during different crash scenarios.

Euro NCAP uses instrumented crash-test dummies to measure the forces and movements affecting important body regions.

The 2025 scores were:

Mercedes-Benz CLA: 94%
Volvo EX90: 92%
Tesla Model Y: 91%

Mercedes-Benz CLA: 94%

The CLA achieved the highest adult occupant protection score among the three vehicles.

Euro NCAP reported that the passenger compartment remained stable during the frontal offset test. Protection was good for all critical body areas of the driver and front passenger.

The vehicle also achieved good protection for critical body regions in the full-width rigid barrier test, although rear-seat passenger protection was rated at least adequate.

In the side barrier test, the CLA provided good protection to all critical body areas and achieved maximum points.

However, its performance was not perfect in every test. In the more severe side pole impact, chest protection was rated marginal because of rib compression measurements.

This illustrates why the overall percentage should always be examined alongside the detailed crash-test findings.

Volvo EX90: 92%

The Volvo EX90 also performed strongly in adult occupant protection.

Euro NCAP reported that the passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal offset test. Protection for critical body areas was good for the front passenger, and measurements indicated good protection for the knees and femurs of both front occupants.

The vehicle also achieved maximum points in the lateral impact assessment, including the side barrier and more severe side pole tests.

However, the full-width rigid barrier test showed that protection for the rear-seat passenger was at least adequate rather than uniformly good.

Another important finding is that Euro NCAP described the EX90 as a somewhat aggressive impact partner in a frontal collision, based on the behaviour of the test trolley and deformable barrier.

This does not mean that the EX90 is unsafe. It means vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility is another important consideration when evaluating crash safety.

Tesla Model Y: 91%

The Tesla Model Y achieved 91% for adult occupant protection.

Euro NCAP reported that its passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal offset test. Protection for the knees and femurs of the driver and front passenger was good.

The vehicle also provided good protection to all critical body areas in the side barrier test and achieved maximum points in that assessment.

However, chest protection was rated marginal in the more severe side pole impact test because of rib compression measurements.

The overall result is strong, but the detailed assessment shows that performance can vary depending on the direction and severity of the collision.

4. Child Occupant Protection: An Important Category for Families

For families with children, adult occupant protection is only part of the safety picture.

Child occupant protection evaluates how well a vehicle protects younger passengers during different crash scenarios and examines the suitability of child restraint installation.

The results were:

Tesla Model Y: 93%
Volvo EX90: 93%
Mercedes-Benz CLA: 89%

Tesla Model Y and Volvo EX90: Joint Leaders

Both the Model Y and EX90 achieved 93% in child occupant protection.

The Tesla Model Y provided good protection for the child dummies in the tested frontal and side impact scenarios.

The Volvo EX90 also performed strongly in the child protection tests, demonstrating good protection for critical body regions in the assessed crash scenarios.

Both vehicles offer strong evidence of their ability to protect child occupants under the conditions evaluated by Euro NCAP.

Mercedes-Benz CLA: 89%

The CLA achieved 89%, which was lower than the two SUVs.

Nevertheless, the result remains a strong five-star assessment.

Euro NCAP reported a total of 23.7 points out of 24 for crash-test performance based on six-year-old and ten-year-old child dummies.

The test results demonstrate strong performance in the specific frontal and lateral child crash scenarios assessed.

For families, the practical decision should also include rear-seat space, child-seat compatibility and the ease of correctly installing the appropriate restraint system.

5. Pedestrian and Cyclist Protection: Which Car Is Better for Other Road Users?

Vehicle safety extends beyond the people inside the car.

Pedestrians and cyclists are particularly vulnerable because they have little physical protection when involved in a collision with a motor vehicle.

Euro NCAP therefore evaluates both the potential injuries caused by the vehicle's front-end structure and the effectiveness of automatic emergency braking systems.

The 2025 results were:

Mercedes-Benz CLA: 93%
Tesla Model Y: 86%
Volvo EX90: 82%

Mercedes-Benz CLA: 93%

The CLA achieved the highest vulnerable road user protection score among these three vehicles.

Its impact protection assessment awarded 32.1 points out of 36.

The vehicle also performed strongly in vulnerable road user impact mitigation, achieving 26.5 points out of 27.

Euro NCAP reported good performance in many pedestrian and cyclist scenarios involving the automatic emergency braking system.

However, the test results also showed that not every scenario produced the same response. For example, one child pedestrian scenario at night received an orange result.

Tesla Model Y: 86%

The Model Y achieved 86% in vulnerable road user protection.

Euro NCAP reported that pedestrian head protection was generally good or adequate, although some areas around the stiff windscreen pillars and the base of the windscreen performed poorly.

The vehicle's collision avoidance system performed well in several pedestrian and cyclist scenarios.

The assessment also identified strong performance in cyclist impact mitigation.

Volvo EX90: 82%

The EX90 achieved 82% in this category.

Its assessment revealed an important difference between collision avoidance and impact protection.

The vehicle achieved 26.7 points out of 27 in vulnerable road user impact mitigation, indicating strong performance from its collision avoidance systems.

However, its impact protection score was 25.6 points out of 36.

Pelvis protection was particularly weak, receiving only 0.5 points out of 6 in the relevant assessment.

This is a useful example of why active safety technology and passive impact protection should not be confused.

A vehicle may be very effective at detecting and braking for a pedestrian, yet its front-end structure may still present injury risks if an impact occurs.

6. Safety Assist: Which Vehicle Is Better at Preventing Accidents?

Safety Assist evaluates technologies designed to prevent accidents or reduce their severity.

These systems can include autonomous emergency braking, lane support, speed assistance and driver monitoring.

The results were:

Tesla Model Y: 92%
Volvo EX90: 86%
Mercedes-Benz CLA: 85%

Tesla Model Y: 92%

The Model Y achieved the highest Safety Assist score among the three vehicles.

Its assessment included strong performance in automatic emergency braking scenarios involving other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

Euro NCAP also evaluated its lane support and speed assistance functions, as well as driver monitoring capabilities.

The result demonstrates strong performance within the Euro NCAP test scenarios.

Volvo EX90: 86%

The EX90 achieved 86% in Safety Assist.

Its equipment includes automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, motorcyclist detection, lane support and driver status monitoring.

Euro NCAP reported good overall performance from its automatic emergency braking system in tests involving other vehicles.

Its pedestrian and cyclist systems also performed well across several scenarios, including cyclist dooring prevention.

Mercedes-Benz CLA: 85%

The CLA achieved 85% in Safety Assist.

Its assessment included automatic emergency braking, lane support and driver monitoring.

The vehicle performed well in several pedestrian and cyclist scenarios, although the overall category score was lower than those of the Tesla and Volvo.

These results do not mean that the CLA lacks advanced safety equipment. They show how its systems performed under the specific Euro NCAP assessment procedure.

7. What the Crash-Test Results Reveal About Vehicle Engineering

Crash-test performance is influenced by much more than the number of airbags installed in a vehicle.

Structural design, restraint systems, crash energy management and vehicle compatibility all contribute to occupant protection.

Passenger Compartment Integrity

A vehicle's passenger compartment is designed to preserve occupant survival space during a collision.

Engineers use structural members and carefully designed deformation zones to manage crash energy.

The frontal and side impact results for all three vehicles demonstrate strong performance in the tested configurations.

Controlled Deformation

Modern crash structures are designed to deform in a controlled manner.

The objective is to absorb and distribute impact energy while reducing the forces transmitted to the passenger compartment.

A vehicle's performance therefore depends on the interaction between its front structure, passenger cell, restraint systems and the object or vehicle it strikes.

Occupant Restraint Systems

Seat belts and airbags are fundamental components of modern vehicle safety.

They work together to manage occupant movement during a crash and reduce the risk of contact with interior structures.

The timing and effectiveness of these systems depend on the crash scenario, occupant position and the vehicle's restraint control strategy.

8. IIHS Results: An Additional Comparison Between Tesla and Volvo

Euro NCAP is not the only organisation evaluating modern vehicle safety.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS, conducts independent safety assessments in the United States.

Its 2026 results provide additional information about the Tesla Model Y and Volvo EX90.

IIHS 2026 Category	Tesla Model Y	Volvo EX90
Small Overlap Front	Good	Good
Moderate Overlap Front	Good	Good
Updated Side Test	Good	Good
Headlights	Good	Acceptable
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Front Crash Prevention 2.0	Good	Good
Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention	Good	Good

Both vehicles received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award for the applicable 2026 model specifications.

There is an important qualification: the IIHS states that the 2026 Model Y small overlap and updated side ratings are based on tests conducted by Tesla and evaluated by the Institute.

The Volvo EX90's 2026 IIHS assessment applies to 2025-26 models built after July 2024, following changes to the rear seat belts intended to improve rear occupant protection.

The IIHS results should not be treated as a direct three-way comparison because the Mercedes-Benz CLA does not have a corresponding IIHS assessment included in this comparison.

9. Which Vehicle Is the Best Choice for Different Buyers?

There is no single winner for every type of buyer. The most appropriate choice depends on which safety priorities matter most.

For Buyers Prioritising Adult Occupant Protection

The Mercedes-Benz CLA leads this comparison with 94% adult occupant protection.

The Volvo EX90 follows with 92%, while the Tesla Model Y achieves 91%.

These percentages are category scores, not real-world survival probabilities.

For Families With Children

The Tesla Model Y and Volvo EX90 both achieved 93% in child occupant protection.

The EX90 also offers a larger vehicle format and seating for up to seven occupants, depending on configuration.

However, buyers should examine the actual child-seat installation arrangements and the specific seating configuration of the vehicle they intend to purchase.

For Pedestrian and Cyclist Protection

The Mercedes-Benz CLA achieved the highest score in this comparison, with 93%.

The Tesla Model Y achieved 86%, while the Volvo EX90 received 82%.

The results highlight the importance of vehicle front-end design and automatic emergency braking performance.

For Collision Avoidance Technology

The Tesla Model Y leads the Euro NCAP Safety Assist category with 92%.

The Volvo EX90 achieved 86%, and the Mercedes-Benz CLA achieved 85%.

However, buyers should remember that driver assistance systems cannot guarantee accident prevention and should never replace attentive driving.

10. Final Verdict: Tesla Model Y vs Volvo EX90 vs Mercedes-Benz CLA

The 2025 Euro NCAP results reveal three vehicles with different safety strengths.

Mercedes-Benz CLA leads in adult occupant protection and vulnerable road user protection. Its 94% and 93% scores respectively make it particularly strong in these categories.

Volvo EX90 achieves 92% for adult occupant protection and 93% for child occupant protection. Its large SUV architecture and family-oriented design make it an interesting option for buyers who need additional seating capacity.

Tesla Model Y achieves the highest Safety Assist score at 92%, while also matching the Volvo EX90 with 93% in child occupant protection.

There is no scientifically justified way to combine these four category percentages into a single overall winner without a defined weighting system.

Furthermore, the vehicles belong to different segments. Their crash-test percentages do not establish which one would necessarily protect occupants better in every real-world collision.

The strongest conclusion is that all three are high-performing vehicles under the 2025 Euro NCAP assessment, but each has a different safety profile.

For consumers, the best decision is to look beyond the five-star rating and examine the individual crash-test results, vehicle specifications and safety equipment available in their market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which car has the highest Euro NCAP adult occupant protection score?

The Mercedes-Benz CLA leads this comparison with 94%, followed by the Volvo EX90 at 92% and the Tesla Model Y at 91%.

Which car is best for child safety?

The Tesla Model Y and Volvo EX90 share the highest child occupant protection score in this comparison, with 93% each.

Which car has the best pedestrian protection?

The Mercedes-Benz CLA achieved 93%, compared with 86% for the Tesla Model Y and 82% for the Volvo EX90.

Which car has the best Safety Assist score?

The Tesla Model Y leads with 92%, followed by the Volvo EX90 at 86% and the Mercedes-Benz CLA at 85%.

Are all three cars five-star safety vehicles?

Yes. All three received five-star Euro NCAP ratings in 2025.

Does a higher safety score mean a car is always safer?

No. The percentages represent performance in specific assessment categories. Actual crash outcomes depend on impact speed, collision direction, vehicle compatibility, occupant position, restraint use and many other factors.

Is the Volvo EX90 safer than the Tesla Model Y?

It depends on the safety category. The EX90 scored slightly higher in adult occupant protection, while both achieved 93% for child protection. The Model Y scored higher in vulnerable road user protection and Safety Assist.

Sources and Technical References

Editorial methodology: This comparison uses published 2025 Euro NCAP assessments and selected 2026 IIHS results. The vehicles belong to different segments, and their scores should be interpreted within the relevant test protocols. AGEN87 has not conducted independent crash tests.

Tesla Model Y vs Volvo EX90 vs Mercedes-Benz CLA: Which Is Safer?