If you are looking for a new seven-seater SUV for your family which are the safest? As a parent, our children's safety is at the forefront of our minds and never more so than when buying our new family car.
- Looking for the top 10 safest family cars for kids as rated by ANCAP?
- Looking for seven-seaters that will take three child seats across?
- Looking for the safest medium size SUVs for kids as rated by ANCAP?
- Looking for the safest Dual Cab Utes for families and kids as rated by ANCAP?
- Top 10 medium SUVs as rated by ANCAP
With lots of new seven and eight-seater family SUVs gaining five-star ANCAP ratings, I have put together this helpful list of the top ten safest family cars for kids that have performed best in the new ANCAP crash testing that includes child dummies.
1 – Volvo EX90– Scores 94% for Child Occupant Protection
The Volvo EX90 is a fully electric seven seat SUV with a five star ANCAP safety rating.
Volvo EX90 with a build date of December 2024 onwards, scored 94% for child occupant protection, 46.54 out of 49 points. In the crash tests, it scored full points for both the dynamic front and dynamic side tests. The Volvo EX90 also got 11.54 out of 12 for child restraint installation and 11 out of 13 for on-board safety features. Making it one of the safest cars for your rear passengers!
ANCAP wrote of the testing:
In the frontal offset and side impact tests, protection of the 10 year and 6 year dummies was GOOD and the Volvo EX90 scored maximum points. The Volvo EX90 is fitted with lower ISOFix anchorages on the rear outboard seats in the second row of seats, and top tether anchorages for all rear seating positions. A direct child presence detection (CPD) system is fitted, covering all seating positions to all seats as standard. The system provides an alert and warning when a child is detected in the vehicle after stopping, and prevents locking of the vehicle.
Installation of typical child restraints available in Australia and New Zealand showed most child restraints could be accommodated in most rear seating positions. However, in the third row seating positions care is needed to install the Type A capsule, and one of the selected Type A convertible seats could not be correctly installed in rearward facing mode.
The Volvo EX90 has eight airbags as standard:
Dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting airbags and a driver knee airbag are standard. A centre airbag which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes is also standard.
There are also pretensioner seatbelts in ALL seats and in the Volvo EX90 (these are beneficial once your children are out of fully harnessed child seats).
This ANCAP child restraint fitting chart shows which types of child seats were able to be safely installed in the rear seats of the Volvo EX90:
We also have to take the safety of the front passengers into account too when choosing our new family car, and the Volvo EX90 did extremely well in this, with a score of 36.94 out of 40 or 92% for Adult Occupant Protection with 7.95 out of 8 for the full-width frontal crash test, 5.29 out of 8 for the frontal offset crash test, full marks for the side impact test, pole test, far side impact test and for the rescue and extraction test. Scoring 3.70 out of 4 for the whiplash protection test.
2 – GWM Tank 500- Scores 93% for Child Occupant Protection
The GWM Tank 500 4WD SUV is currently the safest seven-seater available for families with a five star ANCAP safety rating.
GWM Tank 500 with a build date of December 2023 onwards, scored 93% for child occupant protection, 46 out of 49 points. In the crash tests, it scored full points for both the dynamic front, dynamic side tests and for child restraint installation and 10 out of 13 for on-board safety features. Making it a currently the second safest car for your rear passengers!
ANCAP wrote of the testing:
In the frontal offset and side impact tests, protection of the 10 year and 6 year dummies was GOOD and maximum points were scored in these tests.
The GWM Tank 500 is fitted with lower ISOFix anchorages on the second row outboard seats and top tether anchorages for all second row seating positions.
A direct child presence detection (CPD) system, which provides an alert when a child left in the vehicle is detected, is fitted to all passenger seats as standard.Installation of typical child restraints available in Australia and New Zealand showed that all of the selected child restraints could be accommodated in each of the second row seating positions and full points were scored for this assessment.
NOTE: Top tethers are not available in the third row. Installation of child restraints in the third row is therefore not recommended.
The GWM Tank 500 has seven airbags as standard:
Dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting airbags are standard. A centre airbag which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes is also standard.
There are also pretensioner seatbelts in both front seats and both outer second-row seats only in the GWM Tank 500 (these are beneficial once your children are out of fully harnessed child seats).
This ANCAP child restraint fitting chart shows which types of child seats were able to be safely installed in the second-row seats of the GWM Tank 500:
We also have to take the safety of the front passengers into account too when choosing our new family car, and the GWM Tank 500 did okay in this, with a score of 34.38 out of 40 or 85% for Adult Occupant Protection with 7.35 out of 8 for the full-width frontal crash test, 3.69 out of 8 for the frontal offset crash test, full marks for the side impact test, far side impact test and the rescue and extraction test. It scored 5.66 out of 6 for the oblique pole test and 3.69 out of 4 for whiplash protection.
3 – 2023 Ford Everest – Score 93% for Child Occupant Protection
The 2023 Ford Everest seven-seater SUV is a fantastic family SUV.
2023 Ford Everests, with a build date of May 2022 onward, score a 93% ANCAP score for child occupant protection. In the crash tests, they scored full points for both the frontal offset crash and the side impact test. For restraint installation, the Ford Everest scored 11.66 out of 12. The Everest scored 10 out of 13 for on-board safety features. For now, this makes it one of the safest family cars for kids on sale in Australia.
The 2023 Ford Everest scored:
ANCAP wrote of the 2023 Ford Everest testing:
In the frontal offset and side impact tests, protection of the 10 year and 6 year dummies was GOOD and maximum points were scored in both of these tests.
The Ford Everest is fitted with lower ISOFix anchorages in the outboard seats of the second row, and top tether anchorages on all second and third row seats.
Installation of typical child restraints available in Australia and New Zealand showed that all of the selected child restraints could be accommodated in most rear seating positions, however the Type A rearward facing capsule could not be correctly installed in the second row centre and both of the third row seating positions.
The 2023 Ford Everest has nine airbags as standard:
Dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting (curtain) airbags for all three seating rows, and driver and passenger knee airbags are standard. A centre airbag which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes is also standard.
There are also pretensioner seatbelts in the first and second-row outer seats (these are beneficial once your children are out of fully harnessed child seats).
The ANCAP child restraint fitting charts below show which types of child seats were able to be safely installed in each row of seats of the 2023 Ford Everest:
We also have to take the safety of the front passengers into account when choosing our new family car, and the 2023 Ford Everest didn't do as well in this, with a score of 32.99 out of 38 or 86% for Adult Occupant Protection. Scoring 7.36 out of 8 for the full-width frontal crash test, 5.28 out of 8 for the frontal offset crash test, full marks for the side impact test and 5.15 out of 6 for the oblique pole test. Scoring 3.19 out of 4 for whiplash protection, full marks for far side impact and rescue and extraction.
4 – Jeep Grand Cherokee – Scores 93% for Child Occupant Protection
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a large seven-seater SUV.
Jeep Grand Cherokees sold from February 2023 onwards scored 93% for child occupant protection, 45.89 out of 49 points. In the crash tests, it scored full points for both the Dynanic Front Test and the Dynamic Side Test. The Grand Cherokee also got 11.89 out of 12 for child restraint installation and 10 out of 13 for on-board safety features.
ANCAP wrote of the testing:
In the frontal offset and side impact tests, protection of the 10 year and 6 year dummies was GOOD and the Jeep Grand Cherokee scored maximum points in these tests.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is fitted with lower ISOFix anchorages on all seating positions in the second row of seats, and top tether anchorages for all rear seating positions.
Installation of typical child restraints available in Australia and New Zealand showed most child restraints could be accommodated the rear seating positions, however the Type A capsule could not be correctly installed in the second row centre seating position using the seat belt.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee has nine airbags as standard:
Dual frontal, side chest-protecting, side head-protecting (first, second, and third rows where applicable), and a driver and passenger knee airbag are standard. A centre airbag to prevent occupant-to-occupant interaction is not available.
There are also pretensioner seatbelts in all the first and second-row seats (these are beneficial once your children are out of fully harnessed child seats).
This ANCAP child restraint fitting chart shows which types of child seats were able to be safely installed in the second-row seats of the Jeep Grand Cherokee:
We also have to take the safety of the front passengers into account when choosing our new family car, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee didn't do as well in this, with a score of 36.64 out of 31.83 or 83% for Adult Occupant Protection with 7.61 out of 8 for the full-width frontal crash test, 5.89 out of 8 for the frontal offset crash test and full marks for both the side impact and pole test. Scoring 3.34 out of 4 for whiplash protection, 1.99 out of 4 for far side impact and 1 out of 2 for rescue and extraction.
5 – Nissan Pathfinder – Scores 93% for Child Occupant Protection
The Nissan Pathfinder is available as a seven or eight-seater family SUV.
Nissan Pathfinders with a build date of July 2022 onwards, scored 93% for child occupant protection, 45.80 out of 49 points. In the crash tests, it scored full points for both the dynamic front and dynamic side tests. The Nissan Pathfinder also got 11.80 out of 12 for child restraint installation and 10 out of 13 for on-board safety features. Making it a safe choice for your rear passengers.
ANCAP wrote of the testing:
In the frontal offset and side impact tests, protection of the 10 year and 6 year dummies was GOOD and maximum points were scored in these tests.
The Nissan Pathfinder is fitted with lower ISOFix anchorages and top tether anchorages on all three seats in the second row and also in the left seat of the third row.
Installation of typical child restraints available in Australia and New Zealand showed most child restraints could be accommodated in most rear seating positions, though one of the selected Type A convertible restraints and one Type B convertible restraint could not be correctly installed using the third row ISOfix anchorages.
The Pathfinder has seven airbags as standard:
Dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting airbags (all three rows) are standard. A centre airbag which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes is also standard.
There are also pretensioner seatbelts in the first and second-row outer seats of the Nissan Pathfinder (these are beneficial once your children are out of fully harnessed child seats).
This ANCAP child restraint fitting chart shows which types of child seats were able to be safely installed in the second-row seats of the Nissan Pathfinder:
We also have to take the safety of the front passengers into account when choosing our new family car, and the Nissan Pathfinder did reasonably well in this, with a score of 32.87 out of 38 or 86% for Adult Occupant Protection with 6.67 out of 8 for the full-width frontal crash test, 6.53 out of 8 for the frontal offset crash test, full marks for both the pole test and the side impact test. Scoring 3.34 out of 4 for whiplash protection 3.33 out of 4 for far side impact and 1.00 for rescue and extraction.
6 – Mercedes-Benz GLE – Scores 92% for Child Occupant Protection
The Mercedes-Benz GLE is a seven-seater SUV.
Mercedes-Benz GLEs with a build date of June 2019 onwards, scored 92% for child occupant protection, 45.24 out of 49 points. In the crash tests, it scored 15.24 out of 16 for the dynamic front test and full marks for the dynamic side test. The Mercedes-Benz GLE also got full marks for child restraint installation and 10 out of 13 for on-board safety features. Making it a safe choice for your rear passengers.
ANCAP wrote of the testing:
In the frontal offset test, readings of neck tension in the 10 year dummy indicated MARGINAL protection. Otherwise, protection of both the 6 year and 10 year child dummies was GOOD.
In the side impact test, protection was GOOD for both child dummies and maximum points were scored.
The Mercedes-Benz GLE is fitted with lower ISOFix anchorages on the second row outboard seats and top tether anchorages for all second row seating positions. Top tethers are not available in the optional third row. Installation of child restraints in the third row is therefore not recommended.
Installation of typical child restraints available in Australia and New Zealand showed that all of the selected child restraints could be accommodated in each of the second row seating positions and full points were scored for this assessment.
The Mercedes Benz GLE has seven airbags as standard:
Dual frontal, side chest-protecting airbags for front and second row outboard positions, side head-protecting airbags (curtains) for the front, second and optional third rows, and a driver knee airbag are standard.
There are also pretensioner seatbelts in the first and second-row outer seats of the Mercedes-Benz GLE and in the third-row seats (these are beneficial once your children are out of fully harnessed child seats).
This ANCAP child restraint fitting chart shows which types of child seats were able to be safely installed in the second-row seats of the Mercedes-Benz GLE:
We also have to take the safety of the front passengers into account too when choosing our new family car, and the Mercedes-Benz GLE did very well in this, with a score of 34.93 out of 38 or 91% for Adult Occupant Protection with 7.71 out of 8 for the full-width frontal crash test, 7.32 out of 8 for the frontal offset crash test, full marks for the side impact test and 6.93 out of 8 the pole test. Scoring 1.76 out of 2 for whiplash protection and 3.21 out of 4 for AEB City.
7 – Mercedes-Benz EQB- Scores 91% for Child Occupant Protection
The Mercedes-Benz EQB is a fully electric medium size luxury SUV that comes in five and seven seat versions. Only the EQB 250 (seven seat) qualifies for the ANCAP rating.
Mercedes-Benz EQB 250 with a build date of August 2022 onwards, scored 91% for child occupant protection, 44.8 out of 49 points, yet another Mercedes on the list of safest medium SUVs. In the crash tests, it scored full points for the dynamic side test and 15.80 out of 16 for the dynamic front test. The Mercedes-Benz EQB also got 10.97 out of 12 for child restraint installation and 10 out of 13 for on-board safety features. Making it a good car for your rear passengers.
ANCAP wrote of the testing:
In the frontal offset test, protection of the neck of the 6 year dummy was ADEQUATE, while the protection offered to all other critical body regions of both the 6 and 10 year dummies was GOOD.
In the side impact test, protection of all critical body areas was GOOD for both dummies, and maximum points were scored. The Mercedes-Benz EQB is fitted with lower ISOFix anchorages on the outboard seats in both the second and third rows and top tether anchorages for all rear seating positions.
Installation of typical child restraints available in Australia and New Zealand showed most child restraints could be accommodated in most rear seating positions, though in the third row, one of the convertible seats in rearward-facing mode could not be correctly installed and care is needed to tension the ISOFix anchorages in the third row seats.
The Mercedes-Benz EQB has seven airbags as standard:
Dual frontal airbags, side chest-protecting airbags for both the first and second row outboard seating positions, side head-protecting airbags (curtains) for all seating rows, and a driver knee airbag are standard.
There are also pretensioner seatbelts in the first and second-row outer seats of the Mercedes-Benz EQB (these are beneficial once your children are out of fully harnessed child seats).
This ANCAP child restraint fitting chart shows which types of child seats were able to be safely installed in the second-row seats of the Mercedes-Benz EQB:
We also have to take the safety of the front passengers into account too when choosing our new family car, and the Mercedes-Benz EQB did extremely well in this, with a score of 36.6 out of 36.4 or 95% for Adult Occupant Protection with 7.23 out of 8 for the full-width frontal crash test, 8 out of 8 for the frontal offset crash test, full marks for the side impact test and 7.53 out of 8 for the pole test. Scoring 1.64 out of 4 for whiplash protection, full marks for AEB – city.
8 – Nissan X-Trail Scores 90% for Child Occupant Protection
The Nissan X-Trail is a medium size five or seven-seater SUV.
Nissan X-Trails sold from November 2022 onwards scored 90% for child occupant protection, one of only a handful of of mainstream models to be on this list of safest medium SUVs with 44.12 out of 49 points. In the crash tests, it scored 15.28 out of 16 points for both the Dynamic Front Test and full marks for the Dynamic Side Test. The Nissan X-Trail also got 10.84 out of 12 for child restraint installation and 10 out of 13 for onboard safety features.
ANCAP wrote of the testing:
In the frontal offset test, protection of the neck of the 10 year old child dummy was rated as MARGINAL. Otherwise, protection of both child dummies was GOOD In the side impact test, protection of both child dummies was GOOD for all critical body areas.
The Nissan X-Trail is fitted with lower ISOFix anchorages on the second row outboard seats and top tether anchorages for all second row seating positions. Top tethers are not available in the optional third row. Installation of child restraints in the third row is therefore not recommended.
Installation of typical child restraints available in Australia and New Zealand showed most child restraints could be accommodated in most rear seating positions, however the rearward facing Type A capsule, one of the convertible seats in rearward-facing mode, and neither booster seat could be correctly installed in the centre rear position, and one of the two selected convertible seats could not be correctly installed in rearward-facing mode using the ISOfix anchorages.
The Nissan X-Trail has seven airbags as standard:
Dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting airbags are standard. A centre airbag which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes is also standard.
There are also pretensioner seatbelts in both the first row seats and in the outer seats in the second-row only, they are not available in the third-row seats for the seven-seat models or in the second-row (these are beneficial once your children are out of fully harnessed child seats).
This ANCAP child restraint fitting chart shows which types of child seats were able to be safely installed in the second-row seats of the Nissan X-Trail:
We also have to take the safety of the front passengers into account too when choosing our new family car, and the Nissan X-Trail did similarly well in this, with a score of 34.66out of 38 or 91% for Adult Occupant Protection with 7.58 out of 8 for the full-width frontal crash test, 6.63 out of 8 for the frontal offset crash test and full marks for both the side impact and pole test. Scoring 3.51 out of 4 for whiplash protection, 4 out of 4 for far side impact and 1 out of 2 for rescue and extraction.
9 – Toyota Prado – Scores 89% for Child Occupant Protection
The Toyota Prado is a large seven-seater SUV, also available as a five-seater.
Toyota Prado with a build date of August 2024 onwards, scored 89% for child occupant protection, 43.62 out of 49 points. In the crash tests, it scored full points for both the dynamic front and dynamic side tests. The Toyota Prado also got 11.62 out of 12 for child restraint installation and 8 out of 13 for on-board safety features. Making it a safe choice for your rear passengers.
ANCAP wrote of the testing:
In the frontal offset and side impact tests, protection of the 10 year and 6 year dummies was GOOD and the Toyota Prado scored maximum points in these tests. The Toyota Prado is fitted with lower ISOFix anchorages for outboard seats of the second row and top tether anchorages for all second row seating positions. Top tethers are not available in the optional third row. An indirect child presence detection (CPD) system, which provides an alert when a child may have been left in the passenger seats of the vehicle, is fitted as standard for all passenger seating positions.
Installation of typical child restraints available in Australia and New Zealand showed most child restraints could be accommodated in most rear seating positions, though one of the convertible seats in rearward-facing mode and one of the booster seats could not be correctly installed in the centre rear position.
NOTE: Top tether anchorages are not available in the optional third row of seating. Installation of child restraints in the third row is therefore not recommended.
The Toyota Prado has nine airbags as standard:
Dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting airbags, as well as driver and passenger knee airbags, are standard. A centre airbag which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes is also standard.
There are also pretensioner seatbelts in the first and second-row outer seats only of the Toyota Prado (these are beneficial once your children are out of fully harnessed child seats).
This ANCAP child restraint fitting chart shows which types of child seats were able to be safely installed in the second-row seats of the Toyota Prado :
We also have to take the safety of the front passengers into account too when choosing our new family car, and the Toyota Prado did okay in this, with a score of 34.39 out of 38 or 85% for Adult Occupant Protection with 6.80 out of 8 for the full-width frontal crash test, 3.79 out of 8 for the frontal offset crash test, full marks for the side impact test, whiplash protection and for far side impact and rescue and extraction. The Toyota Prado scored 5.80 out of 6 for the pole test.
10 – Hyundai Palisade – Scores 88% for Child Occupant Protection
The Hyundai Palisade is available as a seven or eight-seater family SUV.
Hyundai Palisades with a build date of May 2022 onwards, scored 88% for child occupant protection, 43.24 out of 49 points. In the crash tests, it scored full points for both the dynamic front and dynamic side tests. The Hyundai Palisade also got 11.24 out of 12 for child restraint installation and 8 out of 13 for on-board safety features. Making it a pretty good choice for your rear passengers.
ANCAP wrote of the testing:
In both the frontal offset and side impact tests, protection was GOOD for all critical body areas for both the 6 year and 10 year child dummies.
The Hyundai Palisade is fitted with lower ISOFix anchorages on the second row outboard seats and third row left hand seat, and top tether anchorages for all second row seating positions and centre and left hand third row seating positions.
Installation of typical child restraints available in Australia showed all child restraints could be accommodated in the second row rear seating positions. However in the third row centre seat care is required to correctly install the Type F booster seat, and the Type E booster seat could not be correctly installed. In the third row left hand seat, the two selected convertible seats could not be correctly installed in forward or rearward-facing modes using the ISOfix anchorages.
The Palisade has seven airbags as standard:
Dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting (curtain) airbags are standard. A centre airbag to prevent occupant-to-occupant interaction is also available as standard.
There are also pretensioner seatbelts in the first and second-row outer seats of the Hyundai Palisade not in the third-row seats or second-row central seat (these are beneficial once your children are out of fully harnessed child seats).
This ANCAP child restraint fitting chart shows which types of child seats were able to be safely installed in the second-row seats of the Hyundai Palisade:
We also have to take the safety of the front passengers into account when choosing our new family car, and the Hyundai Palisade scored similarly in this, with a score of 32.21 out of 38 or 84% for Adult Occupant Protection with 7.55 out of 8 for the full-width frontal crash test, 5.43 out of 8 for the frontal offset crash test, full marks for the side impact test and 5.45 out of 6 for the pole test. Scoring 2.77 out of 4 for whiplash protection 3.00 out of 4 for far side impact and full marks for rescue and extraction.
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