Five great family cars that will keep your child safe

Updated: August 7, 2024

Let’s face it, driving can sometimes be dangerous, and there are times when no amount of care and attentiveness can help a driver when things go sideways. That’s why in recent years, cars have been developed to be safer and provide more protection in the event of a crash. Of course, safety ratings are not the only things that make a car safe and child-friendly, so we’ve accounted for additional features like entertainment and comfort features on top of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and passive safety features like airbags. Keeping your child's safety and enjoyment in mind, we have curated a list of vehicles that excel in essential categories such as safety features and riding experience.

Just like our previous list of child-friendly vehicles, we’ve picked out cars that have an ASEAN NCAP rating from recent years. In addition, the car must also have a five-star safety rating and a total score of 40 or more when it comes to the Child Occupant Protection (COP) category. The car should also be equipped with ISOFIX anchor points or tethers. Last, and most importantly, the car must be on sale right now.

Starting off with a big hitter in the mid-size SUV segment, we have the Ford Everest. The Ranger’s seven-seater brother has not been tested yet by the ASEAN NCAP, but its Australia-based counterpart, the ANCAP, has. The Everest scored 32.99 out of a maximum of 38.00 in the Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) category. In the Child Occupant Protection (COP) category, it scored 45.66 out of a possible 49.

Meanwhile, it received a score of 39.96 out of 54 in the Vulnerable Road User Protection category and 13.89 out of 16 in the Safety Assist category, leading to a full five out of five-star safety rating.

The Everest not only excels in safety but also impresses with its tech features. Front passengers can choose between 10 to 12-inch colored touchscreens, depending on the variant. While the Trend variant lacks many amenities for second and third-row passengers, the Sport variants and above offer additional USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a panoramic moonroof exclusive to Titanium models. The Everest is a great all-rounder, even in its base form. Combined with its impressive safety rating, Ford’s seven-seater SUV stands out amid the competition.

Although the Veloz performed well in terms of crash safety and passenger protection, Toyota’s MPV is lacking in the entertainment department for the second row. The consolation is that the Veloz features air vents for the middle row of seats and the infotainment system has wireless connectivity, providing backseat passengers a choice in entertainment, that is, if you’re willing to hand control of the radio over to your kid. Although the Veloz comes up short in the entertainment department, it does make up for it by being a safe vehicle when it matters most.

Moving a step down in size, we have the Mitsubishi XForce. Tested on August 5, 2024, the particular XForce model tested originated from Indonesia. The XForce marks Mitsubishi’s return to the subcompact crossover segment and comes equipped with a range of safety features.

The results from the XForce’s test yielded an impressive score of 43.43 out of a total of 51.00 for child occupant safety, 27.91 out of 32 for adult occupant safety, 15.29 out of 21 in the Safety Assist category, and 9.91 out of 16 in the Motorcyclist Safety category. These scores contributed to a total star rating of five out of five stars.

In the Philippines, the XForce is available in two variants: the GLS and the GT. Amenities include dual USB chargers for the front and second row, a cooled center box, an eight-speaker Yamaha sound system, and an eight-inch infotainment system. The GT variant adds advanced driver aids, curtain airbags, and ambient lighting to keep your tiny passengers entertained.

Up next on our list is the Terra, Nissan’s entry into the midsize SUV market. This time, since the ASEAN NCAP changed its scoring for 2021 onwards, the Nissan Terra was scored differently than the previous cars in the list as it was tested back in 2018. The Nissan Terra’s scores are still relevant today since the only change the Terra underwent is a minor facelift. 

In regards to its ASEAN NCAP test, the Nissan Terra did not exceed its main rival the Toyota Fortuner in terms of its COP score, but it still achieved enough to merit a five-star rating, scoring 40.74 out of a total score of 49.00. While Nissan’s SUV barely skimmed the 40-point mark, it’s still a safe car when we break down the scores. The Terra got a perfect score in the frontal and side-impact tests for child occupants, losing points on the CSR installation category and the vehicle-based assessment of the ASEAN NCAP. So what does that mean? It means that in terms of a crash, the Terra can bear the brunt of a direct front and side impact without any worry, the department where the Terra is lacking is in the child seat anchor points and tethers in the second and third row.

When it comes to entertaining the passengers in the rear, the Nissan Terra pulls through with its 11-inch flip-down rear monitor, providing kids and passengers a distraction in long and monotonous journeys. Coupled with rear vents at the second and third row, comfort will not be a problem with the Terra.

The Isuzu D-MAX is one of two passenger vehicles produced by Isuzu. If the car you’re looking for can double as a work vehicle that is also safe for your child, then the D-MAX is a truck worth considering. Tested in 2020, the D-MAX scored 42.78 out of 49.00 in the child occupant safety category, not as high as the Toyota Hilux featured in our previous article, but high enough to put in the top rung of safe cars for young passengers. 

Beating its previous iteration’s four-star rating, the D-MAX got a perfect score on frontal and side-impact tests with 16.00 out of 16.00 and 8.00 out of 8.00 respectively. Where the D-MAX loses ground is in ease of installation in child safety restraint systems where it got 9.78 out of 12.00. Despite its few shortcomings in this category, overall, the D-MAX is still a considerably sturdy vehicle.

On the other hand, since the D-MAX is a pickup truck, don’t expect it to come with a lot of toys to play with. As of writing, the D-MAX comes with a 10.1-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wireless connectivity. Depending on the variant you could get six or eight speakers scattered throughout the truck.

With that said, these qualities of the D-MAX make it a versatile and tough truck, which can do whatever is asked of it whether it be for hard work or a weekend out with the family. 

The last car on our list is another Mitsubishi: the Triton, formerly known as the Strada here in the Philippines. Featuring a new platform, a more robust chassis, and a new engine, the latest generation of the Triton is a powerhouse when it comes to hauling. As you read further, you'll also discover that it’s quite a safe vehicle.

Tested by the ASEAN NCAP in 2023, the Triton earned a score of 26.01 out of 32 in the Adult Occupant category, 44.72 out of 51.00 in the Child Occupant category, 15.16 out of 21.00 in the Safety Assist category, and 8.18 out of 16.00 in the Motorcyclist Safety category. Overall, the Triton received a total star rating of five out of five stars.

In terms of amenities, the Triton offers what you would expect from a modern double-cab pickup truck. Models GLX and above come with a choice between an eight-inch or nine-inch infotainment system, both with six speakers as standard. Rear passengers get two USB ports, though rear air conditioning vents are exclusive to the Triton. Despite some compromises in interior amenities, the Triton is a powerful truck that can haul items with ease while keeping your family safe.

At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with any of the choices listed above. The final decision would ultimately depend on you—your needs, lifestyle, style, and of course, your budget. So, if you’re interested in buying one of the vehicles we mentioned, feel free to check them out on the AutoDeal Car Guide and start your car-buying journey by clicking the “Get Quote” button. From there, dozens of dealers near you will send you official quotes in a matter of minutes. It’s quick, easy, and takes the stress out of car shopping.