A fully electric car has been rated for the first time in an annual Australian used car safety ratings report.
Monash University Accident Research Centre’s 2025 Used Car Safety Ratings provides the latest independent insights to help consumers choose the safest second-hand vehicles on the market.
Research lead and MUARC Director, Professor Stuart Newstead said the Tesla Model 3 (2019-2023) had become the first fully electric vehicle to be rated.
Professor Newstead said the car achieved both 5-stars for Overall Safety and “Safer Pick” status.
He said it demonstrated that electric models could excel in both occupant and other road user protection.
“Vehicle choice remains one of the most important decisions a driver can make for their own safety and the safety of everyone on the road.”
Professor Newstead said this year’s ratings drew from 9.5 million vehicles and 2.6 million injured road users involved in police-reported crashes across Australia and New Zealand between 1987 and 2023.
He said the findings show that vehicle safety continued to advance, with the average risk of death or serious injury in the event of a crash for drivers in 2023 models 43 percent lower than in vehicles manufactured in 2001.
“Over the full analysis period, the overall safety of the light vehicle fleet has improved by more than 50 percent.”
Professor Newstead said 561 vehicle models manufactured between 1982 and 2023 had been rated out of five stars for Overall Safety.
“Of the vehicles rated, 130 models achieved a 5-star rating, and 72 earned ‘Safer Pick’ status for their superior performance across all key safety categories.”
Download: 2025 Used Car Safety Ratings
