Three Chinese electric cars — the AION UT, Geely E2 and Leapmotor B05 — earned five-star ratings in Euro NCAP’s latest round of results under its tougher 2026 protocols, while Europe’s CUPRA Raval scored four stars in standard specification and five with an optional Safety Pack. The results, released this week by the Leuven, Belgium-based testing body, cover the first assessments of the CUPRA Raval, AION UT, Geely E2 and Leapmotor B05 against the framework that debuted with the BMW iX3 and ZEEKR 7GT earlier this year. Euro NCAP said the three Chinese entries delivered results comparable to established European, Korean and Japanese models.
Highlights
- All three Chinese EVs — AION UT, Geely E2 and Leapmotor B05 — achieved the maximum five-star rating under 2026 protocols.
- The CUPRA Raval’s Safe Driving score rises from 58% to 72% with the optional Safety Pack fitted, lifting the car from four stars to five.
- Chinese models accounted for 7% of EU new car sales and nearly 10% of UK sales last year, according to Euro NCAP.
- Chinese cars assessed by Euro NCAP have risen nearly tenfold since 2021.
2026 Protocol Results at a Glance
| Model | Rating | Safe Driving | Crash Avoidance | Crash Protection | Post-Crash Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUPRA Raval (standard) | 4 stars | 58% | 66% | 91% | 95% |
| CUPRA Raval (Safety Pack) | 5 stars | 72% | 77% | 91% | 95% |
| AION UT | 5 stars | 66% | 74% | 91% | 88% |
| Geely E2 | 5 stars | 79% | 72% | 86% | 95% |
| Leapmotor B05 | 5 stars | 66% | 77% | 92% | 89% |
Why Does the CUPRA Raval Have Two Ratings?
The CUPRA Raval, a sporty electric subcompact competing with the Kia EV2 and Renault 5, was evaluated both with its standard safety equipment and with CUPRA’s optional Safety Pack. Euro NCAP said the pack substantially increases the active technologies fitted to the car and improves its ability to respond to potential danger, particularly in low-speed driving and at intersections — the basis for the five-star result.
In the cabin, the Raval scored well for comfort and infotainment interface design, along with seatbelt usage detection and driver monitoring. It lacks a child presence detection system to warn if a child has been left in the car. The car’s lane-departure prevention and vehicle-to-vehicle automatic emergency braking (AEB) performed strongly.
Physical protection was a high point. The Raval scored full points in side barrier impacts and full-width frontal rigid tests, supported by its center airbag, and its post-crash safety systems also rated well. Euro NCAP noted that while a full standard safety suite would be preferable, an optional pack keeps the vehicle affordable while making additional technologies available to buyers who choose them.
AION UT
The AION UT is an electric family hatchback positioned against the Mini Aceman, Renault 4 and Volkswagen ID. Polo. Euro NCAP described the brand as still in its infancy, yet the model showed good performance across all four assessment stages.
Testers said the UT relies too heavily on the center screen for key driving controls, noting that infotainment scores better when buttons and switches are used. The car dropped points for its road-based speed limit recognition system, which achieved a 68% accuracy rate, and for the absence of a child presence detection system.
The UT carries the latest crash avoidance systems, and apart from frontal monitoring involving a car and motorcyclist crossing an intersection, those systems performed well across all test scenarios. With a 91% Crash Protection score and good post-crash performance, Euro NCAP called it a strong all-rounder.
Geely E2
The Geely E2 — sold as the EX2 in some markets and China’s best-selling car last year — demonstrated high-level protection across the board. The small electric hatchback makes good use of physical controls for key driving commands and infotainment, scoring 80% in that area. Standard direct Child Presence Detection (CPD) earned the E2 additional marks.
Its AEB system was inconsistent, performing well in some scenarios while losing significant points in others. The E2 also dropped considerable points for inadequately protecting the driver’s legs in a front offset crash simulation, though its other physical protection scores were good. Testers noted that the seatbelt for the 10-year-old child dummy partially slipped off the shoulder.
Leapmotor B05
Taking on the Renault Megane and Volkswagen Golf, the Leapmotor B05 scored well across all testing disciplines, particularly Crash Protection, where it recorded 92%. The car has a Child Presence Detection system but lacks an adaptive restraint system for different occupant statures, and it does not recognize when the front passenger is seated unsafely with feet on the dashboard. Euro NCAP said its comfort and infotainment controls would benefit from more physical switches.
AEB performance was rated exceptional in high-speed and intersection scenarios, complemented by a near-perfect lane departure prevention system. In crash testing, the B05 scored maximum points in both side barrier and side pole impacts, with its center airbag providing full protection against occupant head contact. Pelvis and femur protection for vulnerable road users scored 100%.
Chinese Brands Gain Ground in Europe
Chinese models accounted for 7% of all EU new car sales and nearly 10% in the UK last year, according to Euro NCAP. In response, the number of Chinese cars the organization has assessed has risen nearly tenfold since 2021.
Dr. Aled Williams, Programme Director Euro NCAP, said: “Automotive safety across Chinese vehicles has evolved dramatically since Euro NCAP tested its first Chinese-manufactured car, in 2010. There is still some way to go, but today’s results clearly demonstrate that Chinese carmakers are still working hard to match the high standards expected by European consumers. It would be preferable for European brand CUPRA to offer active technologies as standard, but a safety pack is a compromise. By actively embracing Euro NCAP’s rigorous targets particularly this year, carmakers are showing they want to deliver safer vehicles for everyone on Europe’s roads. Euro NCAP continues to offer even more insights on the safety performance of new cars. Consumers should remember however that an important part of the safety journey is the drive – don’t forget to try before you buy!”
How Dual Ratings Work
- Base Rating: Reflects the safety performance and equipment fitted as standard on every version sold across Europe.
- Optional Rating: Shows the higher safety level achieved when a manufacturer’s optional safety pack is installed.
- Eligibility: Manufacturers must offer the safety pack as a standalone option and meet minimum fitment rates across the market. Over time, features locked behind these packs must transition into standard equipment.
Additional 2025-Protocol Results
Euro NCAP also released results assessed under its 2025 protocols. The Kia K4, first tested by Australasian NCAP in 2025 with additional testing carried out in Europe, earned four stars as standard and five stars with Kia’s optional Safety Pack. The Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabrio carries across the five-star scores of the CLE Coupé tested last year.
