Euro NCAP 2026 tests: Chinese EVs AION UT, GEELY E2 and Leapmotor B05 earn five stars; CUPRA Raval needs safety pack
Euro NCAP's 2026 assessments award five stars to the AION UT, GEELY E2 and Leapmotor B05, while the CUPRA Raval earns four stars, or five with its optional Safety Pack.
- 7%
- nearly 10%
- nearly ten-fold
- 68%
What Happened
Under Euro NCAP's latest 2026 assessment protocols, exhaustive on-road evaluation and extensive crash testing have produced safety results for four new cars: the CUPRA Raval, AION UT, GEELY E2 and Leapmotor B05. The AION UT, GEELY E2 and Leapmotor B05 all achieved the maximum five-star rating, demonstrating safety performance comparable to well-known models from European, Korean and Japanese brands. The CUPRA Raval, a European offering, earned four stars in standard specification and five stars when fitted with its optional Safety Pack. Euro NCAP says the pack adds active technologies to respond to danger, especially in low-speed driving and at junctions, and keeps the car affordable for consumers who don't choose it.
- CUPRA Raval — 4 stars standard, 5 stars with Safety Pack. Electric supermini rivaling Kia EV2 and Renault 5. Scores: Safe Driving 58% (72% with pack), Crash Avoidance 66% (77% with pack), Crash Protection 91%, Post Crash Safety 95%. Lacks child presence detection; full marks in side barrier and full-width frontal rigid tests with good centre airbag performance; strong vehicle-to-vehicle AEB and lane-departure prevention.
- AION UT — 5 stars. Electric family hatchback vs Mini Aceman, Renault 4, VW ID. Polo. Scores: Safe Driving 66%, Crash Avoidance 74%, Crash Protection 91%, Post Crash Safety 88%. Over-relies on centre screen; physical buttons and switches would improve infotainment; 68% speed-limit recognition accuracy; no child presence detection; AEB strong except for junction-crossing car/motorcyclist monitoring.
- GEELY E2 (also EX2) — 5 stars. Small electric hatchback and China's best-selling car last year. Scores: Safe Driving 79%, Crash Avoidance 72%, Crash Protection 86%, Post Crash Safety 95%. Standard direct Child Presence Detection; physical controls for driving and infotainment scored 80%; AEB inconsistent; driver leg protection shortfall in front offset crash; 10-year-old dummy's seatbelt slipped off shoulder.
- Leapmotor B05 — 5 stars. Electric family hatchback vs Renault Megane and VW Golf. Scores: Safe Driving 66%, Crash Avoidance 77%, Crash Protection 92%, Post Crash Safety 89%. Has CPD but no adaptive restraint and doesn't detect unsafe front passenger position; controls would benefit from more physical switches; AEB excellent at high speed and junctions; maximum points in side barrier and side pole with centre airbag preventing head contact; 100% pelvis/femur protection for vulnerable road users.
Chinese models are increasingly popular with European consumers, accounting for seven per cent of all EU new-car sales and nearly 10 per cent in the UK last year. Since 2021, the number of Chinese cars assessed by Euro NCAP has risen nearly ten-fold, and Chinese vehicle safety has evolved dramatically since Euro NCAP tested its first Chinese-manufactured car in 2010. Euro NCAP publishes all star ratings and detailed performance breakdowns on its website so consumers can research safety when buying their next car.
“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!”
Euro NCAP also published additional results from 2025 protocols. The Kia K4, first tested by ANCAP and then further evaluated in Europe, scores four stars with standard equipment and five with its optional Safety Pack, delivering consistent performance as a Volkswagen Golf competitor. The Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabrio, a four-seat soft-top variant of the coupé tested last year, carries over the coupé's scores and also achieves five stars.
- 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 rules require the safety pack to be offered as a standalone option with strict minimum fitment rates; over time, those features must transition into standard equipment.
Previously from Euro NCAP
Euro NCAP's new 2026 protocols have already awarded five stars to the BMW iX3 and ZEEKR 7GT. In 2025, the organization delivered a record 108 assessments, with 98% of cars scoring four stars or more.
- BMW iX3 and ZEEKR 7GT earn five stars under Euro NCAP's new 2026 safety tests
- Euro NCAP sets record with 108 assessments in 2025; 98% of cars score four stars or more
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Euro NCAP's official releases.
Why this matters
Chinese brands now rival established European, Korean and Japanese marques for safety, with three all-electric models earning five stars. Chinese cars already account for 7% of EU new-car sales and nearly 10% in the UK, and Euro NCAP is now testing nearly ten times as many Chinese models as in 2021. Buyers should note the difference between base and optional ratings, because some cars need a paid safety pack to reach five stars.
Terms in This Story
- Euro NCAP
- European New Car Assessment Programme, an independent organization that evaluates new cars through crash tests and safety assessments and gives them a star rating from one to five.
- AEB
- Automatic Emergency Braking; a system that detects an imminent collision and automatically applies the brakes to avoid or mitigate the crash.
- Child Presence Detection (CPD)
- A safety feature that alerts the driver if a child is left alone in the car.
- Dual rating
- Two star ratings awarded for the same model: one based on standard safety equipment and one based on the car with an optional safety pack.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.