Tougher 2026 Euro NCAP round: Aion UT, Geely E2 and Leapmotor B05 all take five stars

Euro NCAP published its latest crash-test results on 3 September 2026, the first batch judged under its more demanding 2026 protocols. Three models from China earned the maximum five stars: GAC Aion's UT, the Geely E2 (sold as the Xingyuan at home and as the EX2 in certain export markets) and Leapmotor's B05, which goes by the name Lafa 5 in China.

The round's only European contender fared less well out of the box. Cupra's Raval managed four stars in standard form and only joined the five-star club once fitted with an optional "Safety Pack" that strengthens its driver assistance in low-speed and junction scenarios.

The sweep underlines how visible Chinese brands have become in Europe. Euro NCAP says Chinese-built vehicles now account for 7% of new-car sales in the EU and close to 10% in the UK, with the number of Chinese models submitted for testing up roughly tenfold since 2021. Programme Director Dr. Aled Williams said the outcome shows Chinese carmakers continue working to meet what European buyers expect.

The detailed scores told a nuanced story. The E2, China's best-selling model, won praise for keeping physical controls and fitting child presence detection as standard, though its automatic emergency braking proved somewhat inconsistent; it also posted the trio's best post-crash score at 95%. The B05 shone in crash protection with full marks in side barrier and side pole impacts plus standout AEB performance, but lacks an adaptive restraint system for different occupant sizes and leans heavily on touchscreen menus. The UT was a competent all-rounder, yet testers flagged its touchscreen-dependent controls, a speed-sign recognition system accurate only 68% of the time, and the absence of child presence detection.