In Brief
The latest Euro NCAP tests confirm that several Chinese electric cars are now as safe as their European rivals, with all models earning the maximum five-star rating. These results concern the Geely E2, the AION UT, and the Leapmotor B05, which post excellent individual scores, though some weaknesses remain in equipment or ergonomics. Furthermore, the Cupra Raval, equipped with the Safety Pack as standard in France, also scores five stars and ranks among the top in the standings. The European lineup thus has nothing to envy from Chinese manufacturers when it comes to safety.
The organization in charge of testing the safety of vehicles sold in Europe has just announced its verdicts for four vehicles, including three low-cost Chinese cars. Good news: these Chinese electric vehicles all earn the top five-star rating. Here’s what you need to know.
Three Chinese Cars That Earned High Scores
One might think Chinese cars do not offer the same level of safety as European cars. This belief mainly stems from other Chinese products of sometimes average quality. But when it comes to cars, the recent Euro NCAP results show that Chinese cars measure up.
Indeed, a press release presents the scores for the Geely E2, the AION UT, and the Leapmotor B05, all achieving the 5 out of 5 stars rating.
Here are the scores for the AION UT: Safe Driving: 66 %. Collision Avoidance: 74 %. Crash Protection: 91 %. Post-Crash Safety: 88 %. Euro NCAP experts add the following comments: “The AION UT relies too heavily on the central screen for essential driving controls. It lost points due to its speed limit sign recognition system (68% accuracy) and the absence of a child presence detection system that warns if a child is left in the vehicle. The model is equipped with the latest collision avoidance systems and, with the exception of frontal monitoring when a car and a motorcycle cross at an intersection, these systems perform excellently across all test scenarios.”
Here are the scores for the Geely E2: Safe Driving: 79 %. Collision Avoidance: 72 %. Crash Protection: 86 %. Post-Crash Safety: 95 %. Euro NCAP experts add the following comments: “The compact electric city car demonstrated a high level of protection, earning the maximum five-star rating. The prudent use of physical controls for the main driving functions and for the infotainment system helped achieve an overall score of 80 %. The standard Child Presence Detection (CPD) earned extra points for the E2. However, Geely’s automatic emergency braking (AEB) system proved inconsistent: effective in some situations, yet poor in others. The E2 dropped substantially after failing to adequately protect the driver’s legs in a offset frontal collision simulation, but its physical protection scores were otherwise satisfactory.”
Here are the scores for the Leapmotor B05: Safe Driving: 66 %. Collision Avoidance: 77 %. Crash Protection: 92 %. Post-Crash Safety: 89 %. Euro NCAP experts add the following comments: “The B05 lacks an adaptive restraint system for occupants of different sizes. It also does not detect the dangerous position of the front passenger (feet on the dash). Its comfort and infotainment controls would benefit from more physical buttons. The car’s automatic emergency braking (AEB) performance was exceptional at high speeds and at intersections, complemented by an almost perfect lane-keeping assist system. In crash tests, the B05 achieved maximum scores for side impacts against a barrier and a pole, with its center airbag providing full head protection. Protection of the pelvis and femur for vulnerable road users reached 100%.”
The Cupra Raval Also Earns 5 Stars
Riding this wave of news about Chinese electric vehicles, Euro NCAP also published the results for the Cupra Raval. The new Spanish, small, electrified city car earned 5 stars, but with a caveat. The base version was rated 4 stars by Euro NCAP, and 5 stars if it is equipped with the Safety Pack, which is a non-issue in France.
Indeed, the Safety Pack is included on all versions in France and adds predictive adaptive cruise control and forward cross-traffic alert. The model delivers solid results in the four areas evaluated under the new protocol: Safe Driving: 72 %. Collision Avoidance: 77 %. Crash Protection: 91 %. Post-Crash Safety: 95 %. The Safety Pack is included as standard configurations in most European markets.
The Cupra Raval sold in France is therefore no less safe than a Chinese car. On the contrary, the version sold in France outperforms the recent scores of the AION UT, Leapmotor B05, and Geely E2.
Comparative Table
| Model | Safe Driving | Collision Avoidance | Crash Protection | Post-Crash Safety | Euro NCAP Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AION UT | 66% | 74% | 91% | 88% | 5 stars |
| Geely E2 | 79% | 72% | 86% | 95% | 5 stars |
| Leapmotor B05 | 66% | 77% | 92% | 89% | 5 stars |
| Cupra Raval (with Safety Pack) | 72% | 77% | 91% | 95% | 5 stars |
Key Takeaways
- Three Chinese electric cars (Geely E2, AION UT, and Leapmotor B05) earn 5 stars at Euro NCAP.
- The Cupra Raval, equipped with the Safety Pack in France, also achieves the maximum safety rating.
- Some Chinese models show areas for improvement, such as ergonomics or the consistency of driver-assistance features.
- Occupant protection is deemed very good on most tested models.
- The Cupra Raval’s Safety Pack is included as standard in the French market.
- These results demonstrate the safety competitiveness of Chinese cars versus European rivals.
FAQ
Which Chinese electric cars earned Euro NCAP 5 stars?
The Geely E2, the AION UT, and the Leapmotor B05 each earned the maximum 5 stars in the latest Euro NCAP crash tests.
Is the Cupra Raval as highly rated as the Chinese models?
Yes, the Cupra Raval also earns 5 Euro NCAP stars if it is equipped with the Safety Pack, which is the case for the French versions.
What weaknesses did Euro NCAP note for the tested Chinese models?
Some models show drawbacks such as heavy reliance on the central screen, alert systems that could be improved, or the absence of child presence detection on certain models.
How does the Geely E2 stand out in safety?
The Geely E2 offers standard child presence detection and good physical controls, but its automatic emergency braking is inconsistent and driver-leg protection is improvable.
Is the Safety Pack mandatory on the Cupra Raval to get 5 stars?
Yes, only the version with the Safety Pack earns 5 stars. In France, this pack is included as standard on all Cupra Ravals.
