Leapmotor B05, Geely E2 (EX2) and Aion UT earn five Euro NCAP stars
Three Chinese EVs have passed Euro NCAP's tougher 2026 tests, with the Leapmotor B05 scoring 92% for crash protection. Here is how the scores break down, what Euro NCAP flagged, and which cars UK buyers can order.
Quick answers
- Euro NCAP published results on 2 September 2026 showing five stars for the Leapmotor B05, Geely E2 (sold in the UK as the EX2) and Aion UT under its 2026 protocols.
- The Leapmotor B05 scored 66% for Safe Driving, 77% for Crash Avoidance, 92% for Crash Protection and 89% for Post-Crash Safety.
- The Geely E2 (UK name EX2) led on Safe Driving with 79%, but its automatic emergency braking was inconsistent, according to coverage of Euro NCAP's assessment.
- The Leapmotor B05 costs £28,995 including the £1,500 Leap-Grant (£30,495 without), with up to 300 miles of range.
- The Cupra Raval scored four stars as standard and five with an optional Safety Pack, lifting Safe Driving from 58% to 72%.
Three Chinese electric cars, the Leapmotor B05, Geely E2 (called the EX2 in the UK) and Aion UT, have earned five stars from Euro NCAP under its tougher 2026 protocols, with results published on 2 September 2026 (Euro NCAP). The Leapmotor B05, on sale in the UK from £28,995, scored 92% for crash protection but only 66% for safe driving.
That gap is the story for UK family buyers: the crash structure scores strongly, while the driver-assistance and interface marks are where the new tests bite.
The scores in full
The three cars scored as follows (The EV Report).
| Category | Leapmotor B05 | Geely E2 | Aion UT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safe Driving | 66% | 79% | 66% |
| Crash Avoidance | 77% | 72% | 74% |
| Crash Protection | 92% | 86% | 91% |
| Post-Crash Safety | 89% | 95% | 88% |
The B05 topped Crash Protection and achieved maximum points in the side barrier and side pole tests. The Geely E2 led on Safe Driving and Post-Crash Safety. Euro NCAP said the three Chinese entries delivered results comparable to established European, Korean and Japanese models.
What the 2026 protocols change
These cars were assessed against a framework that debuted earlier this year with the BMW iX3 and Zeekr 7GT. It adds a Safe Driving category and rewards physical buttons for essential functions, so touchscreen-only controls can cost points in Safe Driving (Euro NCAP). A five-star result is therefore harder to earn than before, and the Safe Driving column is where the cars are weakest.
What Euro NCAP flagged
Five stars did not mean a clean sheet. Coverage of the results reports inconsistent automatic emergency braking on the Geely E2, with strong results in some scenarios and large point losses in others, and Euro NCAP’s assessment of the E2 praised its physical controls (CarNewsChina). For the Aion UT, Euro NCAP’s testers noted heavy reliance on the central touchscreen for driving controls. In the same round, the Cupra Raval scored four stars as standard and five with an optional Safety Pack, which lifted its Safe Driving score from 58% to 72%. See our Cupra Raval price and Euro NCAP report.
Which can you buy in the UK?
| Car | UK price | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geely EX2 (E2) | From £20,990 | Up to 214 miles (155 miles on the entry Pro) | Three trims: Pro, Max, Ultra |
| Leapmotor B05 | £28,995 including £1,500 Leap-Grant (£30,495 without) | Up to 300 miles | 67.1kWh battery, single trim |
| Aion UT | From £28,950 | 268 miles | Single trim, 60kWh battery |
| VW ID.3 Neo (rival) | From £33,080 | Not compared | Every version qualifies for the Electric Car Grant |
Prices for the EX2, UT and ID.3 are the headline figures published at launch. The B05’s order books opened in early July with first deliveries in late July. The ID.3 Neo’s £33,080 falls to £31,580 after the grant. Our pages cover the Geely EX2, the Aion UT and the VW ID.3 Neo.
How they compare
Against the ID.3 Neo, the B05 asks £4,085 less at the quoted starting prices, and the EX2 is the cheapest of the group by about £8,000 against the B05 and UT. The ID.3 has not appeared in the same Euro NCAP round, so we cannot compare scores directly. The wider market of sub-£30,000 choices is in our electric cars under £30,000 guide.
What this means for you
Treat five stars as a strong floor, not a finish line. If you are choosing between these cars, look at the column that matters most to how you drive. The B05 and UT have the weakest Safe Driving scores, at 66%, while the E2 leads at 79% but reportedly has inconsistent emergency braking. On a test drive, check how easily you can reach the indicators, wipers and hazard lights without the touchscreen, and ask which driver-assist features are standard. Raval buyers should note that the extra star depends on an optional pack. If a car you like is not in this round, check Euro NCAP’s own site for its result, because the 2026 protocols make older ratings hard to compare directly with new ones.
How we test and where our numbers come from
Range figures are official WLTP combined values taken from manufacturer UK specification pages, with real-world estimates drawn from independent comparative testing. Prices are UK list prices at the time of the latest update. Tax, grant and charging-scheme figures come from GOV.UK and HMRC publications. We re-check every guide when pricing, specification or policy changes. Last checked 6 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chinese EVs got five Euro NCAP stars in September 2026?
The Leapmotor B05, Geely E2 (sold in the UK as the EX2) and Aion UT, all assessed under the 2026 protocols and published on 2 September 2026. Euro NCAP uses the name E2.
What did the Leapmotor B05 score?
It scored 66% for Safe Driving, 77% for Crash Avoidance, 92% for Crash Protection and 89% for Post-Crash Safety.
Can I buy these cars in the UK?
The Leapmotor B05 is on sale from £28,995 including the £1,500 Leap-Grant. The Geely EX2 starts from £20,990. Aion has announced UK pricing for the UT from £28,950.
What do the 2026 Euro NCAP rules change?
They add a Safe Driving category and reward physical controls for essential functions, so touchscreen-only designs can lose points and the top rating.
Sources and further reading
- euroncap.comEuro NCAPPrimary source referenced in this article.
- theevreport.comThree Chinese EVs Earn Five-Star Euro NCAP RatingsScores for the three cars.
- carnewschina.comGeely, Leapmotor and GAC Aion models achieve five-star Euro NCAP safety ratingsResults coverage.
- electrive.comLeapmotor launches B05 electric hatchback in the UK from £28,995UK price, grant and range.
- fleetworld.co.ukGeely EX2 electric hatchback heads to UK from under £21kUK EX2 pricing.
- am-online.comAION UT priced at £28,950 with 268 mile rangeUK pricing for the Aion UT.
- electrive.comVW ID.3 Neo starts at £33,080 in the UKRival pricing.
- euroncap.comA new benchmark for vehicle safety: BMW and ZEEKR secure five stars under Euro NCAP's new testsFirst results under the 2026 protocols.
EV Compared
The EV Compared editorial team tracks the UK electric vehicle market full time: new model launches, list prices, WLTP and real-world range, public charging tariffs and the tax rules that decide what an EV actually costs to run. Every guide is checked against manufacturer specifications and official GOV.UK figures, and updated whenever the numbers move.
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