Euro NCAP's tougher new tests: Chinese EVs outscore Cupra Raval
In Euro NCAP's first tests under the stricter 2026 methodology, three Chinese-brand electric vehicles achieved the maximum five-star rating, while the Cupra Raval reaches five stars only with an optional safety package.
Euro NCAP, the vehicle safety assessment organization, has completed its first round of testing under a significantly stricter methodology set to take effect in 2026, and the results highlight the rapid progress of Chinese carmakers in safety performance.
All three Chinese-brand electric vehicles evaluated — the Aion UT, Geely E2, and Leapmotor B05 — earned the maximum five-star rating. By contrast, Spanish manufacturer Cupra's Raval model achieves five stars only when fitted with an additional safety equipment package; in its standard configuration, it does not exceed a four-star rating.
New methodology evaluates more than crash protection
The updated 2026 testing methodology no longer focuses solely on occupant protection in a collision. Euro NCAP now also assesses a vehicle's ability to prevent accidents, the effectiveness of driver assistance systems, and how the vehicle and its systems respond after an incident occurs.
The Leapmotor B05 performed particularly well, scoring 92% in crash protection and 77% in accident prevention. Meanwhile, the Geely E2 posted the best result in this testing round in the safe-driving category, reaching 79%.
The latest Euro NCAP results confirm a broader trend: Chinese automakers are becoming increasingly competitive in the European market, offering not only attractive pricing but also high safety standards for their electric vehicles.
