Last checked September 2026. Ratings from Euro NCAP. A rating is valid for six years, and Euro NCAP tests left-hand-drive versions.
Are Chinese cars safe? On the evidence of Euro NCAP, the independent crash-test body whose results apply across the UK and Europe, the answer is overwhelmingly yes. Almost every Chinese car sold in the UK has been awarded the maximum five stars, and several have scored better than long-established European rivals. But there are exceptions worth knowing about.
Euro NCAP ratings for Chinese cars
| Model | Year tested | Stars | Adult occupant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leapmotor B10 | 2025 | 5 | 93% |
| Deepal S07 | 2024 | 5 | 95% |
| BYD Seal 6 | 2025 | 5 | 92% |
| MG HS | 2024 | 5 | 90% |
| MGS5 EV | 2025 | 5 | 90% |
| Leapmotor C10 | 2024 | 5 | 89% |
| XPeng G6 | 2024 | 5 | 88% |
| BYD Seal | 2023 | 5 | 87% |
| BYD Sealion 7 | 2025 | 5 | 87% |
| Omoda 5 | 2022 | 5 | 87% |
| BYD Dolphin | 2023 | 5 | 85% |
| MG4 EV | 2022 | 5 | 83% |
| MGS9 | 2025 | 5 | 83% |
| BYD Dolphin Surf | 2025 | 5 | 82% |
| Jaecoo 7 plug-in hybrid | 2025 | 5 | 81% |
| Omoda 9 | 2025 | 5 | Not listed here |
| Chery Tiggo 7 | 2025 | 5 (after reassessment) | Not listed here |
| Zeekr 7GT | 2026 (new test) | 5 | Crash protection 93% |
| MG ZS Hybrid+ | 2024 | 4 | 75% |
| MG3 Hybrid+ | 2024 | 4 | 74% |
| Leapmotor T03 | Not tested | – | – |
For comparison, the Nissan Qashqai was downgraded to four stars when it was retested in 2025. See our Jaecoo 7 vs Qashqai comparison.
The exceptions
MG3: four stars and a seat recall
The MG3 Hybrid+ scored four stars, but during Euro NCAP’s frontal offset test the driver’s seat rail came unlatched. MG recalled cars built before August 2025, and in May 2026 Euro NCAP publicly urged owners to make sure the free repair had been done. If you own or are buying a used MG3, check the recall has been completed.
MG ZS: four stars
The MG ZS Hybrid+ also scored four stars, with a lower adult occupant score than most rivals.
Leapmotor T03: not tested
The Leapmotor T03 does not have a current Euro NCAP rating. That does not mean it is unsafe, but you have no independent result to rely on. The BYD Dolphin Surf is the cheap EV with a five-star rating; see our cheapest electric cars guide.
Why Chinese cars score so well
- Modern platforms. Most Chinese models are new designs built for electric power, with strong battery structures that also stiffen the body.
- Lots of safety tech as standard. Automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping and driver monitoring are fitted as standard, which scores well in Euro NCAP’s safety-assist tests.
- Designed for the test. Chinese makers know a five-star rating is essential to win European buyers, and engineer their cars accordingly.
The flip side is that many owners and reviewers find the driver-assistance systems on Chinese cars over-sensitive, with frequent beeps and interventions. Most can be adjusted or switched off for a journey, but they reset when you restart the car, as the law now requires.
Euro NCAP changed its tests in 2026
From 2026 Euro NCAP uses a new format with four areas: Safe Driving, Crash Avoidance, Crash Protection and Post-Crash Safety. Results under the new system, such as the Zeekr 7GT’s, cannot be compared directly with older ones. The Zeekr 7GT was one of the first cars to be rated under the new rules, and scored five stars.
Frequently asked questions
Are Chinese cars safe?
Almost all Chinese cars on sale in the UK have five-star Euro NCAP ratings, the same test used for European cars. The main exceptions are the MG3 and MG ZS, which have four stars, and the Leapmotor T03, which has not been tested.
Which Chinese car has the best safety rating?
Among recent results, the Deepal S07 (95% adult occupant) and Leapmotor B10 (93% adult occupant and 93% child occupant) scored exceptionally well.
Is the MG3 safe?
It scored four stars. A seat fault found in testing led to a recall of cars built before August 2025, so check the repair has been done.
Does Euro NCAP test right-hand-drive cars?
Euro NCAP usually tests left-hand-drive versions, but the ratings apply to right-hand-drive UK cars of the same model.