GAC Aion UT and XPeng X9 score five stars
ANCAP calls for more physical buttons after electric hatch and people-mover scores downgraded for driving controlsThe News
The GAC Aion UT and XPeng X9 have earned five-star ANCAP safety ratings under the tougher 2026 testing regime, but both have been criticised for relying too heavily on touchscreen controls.
The Key Details
- GAC Aion UT and XPeng X9 achieve five stars under ANCAP’s 2026–2028 criteria
- Both score just 20 per cent for driving controls amid criticism of touchscreen reliance
- X9 also marked down for access to its rear-door emergency release
- Emergency calling systems fitted but not operational when reports were published
- Both vehicles achieve maximum points for battery thermal propagation resistance
The Finer Details
The Chinese electric hatchback and electric people-mover each scored just 20 per cent in ANCAP’s driving controls assessment, prompting another call for manufacturers to restore physical buttons for everyday functions.
“We want to see carmakers bring back buttons for the functions drivers use every day,” ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg said.
The results highlight how a maximum overall safety rating can coexist with shortcomings in individual areas, with ANCAP also identifying limitations in occupant monitoring and post-crash functions.
The Aion UT rating applies to both Premium and Luxury versions, while the X9 result covers all Australian variants.
Under ANCAP’s new scoring system, the UT achieved 68 per cent for Safe Driving, 74 per cent for Crash Avoidance, 90 per cent for Crash Protection and 88 per cent for Post Crash safety.
The X9 recorded 56 per cent, 82 per cent, 91 per cent and 91 per cent respectively.
Those four categories form ANCAP’s new “Stages of Safety” framework, replacing the previous Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection and Safety Assist pillars.
The revised assessment broadens scrutiny of how vehicles help prevent crashes, protect occupants during an impact and assist people and emergency responders afterwards.
ANCAP criticised excessive touchscreen reliance for functions including headlights, windscreen wipers, demisters and mirror adjustment, as well as audio, telephone and climate controls.
The X9 also lost points because its rear-door emergency release was not easily accessible, affecting its assessment for opening doors after a crash.
Both vehicles have emergency calling hardware, but the function was inactive when their assessment reports were published.
GAC and XPeng committed to making eCall operational in the rated vehicles by October 2027.
Both models can detect incorrect seatbelt use and have child presence detection systems designed to alert drivers if a child has been left inside.
The UT can also identify a front occupant sitting in an unsafe position, a capability the X9 does not provide. Neither vehicle can classify occupants according to their size.
New virtual simulations and sled assessments examine protection for occupants of different sizes across a broader range of crash severities.
Both vehicles performed strongly in that expanded assessment and achieved maximum points for resistance to battery thermal propagation – when a cell failure spreads to neighbouring cells and can lead to fire.
The battery assessment includes a pierce test examining whether physical damage to a cell can trigger that chain reaction.
The Road Ahead
The UT and X9 join the BMW iX3, Geely EX2, Leapmotor B05 and seven-seat BYD M9 among vehicles awarded five stars against the latest 2026 requirements.
The same criteria have produced a three-star result for the BYD Sealion 5 plug-in hybrid SUV.
For GAC, the UT follows the Aion V SUV, which carries a five-star rating with a 2025 date stamp. XPeng’s G6 SUV has a five-star rating dated 2024.
Both were assessed under the preceding 2023–2025 framework.
Among the UT’s electric hatchback rivals, the BYD Dolphin has a five-star rating dated 2023, while the GWM Ora and two-wheel-drive versions of the original MG4 carry five-star ratings dated 2022.
The newer MG4 EV Urban has a separate five-star rating dated 2025.
For X9 buyers, the seven-seat BYD M9 provides a five-star alternative assessed against the same 2026 requirements.
The top-selling people-mover, the Kia Carnival, has a five-star rating dated 2021 and covers petrol, diesel and hybrid versions.
ANCAP’s rating year identifies the assessment standard applied, meaning an earlier five-star result does not establish that a vehicle meets every requirement introduced for 2026.
A rating announced during 2026 can also carry an earlier date stamp, while the revised scoring categories prevent direct percentage comparisons with older assessments.
Related: Exclusive: ANCAP to test power-operated car doors from 2026
Related: Sole GAC Aion UT hatch confirmed for Australia
Related: XPeng model expansion looming for Australia
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