Leapmotor B05 and Geely EX2 earn five-star ANCAP ratings

The Leapmotor B05 and Geely EX2 have secured five-star result from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) safety ratings under the organisation's new 2026 Stages of Safety assessment program, demonstrating that affordable electric vehicles priced below $40,000 can deliver strong crash protection, advanced safety technology and comprehensive post-crash safety systems.

Two of the newest entrants to Australia's growing electric vehicle market have delivered a strong safety statement, with the Leapmotor B05 and Geely EX2 becoming just the second and third vehicles assessed under ANCAP's more comprehensive Stages of Safety criteria introduced in 2026.

The Leapmotor B05 impressed in crash protection testing, achieving a 92 per cent score thanks to what ANCAP described as a well-designed vehicle structure and restraint systems that provide protection for occupants of various sizes across a range of impact speeds. It also performed strongly in crash avoidance testing, with near-full marks for its lane departure collision prevention system and solid autonomous emergency braking performance.

ANCAP noted some of its newer low-speed test scenarios remain areas for improvement, including situations designed to address pedal misapplication and driveway runover risks.

However, the B05 also scored well in post-crash assessment, aided by the inclusion of eCall hardware that will support an automatic emergency notification system once activated by the manufacturer.

The smaller Geely EX2 showed particularly strong performance in the Safe Driving category, recording 79 per cent.

ANCAP highlighted its occupant monitoring technology, which can detect incorrect seatbelt use and adapt restraints to suit different front-seat occupants, while its driver monitoring system performed strongly in detecting distraction.

The EX2's autonomous emergency braking and lane support systems also performed well across most crash avoidance scenarios, particularly when avoiding collisions with oncoming or overtaking vehicles and motorcycles.

While ANCAP identified opportunities for improvement in some of its latest low-speed testing scenarios, the electric SUV generally delivered good crash protection results and showed impressive crash compatibility with other road users.

According to ANCAP chief executive officer Carla Hoorweg, the results demonstrate that buyers no longer need to compromise on safety when shopping at the more affordable end of the EV market.

"These results show that choosing a more affordable electric vehicle doesn't have to mean compromising on safety," said Hoorweg.

"The Leapmotor B05 and Geely EX2 have got the fundamentals right, delivering good crash protection, effective crash avoidance technology and important safety features as standard."

The ratings provide an important endorsement for two emerging brands looking to grow their presence in Australia and New Zealand.

As more low-cost electric vehicles enter the market, ANCAP's latest assessment program is designed to place greater emphasis on active safety technology, post-crash systems and real-world crash performance.

The strong results achieved by both the Leapmotor B05 and Geely EX2 suggest established manufacturers may face increasing competition not only on price, but also on safety credentials.

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