Vans’ safety on the up
Gradings released for four vans sold down under highlight continued progress in the active safety performance of models in the sector, reports ANCAP.
LDV’s Deliver 7 and Volkswagen’s electric ID. Buzz Cargo have achieved platinum ratings. The updated Renault Trafic, pictured, and Peugeot Expert have secured gold results, up from silver held by their respective pre-update guises.
ANCAP’s commercial van safety comparison assesses the performance of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) fitted to models to help buyers of these vehicles understand how well-equipped they are to avoid collisions.
The diesel-powered Deliver 7’s overall score came in at 86 per cent. It secured good performance scores across most crash-avoidance technologies, particularly in test scenarios evaluating automatic emergency braking (AEB) at intersections so the driver can avoid a crash with a crossing vehicle.
The ID. Buzz Cargo scored 80 per cent. This result highlights its “well-rounded” active safety performance, including vehicle-to-vehicle AEB and lane-support functionality.
“With the Deliver 7 and ID. Buzz Cargo achieving strong results into our commercial van assessment programme, it’s clear safety is being prioritised by manufacturers bringing new-generation vans to market,” says Carla Hoorweg, ANCAP’s chief executive officer.
Previously assessed in earlier specification guise, the Renault Trafic and Peugeot Expert have been re-examined following upgrades that apply to models built from October 2024.
As a result, both now have elevated collision-avoidance performance to secure gold safety gradings – the Trafic scored 69 per cent and the Expert scored 67 per cent.
The latest Trafic includes features such as pedestrian and cyclist-detecting autonomous braking. Performance of these aspects was assessed as adequate and good respectively. A lane-departure warning system is fitted to the Trafic, yet active lane-keep assist functionality is not available.
Its new gold grading is a “notable improvement” from its initial 2020 result, where it was assessed as not recommended. Trafic models built between September 2022 and July 2024 hold a silver grading.
Peugeot’s Expert has taken a “positive step forward” with an active lane-support system and AEB vehicle-to-cyclist now fitted as standard across all variants. It delivered effective performance in the key assessment areas of lane support and speed assistance.
Hoorweg says: “It’s great to see active steps being taken to improve the safety specification of these vans and the tangible results of those efforts.
“Since our commercial van safety comparison was introduced, we’ve seen clear improvements across the market. Today, eight current van models hold a platinum rating.”
The traditional ANCAP safety-rating system evaluates the safety of passenger cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles – MA, MB, MC and NA category.
The commercial van safety comparison analysis has been undertaken as a parallel information system to the star-rating programme to allow consumers and fleets to compare the availability and performance of active safety features in commercial vans – NA and NB category vehicles.
The results from this analysis of ADAS performance do not replace or alter any existing ANCAP safe ratings. Destructive crash testing does not currently form part of commercial van safety comparison assessments.
