Latest safety scores released for four commercial vans

Highlighting continued progress in the active safety performance of commercial vans, new safety gradings for four vans sold in Australia are now available.

• The LDV Deliver 7 has taken out a PLATINUM grading.
• Volkswagen’s electric ID. Buzz Cargo also achieved PLATINUM.
• The updated Renault Trafic and Peugeot Expert each take a step higher on the podium, with GOLD results – up from SILVER gradings held by their respective pre-update guise.

ANCAP’s Commercial Van Safety Comparison assesses the performance of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) fitted to commercial vans to help buyers of these business and fleet vehicles understand how well-equipped each van is to avoid a crash.

Debuting with a PLATINUM grading, the LDV Deliver 7 enters the Commercial Van Safety Comparison with an overall performance score of 86%.

The diesel-powered LDV Deliver 7 is equipped with more advanced ADAS functionality than its electric sibling, the LDV eDeliver 7 - graded by ANCAP last year – with the traditionally-powered Deliver 7 demonstrating a higher level of ADAS performance. Testing of the Deliver 7 saw good performance scores across most crash avoidance technologies, particularly in test scenarios evaluating automatic braking at intersections – so the van can avoid a crash with a crossing vehicle.

Also entering the Commercial Van Safety Comparison for the first time is the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo. It achieved a PLATINUM result (80%). This result highlights the vehicle’s well-rounded active safety performance including AEB car-to-car and lane support functionality.

“With the LDV Deliver 7 and Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo achieving strong results on debut into our commercial van assessment program, it’s clear that safety is being prioritised by manufacturers bringing new-generation vans to market,” said Carla Hoorweg, ANCAP Chief Executive Officer.

Previously assessed by ANCAP in earlier specification guise, the Renault Trafic and Peugeot Expert have now been re-examined following specification upgrades that apply to vehicles built from October 2024. As a result, both the Trafic and Expert see elevated collision avoidance performance, securing GOLD safety gradings. The Renault Trafic scored 69%. The Peugeot Expert scored 67%.

The latest Renault Trafic now includes features such as pedestrian and cyclist-detecting autonomous braking. Performance of these aspects were assessed Adequate and Good respectively. A lane departure warning system is fitted to the Trafic, yet active lane keep assist functionality is not available. The new GOLD grading for the Renault Trafic 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 performance grading.

Similarly, the Peugeot Expert has taken a positive step forward, with an active lane support system and AEB car-to-cyclist now fitted as standard across all variants. The Expert delivered effective performance in the key assessment areas of lane support and speed assistance.

“It’s great to see active steps being taken to improve the safety specification of these vans, and the tangible results of those efforts. The elevation of the Renault Trafic and Peugeot Expert to GOLD shows excellent progress,” said Ms Hoorweg.

“Since our Commercial Van Safety Comparison was introduced, we have seen clear improvements across the commercial van market. Today, eight current van models hold a PLATINUM rating.”

BACKGROUND

The traditional ANCAP safety (star) rating program evaluates the safety of passenger cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles (MA, MB, MC, and NA category vehicles).

This Commercial Van Safety Comparison analysis has been undertaken as a parallel consumer information program to the star rating program to allow consumers and fleets to compare the availability and performance of active safety features across the commercial van market (NA and NB category vehicles).

The results from this analysis of ADAS performance do not replace or alter any existing ANCAP safety (star) ratings. Destructive crash testing does not currently form part of Commercial Van Safety Comparison assessments.

Full details on the performance of all commercial vans assessed by ANCAP can be viewed here.