ANCAP sets a new safety benchmark for large pickups, with the Ford F-150 topping the chart!

Australia’s independent vehicle safety authority, ANCAP SAFETY, has finally turned its attention to the country’s supersized utes, the ones that take up more road than a city hatchback and still get parked in shopping centre spots like they belong there. The result? A first-ever Large Utilities ADAS Safety Comparison, ranking how well these big rigs avoid crashes before they happen.

And for once, it’s not just about muscle and towing capacity, it’s about brains, too! 

Why did ANCAP test large pickups?

With models like the Ford F-150, RAM 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and Toyota Tundra gaining popularity, ANCAP’s latest assessment addresses a key concern: how safe are these massive vehicles for everyone on the road?

“Larger vehicles pose a bigger threat to other road users than passenger cars,” said ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg. “The best way to reduce fatalities and serious injuries is to make sure they do the best possible job at avoiding a crash.”

This inaugural comparison sets a benchmark for large pickup safety, but also sends a quiet reminder: if you’re going to drive something the size of a small apartment block, you’d better make sure it knows how to stop itself. “There is community concern over the size of pickups when they’re driving in suburban streets, around schools, and in built-up areas,” Hoorweg added. “We’ve applied international best practices in safety testing to ensure manufacturers are incentivised to improve crash avoidance technology.”

The results? Ford F-150 takes the lead!

ANCAP tested five major players in the segment, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, RAM 1500, Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series, Toyota Tundra, and an updated Ford F-150, to evaluate their active safety performance.

The updated Ford F-150 outmuscled the pack — not with brute strength this time, but with the kind of tech that can actually think for itself. Scoring 81% and a Platinum safety rating, it sets the new benchmark for this growing segment.

The RAM 1500 wasn’t far behind, earning a Gold safety grading (70%), while Toyota’s pair, the LandCruiser 79 Series and Tundra, both earned Silver. Interestingly, the old-school LC79, which looks like it time-travelled from the ’90s, somehow outperformed the Tundra that was supposed to replace it.

The Chevrolet Silverado, on the other hand, came last with just 27%, proving that all that chrome can’t hide a glaring lack of awareness.

Note: The Platinum grading applies to MY24 Ford F-150 vehicles set for customer deliveries from Q1 2026.

Why do these results matter?

Large pickups are powerful, heavy, and, let’s be honest, a little intimidating. ANCAP’s latest testing makes one thing clear: size doesn’t make you invincible, and these trucks need smarter tech to balance out their sheer physical dominance.

• In the U.S, fatal pedestrian crashes involving pickups are four times more likely to occur during a turn than with passenger cars.
• Vehicles with bonnet heights above one metre are 45% more likely to cause pedestrian fatalities.

It’s not exactly reassuring when the bonnet of your neighbour’s truck sits at eye level with your toddler. By focusing on crash avoidance, ANCAP is hoping to keep both ute drivers and everyone else on the road alive, a fair ask, given how these vehicles are ballooning in both size and sales.

What’s next for large pickup testing?

This initial round of assessments will inform the development of a new testing framework for large utilities, with broader model coverage expected in 2026. ANCAP also plans to expand the scope to include physical crash protection, giving a complete picture of both crash avoidance and occupant safety.

“Performance did vary,” said Hoorweg, “but these results show a strong base to build from, and a clear opportunity for large utes to achieve the performance levels seen in passenger vehicles.” In other words, the big boys have some homework to do.

Growing popularity, growing responsibility

The timing of this report is significant. Australia’s love for large pickups has skyrocketed in recent years:

• Over 22,500 large utes sold in 2024.
• Sales of Silverado, F-150, RAM, and Tundra up 270% since 2019.
• Market share has risen from 5.9% in 2019 to 9.4% in 2024.

Originally designed for heavy towing and off-road work, these pickups are now commonly seen in urban driveways, used by families and tradespeople alike. That shift has amplified calls for stronger safety oversight, especially in suburban and school zones.

ANCAP’s expanding scope

For over three decades, ANCAP has rated vehicle safety across passenger cars, SUVs, and light commercials. Now, with the new Large Utilities ADAS Safety Comparison, it’s taking on NB and NA category vehicles up to 7 tonnes GCM, the heavy hitters of Australia’s road network.

It’s about time someone kept an eye on the giants. This expansion gives both fleet buyers and everyday consumers a clearer understanding of how safe their trucks really are, and puts pressure on manufacturers to deliver technology that’s as advanced as the price tags suggest.

Key takeaway

The 2025 ANCAP results make one thing clear: bigger doesn’t mean better, at least not yet. The Ford F-150 proves that even the largest pickups can be engineered to think ahead, while the Chevrolet Silverado shows there’s still a long road to travel in safety innovation.

As Australia continues to embrace these mega-utes, ANCAP’s new testing standard ensures they’re held accountable, because if you’re going to take up half the road, you might as well do it safely.