ANCAP has released a fresh round of Commercial Van Safety Comparison results, assessing the latest vans on their active safety performance and driver assistance technology. The latest batch of assessments covers five commercial vans:
| Van model | Safety grading | ANCAP score |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Transporter | Platinum | 93% |
| Kia PV5 Cargo | Platinum | 91% |
| Peugeot Boxer | Gold | 77% |
| Fiat Ducato | Gold | 77% |
| Fiat Scudo | Gold | 67% |
Volkswagen Transporter leads latest van safety assessment
The 7th-generation Volkswagen Transporter narrowly outperformed the Kia PV5 Cargo, achieving a score of 93% and securing a Platinum safety grading. ANCAP noted the result aligns with that achieved by the Ford Transit Custom, with both vans sharing the same advanced driver assistance package.
The Transporter’s 93% result matches the highest-performing vans assessed under ANCAP’s commercial van safety grading program.
Kia PV5 Cargo debuts with Platinum safety grading
Making its Australian debut this week, the all-electric Kia PV5 Cargo has secured a Platinum safety grading with an overall performance score of 91%.
The result reflects the effectiveness of the PV5 Cargo’s advanced driver assistance systems, which were assessed under ANCAP’s latest commercial van safety grading criteria.
Also read: 2025 Toyota HiAce upgrade brings more safety, and a bigger bill
Fiat Scudo earns Gold on debut
Within the smaller NA van category (<3.5 tonnes), the Fiat Scudo has received an ANCAP safety grading for the first time, achieving a Gold rating with an overall score of 67%.
Like all vans assessed in this latest round, the Scudo comes equipped with key safety technologies including:
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Emergency Lane Keeping
- Blind Spot Monitoring
- Speed Assistance Systems
- Driver Monitoring Technology
However, ANCAP noted that the effectiveness of these systems varied across testing, resulting in a lower overall performance score compared with the Platinum-rated Kia PV5 Cargo and Volkswagen Transporter.
Peugeot Boxer and Fiat Ducato share identical results
Moving into the larger NB van category (up to 12 tonnes), the closely related Peugeot Boxer and Fiat Ducato delivered identical outcomes. Both vans achieved Gold safety gradings with overall performance scores of 77%.
A key safety feature remains missing in these vans
Four of the five vans tested do not feature Reverse Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB). This technology is designed to help prevent reversing collisions.
ANCAP noted that four of the five vans assessed do not offer reverse emergency braking, a feature designed to help reduce the risk of reversing incidents in busy urban environments.
How are commercial van ANCAP safety tests different?
Unlike ANCAP’s traditional 5-star crash safety ratings, the Commercial Van Safety Comparison program focuses specifically on the availability and effectiveness of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) fitted to commercial vans.
The program runs in parallel with ANCAP’s regular safety ratings and is designed to help consumers, businesses and fleet operators compare active safety technologies across the commercial van market, particularly NA and NB category vans.
Tested against the latest ANCAP criteria
All five vans were evaluated using ANCAP’s latest 2023–2025 Commercial Van Safety Grading criteria. Safety gradings are now available for 20 current-model commercial vans.
Bottom line
ANCAP’s latest commercial van safety assessment shows a growing spread of advanced driver assistance technology across the sector, though key features such as reverse emergency braking remain absent from many models.
The Volkswagen Transporter and Kia PV5 Cargo lead the pack with Platinum ratings, while the Fiat Scudo, Peugeot Boxer and Fiat Ducato achieve Gold grades. The results also show that while safety technology is becoming more widespread, features such as reverse AEB are still missing from many new vans.
Comments
New Comment