ANCAP has released new safety gradings for five commercial vans as demand for delivery vehicles continues to grow across Australia.
The latest results cover the Volkswagen Transporter, Kia PV5 Cargo, Peugeot Boxer, Fiat Ducato and Fiat Scudo, giving fleets and business buyers more information when comparing safety technology across the van market.
Unlike ANCAP’s traditional star rating program, the Commercial Van Safety Comparison focuses on the availability and performance of advanced driver assistance systems. It allows operators to compare active safety features across NA and NB category commercial vans, where load space, payload and cost are often the main purchasing considerations.
Kia PV5 Cargo debuts with Platinum grading
The fully electric Kia PV5 Cargo has arrived in the Australian market with a strong safety result, achieving a Platinum grading and an overall performance score of 91 per cent.
The result gives Kia’s new electric van an important fleet credential as businesses assess electric options for last-mile delivery, service fleets and urban operations.
For fleets looking to electrify light commercial vehicles, safety performance will be an important part of the selection process. The PV5 Cargo’s result places it near the top of the latest group of assessed vans and gives buyers another factor to consider alongside range, payload, charging and whole-of-life cost.
Volkswagen Transporter leads latest batch
The seventh-generation Volkswagen Transporter achieved the highest result in this latest group, with a Platinum grading and a score of 93 per cent.
ANCAP said the Transporter’s result aligns with the Ford Transit Custom, with both vans equipped with the same well-rounded ADAS system.
This will be relevant for fleets that already benchmark the Transit Custom as a strong performer in the light commercial segment. The new Transporter now enters the market with an active safety package that places it among the leading assessed vans.
Gold results for Fiat and Peugeot models
The Fiat Scudo has received an ANCAP commercial van safety grading for the first time, achieving a Gold result with a score of 67 per cent.
ANCAP said the Scudo is equipped with autonomous emergency braking, emergency lane keeping, blind spot monitoring, speed assistance and a driver monitoring system. However, the performance of these systems was mixed, resulting in lower overall capability compared with the Kia PV5 Cargo and Volkswagen Transporter.
In the larger NB category, the Peugeot Boxer and Fiat Ducato both achieved Gold gradings, each scoring 77 per cent.
Reverse emergency braking still missing from most vans
One of the key findings from the latest assessment is the limited availability of reverse emergency braking.
ANCAP noted that four of the five vans assessed do not have reverse emergency braking, a feature designed to help reduce reversing incidents in built-up areas where commercial vans are frequently used.
This is an important issue for fleets because vans often operate in high-risk environments including loading zones, depots, residential streets, retail precincts and customer sites. Reversing incidents can create safety risks for pedestrians, cyclists, workers and other vehicles, while also increasing downtime and repair costs.
What this means for fleet buyers
For fleet managers, the latest ANCAP commercial van safety gradings provide another tool to support vehicle selection.
Commercial vans are often chosen for payload, cargo volume, price and operating cost, but safety technology is now becoming a more important part of the business case. Active safety systems can help reduce crashes, protect drivers, lower risk exposure and support broader work health and safety obligations.
The results also highlight the growing safety expectations in the van segment. Buyers can now compare models based not only on whether ADAS features are fitted, but how well those systems perform.
ANCAP said all five vans were tested against its 2023-2025 commercial van grading criteria, with safety gradings now available for 20 current model commercial vans.
As online deliveries, service fleets and urban freight continue to expand, van safety is becoming a larger issue for fleets. These latest gradings give operators clearer information when deciding which vehicles belong on the next replacement list.
