Euro NCAP has put 18 LCVs through its updated testing regime, crowning the Fiat Ducato as the safest van, despite dropping from a Platinum to a Gold rating. The only other van to score a Gold rating was the Ford Transit which joins the Ducato at the top of the table.
Silver awards were given to the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Nissan Primastar, Renault Trafic, Volkswagen Crafter and Volkswagen Transporter. The Mercedes-Benz Vito, awarded Gold back in 2021, was also given a silver score under 2023’s stricter testing regime.
The Citroen Dispatch, Citroen Relay, Iveco Daily, Peugeot Boxer, Peugeot Expert, Renault Master, Toyota Proace, Vauxhall Vivaro and Vauxhall Movano all achieved a Bronze rating.
Only the Nissan Interstar fared poorly, rated as ‘Not Recommended’, thanks to its lack of basic accident avoidance technology.
Testing will get more demanding in 2026. Manufacturers will be expected to include the same advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as passenger cars, with the van rating only considering equipment fitted as standard across all European markets.
These new ADAS requirements will place a greater emphasis on vulnerable road users, including pedestrian safety, with a focus on night-time scenarios and cyclists and the introduction of one new van-to-car crash procedure.
“Safety technologies and innovative solutions are developing at a fast pace,” explained Michiel van Ratingen, secretary-general at Euro NCAP
. “Euro NCAP must develop its criteria to ensure that manufacturers maintain the impetus to innovate and make available the latest safety technologies in all vehicles on European roads. Just because vans are used for commercial purposes does not mean they should be any less safe than passenger cars. Under Euro NCAP’s plans by 2026, vans will be expected to meet the same ADAS requirements as passenger cars.”
Automotive risk intelligence company Thatcham Research — the UK’s only Euro NCAP accredited testing centre — welcomed the developments. Chief research strategy officer Matthew Avery commented: “As a society, our reliance on commercial vans shows no sign of declining anytime soon. When one of the millions of vans on UK roads is involved in a collision, impact severity tends to be higher than that of a passenger vehicle, which is why Euro NCAP’s rating is focused on the performance of safety technologies that avoid or mitigate crashes.
“With 13.5% of the whole vehicle fleet comprising of vans, it’s important that van drivers, and those sharing the roads with them, are protected. This latest set of results demonstrates that manufacturers are responding positively, and it’s of note that the UK’s most popular commercial van, the Ford Transit, secured a ‘Gold’ rating.
“However, the fitment of crash avoidance technology seen on vans has some way to go before gaining parity with the high levels of standard fitment we enjoy on cars today.”
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