Van safety has long been overlooked, with many vehicles getting the absolute bare minimum in terms of protection. All the while passenger car safety improves as more equipment is released and tests get stricter. Vans, meanwhile, often had to make do with a single airbag at best.
This is slowly starting to change, though, and Euro NCAP’s introduction of commercial vehicle safety ratings in 2021 was a big step in the right direction.
However, rather than putting the vehicles through the same rigorous crash testing as the cars, the testers assess vans for their safety assist equipment. Partly because of this, they get a different set of scores to differentiate them from the ratings given to cars.
Where cars are given a star rating out of five, vans are given a colour-coded equivalent, with Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum all possible. Those that perform really badly, though, get a simple ‘Not Recommended’.
Rather than periodically assessing vans throughout the year, Euro NCAP has thus far updated its list once a year. Already in that time we have seen signs of improvement, with only one van marked as not recommended this year, which is much better than the first year when as many as five vans achieved that dubious honour.
What is new for 2023?
Euro NCAP toughened up its testing in 2023, demoting some older-rated models to worse ratings, such as the Fiat Ducato, for example.
The new criteria puts more focus on vulnerable road users, with a greater emphasis on pedestrians and cyclists. It also looks at night-time scenarios and has factored in an additional van-to-car situation.
Michiel van Ratingen, the secretary general of Euro NCAP, explains: ‘Safety technologies and innovative solutions are developing at a fast pace. 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.’
This level of development would be welcome, but would also demand a far higher level of ADAS equipment than is currently offered.
How have the results changed?
In 2021, Euro NCAP assessed 19 vans, which accounted for the vast majority of the vehicles sold in the European market. The Ford Transit, the Mercedes-Benz Vito and the Volkswagen Transporter 6.1 were all given Gold awards while the Fiat Talento, Opel/Vauxhall Movano, Nissan NV400, Renault Master and Renault Trafic were all marked as ‘not recommended.’ No vans hit the top standards required to get a Platinum rating.
In 2022 things improved slightly, with only the Nissan NV400 (now the Interstar) rated as not recommended while the Fiat Ducato stepped up from Gold to Platinum.
The Ducato has lost its Platinum rating for 2023, but this is down to the stricter ratings rather than a change to the van’s offering. It remains the highest rated vehicle in the list. The Interstar retains its position at the foot of the table.
Euro NCAP has recently announced its latest round of testing for 2024, which focuses mainly on more compact vans, with some particularly high scores recorded. It’s brought about a big change to this list, and we keenly await the verdict of the new Ford Transit Custom, too, which is on the way soon.
The below list isn’t every van that is on sale – to see the full list, head to Euro NCAP’s website.
7=. Citroën Berlingo/Fiat Doblo/Peugeot Partner/Vauxhall Combo – Gold
In joint seventh place we have the quartet of Stellantis compact vans – the Citroën Berlingo, Fiat Doblo, Peugeot Partner and Vauxhall Combo, all of which are broadly the same vehicle just with brand-specific styling and features.
Their safety performance is all on par, though, and the vans were each awarded a gold rating and 62% score. While good results were recorded for lane support, speed assist and occupant status monitoring, a ‘weak’ result in the emergency braking for cyclists category docked its overall rating.
6. Fiat Ducato – Gold
Last year the Fiat Ducato was still the safest van in Euro NCAP’s eyes, but a series of new entrants sees the model demoted to sixth position in 2024. Its gold rating and 63% safety assist performance remains unchanged, however.
The Ducato scored adequate and good in all categories with the exception of pedestrian protection. It also scored top marks for occupant status monitory.
5. Volkswagen Caddy – Gold
The Volkswagen Caddy is another small van to have been rated in the latest Euro NCAP tests, with the German firm’s entry-level van still being awarded a ‘Gold’ rating, and a 68% performance score.
Much of the Caddy is shared with Volkswagen’s cars, which helps to explain its positive results. Though scoring full marks for its occupant status monitoring, a ‘marginal’ rating in the speed assist category stopped it climbing any higher.
4. Renault Kangoo – Gold
Though the Renault Kangoo might be a sibling car to the Mercedes Citan, it didn’t perform quite so well in Euro NCAP tests. A 78% rating and overall gold ranking are still impressive, though.
Though not having any real weakness when it comes to safety, adequate ratings for its lane support and emergency braking for pedestrians stopped it climbing any higher.
3. Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo – Platinum
The Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo is possibly the most interesting van currently available, with its retro-inspired styling, excellent driving manners and long electric range working in its favour.
It’s also highly impressive when it comes to safety according to Euro NCAP, and is one of three new vans available to be awarded a platinum rating, and boasts an 83% overall rating. Full marks were recorded for its occupant status monitoring, but adequate ratings for the autonomous emergency for pedestrians and cyclists stopped it being rated higher.
2. Mercedes Citan – Platinum
Though the Citan might be by far the smallest Mercedes van available, it ranks the best when it comes to safety. With a platinum award and 87% rating, it’s very impressive indeed.
With the exception of an ‘adequate’ performance in autonomous emergency braking for pedestrians, it scored good in all other areas. Just be aware that a lot of the equipment that helps the Citan to be ranked so highly is only available as an optional extra.
1. Ford Transit Courier – Platinum
The Transit Courier might be Ford’s smallest van, but it’s certainly not compromised when it comes to safety, as it’s the highest rated van from Euro NCAP.
The Transit Courier is heavily based around Ford’s Puma car, and that shows when it comes to safety. It scored a high 93% rating overall, and recorded ‘good’ scores in all categories. Top marks were also awarded for its lane support, speed assist and occupant status monitoring systems.
And the one to avoid
Nissan Interstar – Not Recommended
The Nissan Interstar is the only van to be ‘Not recommended’ by Euro NCAP. This is down to the general lack of safety equipment – it scores n/a in four of the six assessment areas, with no AEB, FCW or a speed limiter, even as an option. It only scored 2.5/20 in the lane support systems category, and this kit is only optional too.
In short, it gets very little and is rewarded accordingly.
