Three vans go platinum
ANCAP has published new gradings for the Ford Transit, Toyota Hiace and Farizon SV after the latest round of commercial van safety-comparison assessments.
The full-size Transit, pictured, has achieved a platinum rating with an overall collision-avoidance score of 93 per cent. This surpasses scores achieved by all previously assessed NB category vans, including the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and eSprinter assessed in 2024.
The blue oval now holds the highest scores across the NA and NB categories, following the Transit Custom’s platinum grading in the smaller van class.
The Transit comes with more comprehensive ADAS systems than its predecessor. It includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) – car-to-car, pedestrian, cyclist and backover – lane support with emergency-lane keeping, speed assistance and driver monitoring as standard. The previous Transit, assessed in 2020, achieved a gold grading.
The recently updated Hiace has achieved platinum with a crash-avoidance score of 90 per cent. This improved on gold held by earlier models. The new grading applies to van and crew-van variants produced from June 2025.
Testing showed the Hiace is equipped with collision-avoidance systems equivalent to Toyota’s passenger cars, delivering robust AEB and lane-support performance and resulting in full points for its forward car-to-car detection, intervention and lane keeping.
The Farizon SV, a battery electric model, has made its down-under debut with a platinum grading. It reached an overall score of 84 per cent. The Farizon’s first entree into ANCAP assessments delivered high levels of overall performance with some limitations noted, such as the lack of AEB backover and speed-assistance system.
“Ford’s Transit has set a new benchmark for active-safety performance among the larger commercial vans segment,” says ANCAP’s chief executive officer, Carla Hoorweg.
“The updated Hiace demonstrates great progress in the smaller van segment with model improvements delivering a balanced and high-performing result. Farizon’s entry reflects the high standard consumers and fleets expect straight out of the box. This is an encouraging first showing and adds to the growing range of safe e-vans now available.”
