ANCAP has released new results examining how well large pickup trucks use crash avoidance technology, as sales of these vehicles continue to rise across Australia.
The first-ever Large Utilities ADAS Safety Comparison looked at the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, RAM 1500, Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series, Toyota Tundra, and an updated version of the Ford F-150. The focus of the assessment was on advanced driver assistance systems, also known as ADAS.
Larger vehicles, higher risk
ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg said the safety performance of these pickups has become more important as they become more common on city and suburban roads.
“Larger vehicles pose a bigger threat to other road users than passenger cars. The best way to reduce the potential risk of fatalities and serious injuries from large vehicles is to make sure they do the best possible job at avoiding a crash,” Hoorweg said.
“There is community concern over the size of pickups when they are driving in suburban streets, around schools, and in built-up areas.”
She says the comparison provides a benchmark for improving safety in this growing market.
“This first-look comparison establishes a benchmark in safety for the large pickups cohort and provides a path forward for manufacturers of these vehicles in creating better outcomes for road users.”
Vehicle performance
The updated Ford F-150 received the highest score, achieving 81 per cent and a Platinum safety grading. The RAM 1500 followed with 70 per cent, earning a Gold grading.
Both Toyota models were rated Silver. The LandCruiser 79 Series scored 55 per cent, outperforming the Tundra which scored 50 per cent.
The Chevrolet Silverado scored 27 per cent, resulting in a Bronze grading due to a narrower range of crash avoidance performance.
The Platinum result applies to MY24 Ford F-150 models due for customer deliveries from early 2026.
Rising popularity of large pickups
More than 22,500 large pickups were sold in Australia in 2024, and the segment’s market share has grown quickly in recent years. Sales of vehicles such as the Ford F-150, RAM Trucks, and Toyota Tundra have risen by around 270 per cent since 2019.
These vehicles were once mainly used for towing and rural work. They are now more common in everyday family and city driving, raising concerns about visibility, pedestrian safety, and the higher mass of these vehicles.
Next steps for testing
The results from this comparison will inform future ANCAP testing frameworks. The next stages could also include physical crash testing to assess how well these pickups protect occupants and other road users in a collision.
“We have applied international best practice in safety testing to this segment to make sure there is an incentive for manufacturers to improve crash avoidance technology,” Hoorweg said.
“Performance did vary but these results show there is a strong base to build from, and clear opportunity to achieve the performance levels seen in passenger vehicles.”
More results covering additional models are expected from 2026.
The full Large Utilities ADAS Safety Comparison is available here.
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