Five commercial vans have received updated safety gradings in ANCAP’s latest Commercial Van Safety Comparison, with the results showing continued improvements in active safety technology across the light commercial vehicle market.
The Volkswagen Transporter achieved the highest overall score at 93 per cent, closely followed by the all-electric Kia PV5 Cargo on 91 per cent. The Peugeot Boxer, Fiat Ducato and Fiat Scudo each received Gold gradings.
Unlike ANCAP’s traditional star rating program, the Commercial Van Safety Comparison focuses on the availability and performance of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and collision avoidance technologies fitted to light commercial vans.
| Model | Safety Grading | Overall Score |
| Volkswagen Transporter | Platinum | 93% |
| Kia PV5 Cargo | Platinum | 91% |
| Fiat Ducato | Gold | 77% |
| Peugeot Boxer | Gold | 77% |
| Fiat Scudo | Gold | 67% |
Platinum performers set the benchmark
The seventh-generation Volkswagen Transporter recorded the highest score in the latest assessment cycle, earning a Platinum grading with an overall performance score of 93 per cent. ANCAP noted the Transporter delivered good performance across all assessed safety categories and improved significantly on the previous-generation model, which achieved a Silver grading in 2022.
The fully electric Kia PV5 Cargo, which enters the Australian market this month, also secured a Platinum grading with a score of 91 per cent. ANCAP found the van delivered good performance across most autonomous emergency braking, lane support, and speed assistance tests, with adequate results recorded in pedestrian detection scenarios.
Gold gradings for Fiat and Peugeot vans
The Fiat Ducato and Peugeot Boxer each achieved Gold gradings with scores of 77 per cent.
ANCAP found both large vans delivered adequate performance in vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian autonomous emergency braking tests, while cyclist detection, lane support and speed assistance systems performed well. Both models also benefit from updated active safety technology compared with earlier versions.
The Peugeot Boxer showed one of the biggest improvements in the latest assessment. Previously graded Bronze when assessed in 2020, updated vehicles built from July 2025 now include pedestrian and cyclist-detecting autonomous emergency braking and driver monitoring systems, lifting the vehicle to a Gold rating.
The Fiat Scudo achieved a Gold grading with a score of 67 per cent in its first ANCAP commercial van assessment. While equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety technologies, ANCAP found its performance varied across testing scenarios, particularly in vehicle and pedestrian detection tests where performance was rated marginal.
Reverse emergency braking remains uncommon
A key finding from the latest assessment was the limited availability of reverse autonomous emergency braking technology.
Four of the five vans assessed did not offer AEB Backover functionality, a feature designed to help prevent reversing collisions in urban and commercial operating environments. The Volkswagen Transporter was the only van in this assessment group to include reverse emergency braking as standard equipment across all variants.
Key safety technology availability
| Feature | VW Transporter | Kia PV5 Cargo | Fiat Ducato | Peugeot Boxer | Fiat Scudo |
| AEB Car-to-Car | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| AEB Pedestrian | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| AEB Cyclist | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| AEB Backover | Standard | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available |
| Blind Spot Monitoring | Standard | Standard | Optional* | Optional* | Standard |
| Driver Monitoring System | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
*Optional on some base variants
The latest results expand ANCAP’s Commercial Van Safety Comparison program to 20 current-model vans, providing fleet operators and business buyers with a broader range of independent safety information when comparing commercial vehicles.
The safety reports for these commercial vans can be found below:
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