I’ve remarked before on the tendency for new van models to score relatively poorly in the Euro NCAP safety tests, compared to contemporary cars.

Ford has somewhat bucked the trend with its all-new range of vans, but most manufacturers are continuing to specify their vans and van-derived MPV models with fewer, more basic safety systems than purpose-built cars.

Euro NCAP has just published its latest round of test results, which tend to confirm my theory, with even the smallest supermini car models outscoring several new van-derived MPVs:

• Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class: Five Stars
• Toyota Aygo (also Citroën C1 and Peugeot 108) cars: Four stars
• Renault Twingo: Four stars
• Nissan e-NV200 Evalia: Three stars
• Citroën Berlingo / Peugeot Partner MPV: Three stars

Let’s take a closer look at the reasons for these poor scores.

The MPV version of the e-NV200 only managed a three-star score in the latest Euro NCAP tests — compared to five stars for the new Qashqai.

Nissan e-NV200 Evalia

The e-NV200 Evalia is an electric people carrier version of the recently-launched e-NV200 van. Although the van model has won widespread praise from fleet trial users, its three-star safety test result highlights several weaknesses.

While Nissan’s new Qashqai model — similar in size — scored five stars in the same test earlier this year, the e-NV200 Evalia was let down by a poor 38% score in the Safety Assist category of the test, compared to 79% for the new Qashqai.

Although both models have an electronic stability system, the Evalia had a non-compliant speed limiter system, no seat-belt reminder for rear seats, and no optional lane departure or autonomous braking systems — all of which were available as standard or as options on the Qashqai.

Peugeot Partner / Citroën Berlingo

Citroën’s new Berlingo MPV model (which is identical in safety terms to the Peugeot Partner) also scored three stars in the 2014 Euro NCAP tests.

The MPV version of the new Berlingo scored three stars in the latest Euro NCAP tests.

Despite its larger size, the Berlingo scored just 56% and 74% for adult and child occupancy safety — compared to 80% in both categories for the new supermini C1 model.

The Berlingo also faired worse in the Safety Assist tests, scoring only 48%, against the C1’s 56%. In fairness, Citroën’s C-Elysée saloon model, which was also tested earlier this year, also scored worse than the new C1, suggesting that one cause for this might be the older origins of the current Berlingo design, compared to the C1.

However, I think that most consumers would expect a larger vehicle to be safer for occupants than a smaller car of the same age.

Should van drivers worry?

It’s important to remember that these scores are all relative — in reality, today’s new cars and vans are considerably safer than most older models. It’s just surprising that van-derived models seem to continue to lag car designs.

Things are generally improving, however — the Ford Transit Custom scored five stars last year in its Tourneo guise, while the VW Transporter Kombi and Mercedes-Benz Citan Kombi also managed four-star scores in last year’s test.

The main sticking point this year appears to be a relative lack of safety systems, such as lane departure and autonomous braking, in new vans — areas which are receiving greater emphasis in this year’s test.