{"id":5583,"date":"2013-11-27T17:22:24","date_gmt":"2013-11-27T17:22:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vanrental.co.uk\/vanblog\/?p=5583"},"modified":"2014-09-03T13:29:31","modified_gmt":"2014-09-03T13:29:31","slug":"latest-euro-ncap-results-show-van-safety-improving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vanrental.co.uk\/vanblog\/archives\/5583","title":{"rendered":"Latest Euro NCAP Results Show Van Safety Improving"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Ford

The new Ford Tourneo Connect is the first compact people mover to score a maximum five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests.<\/p><\/div>\n

The safety ‘star’ ratings provided for all modern car models are awarded by safety testing organisation, Euro NCAP<\/a>. For some reason, panel van models are not including in the testing programme, but the minibus\/people carrier versions of current van models\u00a0are\u00a0<\/em>tested.<\/p>\n

Historically, despite their size and solidity, vans haven’t performed very well in safety tests<\/a>, due to poor pedestrian safety and lower levels of safety assist technology. Those two trends remain a problem in the van market, but things are improving, as today’s test results show.<\/p>\n

Volkswagen T5 Transporter (Kombi): ****<\/h3>\n

The VW T5 is a perennial favourite amongst campervan owners and small businesses and has also had some notable fleet successes, including becoming the RAC’s standard van for a period, and being chosen by some van hire companies to fill their medium van segment.<\/p>\n

The VW T5 Kombi’s four-star rating is strong, and occupants of the vehicle certainly have nothing to worry about — the T5 scored 79% for adult occupants and 74% for child occupants.<\/p>\n

Pedestrian may not fare so well, however, as the T5 only scored 32% for pedestrian safety. To some extent this is inevitable with vans, which are always going to have a higher bumper line and a more steeply sloping front end than cars, due to the need to maximise loadspace and payload (which requires bigger tyres and a certain amount of suspension travel, raising the vehicle).<\/p>\n

What’s less excusable is that vans often come with lower levels of safety equipment than cars. VW scored a middling 57% in the safety assist category, as although the T5 Kombi it does come with electronic stability control as standard, there is no seatbelt reminder for passengers and no option for a factory-fit speed limiter.<\/p>\n

Ford Tourneo Connect: *****<\/h3>\n

The Tourneo Connect is one of Ford’s brand-new commercial models and will also be sold in van format. Ford has really raised the benchmark for LCV safety<\/a> since it started to roll out its revamped van range, and the Tourneo Connect has not disappointed, with a five-star rating that makes it the first\u00a0the first compact people mover to be awarded a maximum Euro NCAP safety rating:<\/p>\n