ANCAP has applauded the new Toyota Hiace for setting a new benchmark in vehicular workplace safety having awarded it five stars in crash test assessment.
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program found the new Hiace worthy of high scores in all categories, especially the tech-centric ‘safety assist’ criteria which scrutinises crash avoidance features.
Hiace, Australia’s best-selling commercial van, scores of 94% for ‘Adult Occupant Protection’ including frontal offset, full-width, oblique pole and side-impact destructive tests, 88% for ‘Child Occupant Protection’, 84% for ‘Vulnerable Road User Protection’ and 77% for ‘Safety Assist’.
The five-star rating applies to all variants including two-seater long-wheelbase and super long-wheelbase, and five-seater crew van, and applies to all New Zealand market variants.
Hiace’s low-speed ‘city’ autonomous emergency braking earns a perfect 4/4 and 2.43/3 for AEB ‘interurban’.
ANCAP chief executive James Goodwin says the light commercial market has a new safety hero, although it isn’t perfect.
“For many, the vehicle is their workplace and Toyota should be applauded for providing the same level of safety in the HiAce as we see in today’s passenger cars and SUVs,” he says.
““This is a landmark achievement for the Commercial Van segment – this rating shows a new level of market maturity, with modern safety design being prioritised by the majority vehicle brands regardless of the segment or intended use of the vehicle,” Goodwin explains.
