Two-star ANCAP rating for LDV van

The LDV V80 van that has been on sale in Australia since January 2013 has scored just two stars in a crash safety test conducted by ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Programme).

According to the results released in a statement overnight, the V80 rated 4.97 points out of a possible maximum of 16 for the frontal offset test at 64km/h. ANCAP observed that there was "a risk of serious injury to the driver's head, chest and legs."

While the V80 is sold with dual front airbags, it lacks side-impact airbags – a point ANCAP researchers picked up. Additionally, ANCAP pointed out that the V80 lacks seatbelt reminders.

Most importantly of all, and by virtue of being a commercial vehicle, the V80 isn't required by law to be fitted with stability control... so the active safety feature that is mandatory for passenger vehicles is not fitted to the V80.

"Under regulatory requirements the LDV V80 [and other light commercial vehicles (LCVs)] is afforded a number of safety concessions. Under the ANCAP assessment regime however, these concessions are not applicable," said ANCAP CEO, Nicholas Clarke.

"ANCAP requirements are more stringent than those of regulation. ANCAP applies the same standards to both light commercial and light passenger vehicles. This is vital in providing consumers with transparent and easily comparable safety ratings – whether they be looking to buy for commercial or private purposes."

"More has to be done to encourage manufacturers to increase the level of safety provided in LCVs. Even newly released commercial vehicles are providing safety features as optional extras. The question is: Why?"

"The safety of those travelling in commercial vehicles is no less important than those travelling in passenger cars," Clarke concluded.

The V80 is a major reworking of a design that first saw the light of day back in the 1980s as the Leyland Sherpa, built jointly with DAF. Initially imported and distributed here by WMC Holdings, the LDV brand is now handled by Ateco Automotive, which recently introduced the smaller and more modern G10 model.