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Hyundai Van & People Mover Gain 4-Star Safety Ratings


Hyundai Van & People Mover Gain 4-Star Safety Ratings

Author: NRMA Motoring & ServicesDate: 17 July 2009

Australia's fleet managers have been urged to ensure safety as a top priority in their purchasing policies, following the release today of two more 4-star safety rated commercial vehicles by NRMA Motoring and Services.

The tests, carried out by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), resulted in 4-star ratings for the Hyundai iMax people mover and Hyundai iLoad van. The vehicles were both awarded the rating following a crash test conducted at the South Korean Government testing facility under ANCAP protocols and supervision.

Jack Haley, NRMA's vehicle safety expert, welcomed the results and acknowledged Hyundai's efforts to produce safer commercial vehicles.

"ANCAP is seeing mixed results in its recent crash tests of van-style vehicles and these Hyundai ratings are good to see, given the importance of light commercial vehicles in transporting goods and people in and around Australia. These vans are the drivers of Australian small business and occupants should be afforded the same levels of safety as private cars," Mr Haley said.

"Hyundai has put considerable effort into improving the safety of its vehicles and the ANCAP results reflect that effort. Occupant safety should be an important consideration for fleet managers who no longer have any excuse to buy 3-star vehicles or worse.

"Of the seven box-style vans now rated by ANCAP, three earn a 4-star rating - the iLoad, the Mercedes Vito and the VW Transporter. The best-selling Toyota Hi-Ace has a 3-star ANCAP rating. No commercial vehicle currently has a 5-star rating, which requires excellent crash protection plus head-protecting side airbags and electronic stability control."

Dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic brake distribution (EBD) are standard on both the iLoad and the iMax. Electronic stability control is standard on the iMax, while the iLoad has ESC standard in New Zealand but optional on the Australian market.

Both held their passenger compartment shape well in the frontal and side offset tests, but there was lack of protection for occupants from the dashboard and the glove box support structures.

The 64km/h frontal offset crash test was conducted in South Korea under ANCAP supervision - the results apply to front occupant protection for both the iLoad and the iMax.

The iLoad van has a centre front seat that has a two-point seat belt and lacks the protection of an air bag, offering inferior protection compared to the centre front passenger seat.

The pedestrian protection rating for the iLoad was a disappointing 1 star out of 4.

NRMA Motoring & Services, July 2009.

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