Mercedes-Benz Vito and Viano first to get five star safety
August 19, 2009 by John Cadogan
The Mercedes-Benz Vito van and Viano people mover are the first van-based vehicles in Australia to earn a coveted five-star ANCAP safety rating.
By John Cadogan
The announcement by Australasian New Car Assessment Program boss Lauchlan McIntosh took place at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne yesterday, two weeks after the final crash test that elevated the Benz vans from four stars to five.
According to ANCAP, compared with people in a five-star vehicle, those in a three-star car are 1.6 times more likely to suffer serious injury in a crash, while those in a one-star car face 2.4 times greater risk.
Mr McIntosh told CarAdvice, “One in every two fatalities in a poorly performing van could be prevented if the occupant had been in a four- or five-star vehicle”.
ANCAP test program manager Michael Paine put it more bluntly, categorising the star ratings as “five star”, “four star” and “unacceptable” in the pre-test briefing a fortnight ago.
When questioned, he said there is so much choice among highly rated entrants to make the purchase of a vehicle with three stars or less unjustifiable on safety grounds.
To earn five stars, vehicles must pass three crash tests – an offset front crash simulating a head-on collision at 64km/h, a side impact with a 500kg sled at 50km/h, and a pole impact with a 250mm diameter steel pole supported by an immovable concrete block. It must also come equipped with ESC.
This third (pole impact) test is applicable only to potential five-star candidates. The side-on impact takes place level with the driver’s head, and at 29km/h experts like Michael Paine say such a crash in the real world – into a tree or pole, sideways, at the same speed – would almost certainly be fatal in vehicles without curtain airbags or head-protecting side airbags.
Although the Viano is equipped as standard with curtain airbags, the Vito is not.
Ken Matthews, managing director of Mercedes-Benz’s Commercial Vehicles, says the company will consider fitting them as standard from January but says the van market is extremely price-sensitive.
At present a Vito with head-protecting curtain airbags is an $800 option on top of the vehicle’s $39,490 list price. The top-selling Toyota HiAce, which rates three stars, sells from $34,540, and the Mitsubishi Express, at a lowly one star, is priced from just $24,590.
Mr McIntosh says commercial vehicle safety ratings are an OH&S issue.
“There is a legal obligation on companies and fleet managers to ensure a safe workplace. We urge fleet purchasers to factor vehicle safety ratings into their purchasing policies,” he said.
The five-star Mercedes-Benz Vito and Viano sit above the Hyundai iLoad van and iMax people mover, and the Volkswagen Caddy and Transporter, all on four stars.
ANCAP has tested a total of nine vans, with the remaining five rating below four stars.
Print it: 
All very well if you can afford the ridiculous price Mercedes put on their underpowered vans.
Simon, you could buy two Mitsubishi Express vans for the price of one of these. You can leave one in your will when you die in the other.
Thanks for the kind sentiment Golf.
Obviously you don’t realize I’m actually thinking about putting my kids in a people mover and safety is a priority.
Safety – and winning lotto to pay for it.
Care to tell me how I can kill my kids in a Mitsubishi?
To Simon, I understand where you are coming from, I am not rich either. However, please do not buy a Mits van, or any van that you drive from the front. The reason is that you can easily die or be maimed in these vehicles, your children would then be fatherless. Can you put a price on your legs ?
or your life, or your kids lives, no I dont think so. Please re-asses your purchase.
or the latest three star Hiace. Good to see Mercedes is addressing commercial driver safety.Even Hyundai with the Iload offer better protection than Mitsu or Toyota.
IMO anything with three stars or less should be banned as a new vehicle on our roads.
Lil Red, are you suggesting Simon gets a van that he can drive from the back? Mmmm, all round visibility…not.
Well done to Mercedes for raising the bar with a five star van. I hope they market the hell out of it and make some sales so everyone else has to catch up.
Simon, if price is an issue then why not get an iMax or a Kia Carnival?
Good thoughts Alex.
I’m hoping the CX-9 will get the new diesel engine.
Otherwise the IMax is a serious option. Couldn’t bring myself to buy a Kia with all the horror stories and no diesel option.
I agree Philthy, well done Mercedes for raising the bar.
We should see other manufacturers following soon.
Then I can buy a reasonably priced, safe van!
Kia IMax horror stories?
Where did you invent those from, Simon?
Simon, FYI the Kia Carnival has a diesel option and it certainly doesn’t have any horror stories, it is the volume seller in the people mover market. The iMax is certainly an option, also has diesel, and is an excellent product.
Thanks David. Certainly helps to know what is out there.
Speaking of which, any chance of a people mover comparison?
Perhaps along the lines of diesels/petrols?
Simon, It’s certainly on our agenda and we will let everyone know when it is done.
Sorry to appear heartless or brutal, Simon. I’m not really horrible. It was just my overly-frank way of asking what price do you pay for something that’s not safe (the ultimate price!), versus the price you pay for something that is. Naturally, I hope you get something good for you and your kids.
Good job MB on making your vans 5stars but the sad thing is the blind sheep will still go out and buy a rubbish 3star Hiace instead. The price difference is only $5K any big company that buys Hiaces should ashamed of themselves.
Did this come in an update for the Viano?
fugly van
The VIANO owners will always safely
wait for his car, when it is the garage because
it’s broken down again and again and again