Nissan Townstar Earns Five-Star Status Under Euro NCAP’s Revamped Van Ratings
By adopting a star-based rating system for vans, Euro NCAP has reshuffled the safety leaderboard—and Nissan’s Townstar is now officially among the five-star elite, praised especially for its advanced crash-avoidance technology.
Euro NCAP has scrapped its former “medal system” for vans—bronze, silver and gold—in favour of the more familiar star-based hierarchy used in passenger car testing. The change immediately elevated the Nissan Townstar from its previous gold medal standing to a full five-star rating. The larger Interstar also reached five stars, while the mid-sized Primastar settled for four.
The Townstar’s strongest performance came in crash avoidance. Euro NCAP highlighted the effectiveness of its autonomous emergency braking, which recognises not only vehicles but also pedestrians and cyclists, even in low-light conditions. In testing, the system successfully avoided most potential collisions. Lane-keeping assistance also received praise.
A closer look at the scores, however, reveals a more nuanced picture. In the “Safe Driving” category, the Townstar managed 79 percent, with the Interstar at 73 percent and the Primastar at 68 percent. For crash avoidance, the Townstar scored 74 percent, while the Primastar lagged behind at 61 percent. All three vans achieved 80 percent in post-crash care, ensuring that occupants are not left entirely unaided after an accident.
That said, Nissan’s light commercial line-up still stands out against many rivals thanks to its strong suite of advanced driver-assistance systems offered as standard. Features that are often missing—or sold only as expensive options—in budget-oriented vans are already built in, giving the Townstar and its siblings a competitive safety edge.
