“Among the extra equipment items highlighted by van operators were anti-lock braking and driver’s airbag”

The range of Enterprise special editions has been introduced on key models following customer consultation carried out by Citroën. This highlighted a growth of the user-chooser sector in the van market – bringing with it a strong demand from customers for additional safety and comfort equipment. This growth in the number of van user-choosers has put pressure on all vehicle manufacturers to improve standard specification levels, says Citroën. Among the extra equipment items highlighted by van operators and user-chooser drivers were anti-lock braking and driver’s airbag.

Citroën responded to that demand by launching the new Enterprise special edition range, which features ABS and driver’s airbag, as well as a radio/CD player on two Berlingo models, two new-look Dispatch models and four Relay panel vans as standard. A Citroën spokesman says: “With the Enterprise range, Citroën now arguably offers the most competitive safety specification available of any UK light commercial vehicle manufacturer.” Two Berlingo Enterprise vans are available, both based on the 600kg payload model. They have the same recommended retail price as standard LX trim vans, but add £470 worth of equipment including ABS brakes. A driver’s airbag is already standard.

The new look Dispatch Enterprise boasts ABS brakes among other features for an additional £180 over the standard 1.9D 815kg and 2.0 HDi 900 kg vehicles. A driver’s airbag is already standard. All four new Relay Enterprise van models gain ABS brakes, driver’s airbag and a radio/CD player, worth £770, but the Enterprise vans are priced at £120 more than the Standard Relay vans on which they are based.

The Xsara Enterprise five-door car-derived van already has ABS and a driver’s airbag as standard.

“Among the extra equipment items highlighted by van operators were anti-lock braking and driver’s airbag”

The new Doblò Cargo’s comprehensive levels of standard equipment include an adjustable lumbar support to the height-adjustable driver’s seat, a driver’s airbag and seatbelt pretensioners. In addition, there is a protective, metal ladder bulkhead between loadspace and cab. A full steel bulkhead is also fitted to the SX versions.

The options list includes air conditioning, which is often regarded as a safety feature to further aid occupant comfort, passenger and side airbags, ABS anti-lock brakes and a fixed steel bulkhead with central glass panel. Fiat says the revised Doblò Cargo has passed tests in its own Safety Centre, which it claims are harsher than those undertaken by Euro NCAP.

Built into the bodywork are special crumple zones designed to collapse progressively and absorb impact forces. The cab also boasts side impact bars to the doors, and reinforced areas to the dashboard, floorpan and roof. In addition to a driver’s airbag and optional passenger and twin side airbags, occupant protection is further ensured by Fiat’s own patented fire prevention system. This involves the use of flame-retardant materials, and an inertia switch, which cuts off the fuel flow to the engine in the event of an impact. Also on sale this year is a revised Fiat Scudo van range. Priced from £11,200 to £13,785 + VAT, the rationalised and restructured range boasts new side panel and rear door protection strips across the range, which increase panel solidity and protect exterior body parts from low speed impacts in town traffic and during parking manoeuvres.

Designed at the outset with safety as a predominant theme, according to Fiat, the latest model improves on the previous vehicle’s credentials with an uprated braking system, optional side airbags (special order) and three-point seatbelts on all seats. The front brake system has been upgraded through the addition of 285 mm diameter and 26 mm thick ventilated discs, and the same type of callipers as fitted to the new Fiat Ulysse, improving brake pedal feel and significantly reducing stopping distances.

Fiat says the level of active safety features means that the new Scudo can handle any route in a predictable fashion regardless of payload. Optimum roadholding and performance are further ensured by the use of a mixed braking system, incorporating a servo and a brake power modulator on the rear axle. The result is a level of safety, particularly when complemented by ABS anti-lock braking, that can only be compared with that of a contemporary saloon, claims the manufacturer. Driver and passenger are enclosed in a rigid safety cage, which incorporates Fiat’s own patented fire prevention system.

This involves the use of flame-retardant materials and an inertia switch which cuts off the fuel flow to the engine in the event of an impact. Options on JTD versions of both Scudo Combi and Van models include ABS anti-lock braking and driver only or driver and passenger airbags to special order. A removable steel bulkhead is available on van versions.

Following the launch of the new Fiesta Van last autumn (Roadsafe: winter 2003/04), Ford has launched an addition to its Ranger pick-up line-up to meet increasing sales. The UK pick-up market increased by 35% last year and the new Ranger Thunder Super Cab model competes in the growing segment. The Ranger Thunder is for people who need off-road capability without compromising on style and standard features include ABS and air-conditioning.

“Driver and passenger are enclosed in a rigid safety cage, which incorporates Fiat’s patented fire prevention system”

Safety features are to the fore as the Japanese marque aims to meet the specific needs of its customers. Primastar has been developed very much with occupant safety and cargo security in mind. Disc brakes, head restraints, seatbelt pretensioners, side impact door bars and driver’s airbag are standard on all models and a passenger airbag and ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) are offered on Primastar SE.

An additional feature on the E model and standard on SE is the ultrasonic rear parking sensor. The Interstar is the first vehicle in its class to be fitted with rear ultrasonic parking sensors as standard. Developed to make Interstar parking easier and safer, these “eyes in the back of the driver’s head” detect objects behind the van when reverse gear is selected and give an audible warning to help the driver to judge distances. Every Pickup in the range has an airbag and pretensioner for the driver. The rear bench seat in Double Cabs has two inertia reel belts plus a centre lap belt.

All 4x4 Pickups come with a three-sensor, four-channel anti-lock braking system and Navaras get a passenger airbag.

Standard features on all Cabstars include driver airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, front energy absorbing-bumpers, front headrests and seatbelt restraint systems on outer seats. In addition, the medium and long wheel base models benefit from ABS. The Kubistar offers driver airbags, side door bars, driver tubular bulkheads and seatbelts with pretensioners. In addition the SE model offers ABS as standard. Standard features on the Terrano Van include driver and passenger airbags, ABS, EBD and front seatbelt pretensioners. The SE model also benefits from front seat mounted side airbags and active front seat headrests.

To maintain its competitiveness, and to bring the Expert into line with the latest legislative developments, Peugeot has this year updated the Expert with a number of changes. These include the addition of body side mouldings extending to the rear hinged doors places to protect vehicles in the event of minor “knocks and bumps” and the fitment of three-point seatbelts in all the central seats. In addition, the Expert has enhanced safety equipment available, including head/chest side airbags and larger ventilated disc brakes on HDi powered versions.

“The Hilux was made famous when the vehicle survived ordeals by fire, flood and falling tower blocks on BBC2’s Top Gear programme last year”

Few Hilux drivers can expect to encounter the kind of extreme hazards set up for the cameras, but they are now assured of a comprehensive package of safety features designed to provide protection in more everyday driving scenarios, says Toyota. All Hilux models are now equipped with anti-lock brakes and driver and passenger airbags as standard. Nine Hilux versions are offered in the UK, with Single, Double and Extra Cab body styles in four trim grades: EX, FX (Extra Cab only), GX and VX (both Double Cab only). Power is from a choice of two 2.5 litre D-4D diesel engines: 88 bhp with two-wheel drive or 102 bhp with four-wheel drive.

Both passenger-carrying derivatives can be ordered with either five or seven seats, and with a second sliding side door to complement the standard single version. Like all other Volkswagen commercial vehicles, ABS is fitted as standard on the Caddy range. Additional features include a driver’s seat height adjustment and a steering wheel that adjusts for both height and reach.

A full bulkhead, incorporating a solid lower section and plastic mesh upper section, is also included with every Caddy van. The load area is accessible from the back via twin rear doors. In addition, a sliding door allows loading from the side, while it is also available with an optional second sliding side door.