Toyota’s move to introduce a semi-bonnet design for the all-new Hiace has paid off. It just scored a perfect 5-star crash safety rating according to the ASEAN New Car Assessment Program or ASEAN NCAP.

While this feat is certainly impressive, it’s worth noting that the model to achieve this perfect ASEAN NCAP score is the one fitted with 7 airbags, ABS with EBD, stability assist, and blind spot monitoring. In the Philippine market case, the closest is the Super Grandia variant, though even that model doesn’t have blind spot monitoring available.

The Hiace scored 46.31 out of 50 in Adult Occupancy Protection (AOP), 22.93 out of 25 in Child Occupant Protection (COP), and 20.27 out of 25 in Safety Assist Technology (SAT). Its overall score of 89.51 is enough for it to score a perfect 5 stars.

In terms of frontal impact, the 2020 Hiace scored “good” in head and leg protection, though chest protection for both front passengers remain at “marginal.” As for side impact, it scores “good” in all fronts.

The 2020 Toyota Hiace is tested under the ASEAN NCAP’s new 2017-2020 assessment protocol.

Under this new assessment protocol, instead of a separate rating for AOP and COP, a single rating system is introduced in which AOP contributes to 50 percent of the overall rating. Meanwhile, the new COP requirement comprises 25 percent of a vehicle’s overall safety rating, reiterating that protection for children is as important as adult protection.