Forward visibility could soon become a major safety issue for ANCAP, which could put current utes under scrutiny.
Popular utes such as the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux could soon be forced to redesign their big, bluff front ends in a bid to improve visibility and adhere to tightening Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) and Euro NCAP rules.
Proposed changes to the next set of safety protocols from the peak safety bodies could penalise vehicles for poor forward visibility – as seen with some current utes.
Set to come into effect from 1 January, 2029 – and with many fleet operators mandating a maximum five-star rating – this could spell the end for boxy and upright front-end designs that obscure forward vision for drivers.
Speaking to Australian and New Zealand media, Euro NCAP technical director Richard Schram said the new 2026 rules has laid the groundwork for a potential major overhaul of how the local market’s best-selling cars are designed.
“In the next step for ‘29, where we’re going to look at is direct vision, making sure drivers can see anything around them and even push it even further,” Schram said.
“So, what can you see from a driver’s point of view? And typically, there’s this big – you call them utes, right? – the really big pick-ups, you cannot see anything in front.
“They will be penalised, depending, we still have to develop the procedure and see what is feasible – in the US they are doing similar things.
“Even things like very thick A-pillars or big rear-view mirrors that are blocking your front view.”
Euro NCAP – and by extension ANCAP, who is aligned in safety criteria – is also looking to address the rise of SUVs and larger vehicles by potentially increasing the mass of the mobile progressive deformable barrier test.
Other areas under exploration include better representation of female body types by using more advanced dummies; further validation of advanced driver monitoring systems; smarter implementation of active safety; and more.
While Euro NCAP and ANCAP have just updated their safety protocols in 2026, work has already begun on the next set of changes due to come into effect in 2029.
The safety organisations will work on a consultation period with manufacturers and suppliers, as well as its own studies and assessments, to map the new potential rules before ratification.
Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
