Five star Cruze

Holden's Viva replacement, the Cruze, has joined the short list of new cars awarded full marks in the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) safety test.

The Cruze will join the FG Falcon in the short list of Aussie cars awarded the full five stars when it hits the small car market in June, having earned 35.04 out of a possible 37 crash test points.

The points are collated through a series of internationally recognised crash tests that vary between offset frontal, side impact, pedestrian and pole impact. Cars can also award bonus points for safety extras like seat-belt reminders and electronic stability control.

The Holden Commodore Omega and Sportwagon range have also recently earned their full stars from ANCAP, an achievement that is becoming increasingly expected among the passenger car classes.

At Melbourne's show this year, Holden boss Mark Reuss described the Cruze as Holden's response to the growing small car market, and the high safety rating will validate Cruze as a viable option in the heavily competitive genre.

The Cruze will go on sale in Australia at two spec levels of a base CD and CDX, with standard ABS, EBD, traction and stability control, and six airbags.

Wheels test drives the new Cruze in the June issue, out May 25.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

12 May 2009 Cruze To Launch With Five-Star Safety Rating

The all-new Holden Cruze has joined the top-selling Commodore Omega sedan and Sportwagon models in receiving the maximum five-star Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) rating.

Holden will launch the all-new Cruze into the Australian small car market next month with the five-star safety rating following independent crash testing by ANCAP. Cruze scored 35.04 points out of a possible 37 in the ANCAP testing.

A combination of its high-strength structure and a host of active and passive safety systems make Cruze one of the safest cars in its class.

Cruze's structure has been designed to provide maximum protection including front and rear crush zones engineered to collapse in a controlled manner to absorb crash energy. A collapsible pedal assembly also helps to reduce the chance of lower extremity injuries to the driver in a frontal collision.

In addition to its extremely strong passenger compartment, Cruze includes a full range of active and passive safety systems as standard across the range including:

• Electronic Stability Control;
• Traction control;
• Anti-Lock Brakes;
• Brake Assist;
• Electronic Brakeforce Distribution;
• Six airbags including driver, front passenger, front side and curtain airbags; and,
• Seat belt reminders, retractor and lap pretensioners with seatbelt load limiters.

GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Mark Reuss said safety was at the core of the vehicle's global development program.

"We know that today's motorists want many things from a small car and that includes no compromises on safety," Mr Reuss said.

"Incredibly high benchmarks were set as the Cruze was being developed and the results show.

"This is a world-class car with a safety rating to match.

"We welcome ANCAP's response to Cruze's strong safety features."

Cruze is the first vehicle in General Motors' new portfolio of global products and enters the Australian market equipped with bold looks, a high level of standard features and advanced interior styling and comfort.

It will go on sale early June powered by a 1.8 litre four-cylinder ECOTEC petrol engine on the CD & CDX or a 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbocharged common rail diesel engine on the CD model.