The Automobile Association and the New Zealand Transport Agency are applauding the continuing trend towards safer new vehicles, with another popular passenger car awarded a top safety rating by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).
The Automobile Association and the New Zealand Transport Agency are applauding the continuing trend towards safer new vehicles, with another popular passenger car awarded a top safety rating by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).
Stella Stocks, AA General Manager – Technical Services, says the 2009 Holden Cruze scored a five-star ANCAP safety rating and has a broad range of safety features which helped it perform well in ANCAP’s crash tests.
“The Cruze is an example of the type of passenger vehicle we want to see more of on New Zealand roads. The protection of drivers and passengers is vital, and cars being awarded five-star ANCAP ratings show that manufacturers are taking this responsibility seriously,” she says.
The Cruze’s five-star rating is the second for a Holden vehicle in less than six months - the Holden Commodore became the first locally-produced Holden car to receive the top safety rating late last year.
The Cruze passenger compartment maintained its shape very well during the demanding frontal offset crash test and scored well in the other tests. These good structural results are complemented with good performing safety equipment including dual front, side and side curtain airbags, electronic stability control (ESC) anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake distribution (EBD) and advanced seat belt reminders.
ANCAP is the first consumer crash-test organisation in the world to test the Cruze.
NZ Transport Agency Access and Use Group Manager Ian Gordon says it is pleasing to see manufacturers increasingly recognising the benefits of improving crashworthiness and including the latest safety features and technology into many cars.
“This latest result continues the recent trend towards five-star ratings for passenger cars, following the Ford Falcon and the Holden Commodore last year, and that is great news for New Zealand new car buyers,” he says.
Vehicles crash tested by ANCAP are scored on a scale of zero to five stars based on how well they protect their occupants.
ANCAP is supported by all New Zealand and Australian motoring clubs, the New Zealand government, all Australian State governments and the FIA Foundation. The AA and NZTA are both members of ANCAP.
Detailed crash tests are available on the websites of both organisations – www.aa.co.nz(external link) or www.nzta.govt.nz(external link)
For more information please contact:
Stella Stocks
General Manager – Technical
New Zealand Automobile Association
M. +64 21 772 242
or
Andy Knackstedt
Media Manager
New Zealand Transport Agency
T. +64 4 894 6285
M. +64 21 276 3222
