Top safety marks for Holden’s first imported Commodore

Little more than a week out from its official launch, Holden’s first imported Commodore has been awarded a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating.

The German-built ZB Commodore, which hits showrooms in February, achieves the same top safety mark as its Australian-made predecessor despite a stricter 2018 scoring regime that places more emphasis on active safety aids.

This is in part because all models – liftback, Sportwagon and Tourer crossover – will come standard with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and active lane-keep assist (LKA).

However, the result follows crash testing conducted not in Australia, but in Europe and involving a 2017 Grand Sport 1.6CDTi diesel version of the Opel Insignia on which the 2018 Commodore is based.

ANCAP says the five-star rating applies to all ZB Commodore variants available across Australia and New Zealand because Holden’s version of the Insignia offers “comparable safety performance”.

ANCAP chief executive James Goodwin said the Insignia excelled in all areas of testing, achieving a 93 per cent score for Adult Occupant Protection, 85 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 78 per cent for Pedestrian Protection and 77 per cent for Safety Assist.

“The vehicle scored well, achieving solid results across all areas of assessment,” he said.

“Australian families and fleet buyers have long regarded the Commodore as a trusted local choice and the shift to overseas supply has further enhanced the model’s safety credentials.”

In detail, the ZB scored 35.54 out of 38 points (93 per cent) for Adult Occupant Protection after scoring 7.08 out of eight points in the 64km/h frontal offset crash test, 7.52 out of eight points in the 50km/h side impact test, eight out of eight points in the 32km/h oblique pole test, 2.14 out of three points for whiplash (rear impact) protection and 2.81 out of three points for AEB City.

“The passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal offset test,” said ANCAP. “Chest protection of both the driver and passenger was ADEQUATE, as was driver lower leg protection.

“Protection of all other critical body regions was GOOD. All doors remained closed during the crash. After the crash, doors could be opened with normal effort. In the full width frontal test, protection was ADEQUATE for the chest of the driver and rear passenger and was GOOD for all other critical body areas.

“In both the side impact test and the pole test, GOOD protection was provided to all critical body regions.”

The Insignia also achieved a top ‘GOOD’ mark for Child Occupant Protection with 41.96 out of 49 points (85 per cent), Pedestrian Protection with 32.83 out of 42 points (78 per cent) and Safety Assist with 9.35 out of 12 points (77 per cent).

Under Euro NCAP’s new 2018 test regime, ANCAP said the Insignia’s AEB system, which is operational between 8 and 80km/h, “showed GOOD performance at the low speeds typical of city driving”.

It praised the ZB Commodore for being fitted as standard across the range with twin front, side chest- and side head-protecting (curtain) airbags, seatbelt reminders for all occupants, and lane departure waning and lane-keeping systems (above 60km/h).

However, it noted that no models are available with rear side chest/pelvis airbags, a fatigue detection or reminder system, pre- or post-crash safety system or rear cross-traffic alert, and that entry models lack blind-spot monitoring, auto high-beam, active cruise control and adaptive headlights.