Five-star ANCAP rating for Holden Barina

THE Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has confirmed that Holden’s new-generation Barina light hatch to be launched later this month, and the four-door sedan version coming in 2012, qualifies for a maximum five-star crash-test rating.

The result was all but sealed last month when the Barina’s European cousin, known as the Chevrolet Aveo, received the same star rating under the European NCAP program, which is based on a comparable test regime to the one conducted in this region.

Safety equipment on the new Barina, which succeeds the previous Daewoo Kalos-based Barina (that managed four stars in three-door hatch form), includes six airbags – including dual front, front side and curtain airbags – front seatbelt pretensioners, front seatbelt reminders, a pedal release system and head restraints and three-point seatbelts for all occupants.

Active safety features include electronic stability control (ESC) and ABS brakes with EBD.

As GoAuto has reported, Euro NCAP handed down a 95 per cent adult occupant protection rating for the new Aveo/Barina, plus maximum points in the side barrier test. Chest protection in the severe pole test was described as “adequate”.

ANCAP said this week that information provided by Holden shows that the Australian-spec Barina provides “comparable protection to the tested Aveo”.

The Australian rating sees it with an overall score of 35.43 out of 37. ANCAP said the Barina scored 15.43 out of 16 in the frontal offset crash test, noting that the passenger compartment held its shape well but that there was a slight risk of serious chest and leg injury for the driver and front passenger.

The vehicle scored 16 out of 16 in the side impact crash test and a further two points in the pole test. Bonus points were also awarded for the two ‘intelligent’ seatbelt reminders.

The separately rated pedestrian protection level was deemed “acceptable” (19.3 out of 36), with the bumper providing mostly good protection to the pedestrians’ legs. However, the front edge of the bonnet was described as “predominantly poor”.

While the bonnet provided protection in most areas likely to be struck by the head of a child, it was found to be mostly poor in those areas where an adult’s head would strike.

ANCAP chairman Lauchlan McIntosh said the rating “continued the growing trend of five-star-rated small cars available to the motoring public on the Australian market”.

“It is good to see this popular small car now achieving a five-star rating,” Mr McIntosh said.

GM Holden chairman and managing director Mike Devereux described the light car’s crash-test performance as “a great result and one that reflects the commitment Holden have made to make the Barina one of the safest small cars on the road”.

“We’re ensuring a large number of safety features are accessible to all motorists, not dependent on budget or car size,” he said. “Barina is proof of what you can achieve when you have access to the best design and engineering teams in the world.”

The redesigned Barina was styled by Holden designer Ondrej Koromhaz when on assignment at GM’s South Korean design centre between 2005 and 2007. Holden also had a hand in its development, although it was primarily engineered in Korea – where it also continues to be built.