FIVE STARS FOR CRUZE, FIVE FOR SPARK

+ Click to Enlarge SURPRISINGLY SPACIOUS: The Chevrolet Cruze is a big step up from previous offerings from the Bowtie Brand's Korean subsidiary Daewoo. It's earned five stars in EuroNCAP testing.

November 27, 2009
By David Wilkins

General Motors' newest Chevrolets, the mid-sized Cruze and the smaller Spark, have performed well in the latest round of Euro NCAP crash tests.

The Cruze scored five stars, the Spark four – but apparently only one point below the 70 out of 100 required for the extra sparkler.

The Cruze was the first car to be subjected to the EuroNCAP tests to score maximum points on both frontal offset and side impact collision tests.

The company attributed the good results in part to extensive use of high-strength steels in the Cruze's shell and pointed to the active safety systems fitted to the car, such as electronic stability control and electronic brake-pressure distribution.

The Cruze and Spark are the latest models from the former Korean Daewoo operation whose products have been sold in Europe with Chevrolet badges since a GM takeover a few years ago.

If GM had gone ahead with its disinvestment from Opel and Vauxhall, the Cruze and the Spark would have been of central importance to GM in its efforts to maintain or improve its position in Europe; now the relative positioning of Opel/Vauxhall and Chevrolet, which to some extent occupy the same market territory, will probably have to be looked at afresh.

The Cruze, a sister car to the new Vauxhall (Opel) Astra (which also received a five-star Euro NCAP rating in these latest results) has been generally well received although it's been held back by, initially at least, being available only as a sedan.

The Spark will reach showrooms in 2010. - The Independent, London