Chevrolet Cruze Receives Maximum Five-Star Safety Rating in Europe

• Highest score ever in frontal and side collision tests in EuroNCAP history
• The new Chevrolet Cruze is runner-up in adult occupant protection this year

Zurich. The Chevrolet Cruze global compact sedan has earned the top rating of five stars from the European New Car Assessment Program (EuroNCAP), which released its latest safety ratings today.

According to EuroNCAP, the Cruze scored 79 points out of 100, making it one of the safest models in the passenger car class. The Cruze achieved 96 percent in adult occupant protection, making it the runner-up this year and beating all tested premium brands.

The Cruze received a maximum 16 points in the frontal offset collision test and a maximum 8 points in the side impact crash test against a moving deformable barrier. The Cruze is the first passenger car to receive maximum scores in both tests since EuroNCAP began providing crash test ratings in 1997.

The independent European testing organization also awarded Chevrolet's new compact sedan a high score of 7.3 out of 8 points in the more severe side pole test, indicating that the Cruze's reinforced side shell helps protect passengers in the event of a side collision. The Cruze's headrests were well positioned to absorb crash energy against whiplash in a rear-end collision. The Cruze was also given high marks for child and pedestrian protection during testing.

"We are pleased with the Cruze's outstanding safety rating," said Wayne Brannon, President and Managing Director, Chevrolet Europe. "Today's results confirm that the Cruze offers benchmark safety. This complements its bold styling, excellent ride and handling, and outstanding value for money."

The Cruze had earlier received best-in-class, five-star crash safety ratings in Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) testing in Australia and Chinese New Car Assessment Program (C-NCAP) testing in China.

The Cruze's safety begins with its solid body structure. The Cruze features a new body-frame integral (BFI) system supplemented with finely tuned chassis components. With the BFI system, the upper body structure and frame are engineered as a single unit, offering a heightened sense of solidity and stability.

Sixty-four percent of the structure is constructed of high-strength steel, offering a high level of protection. Reinforcing the door and locker seal applications, the use of ultra-high-strength steel for the B-pillars and the efficient aluminum bumper application further ensure maximum safety.

The Cruze features as standard a full range of active and passive safety features usually found only on more expensive vehicles, including:

• Electronic Stability Control
• Traction control
• Anti-lock brakes
• Brake assist
• Electronic Brake-Force Distribution
• Six air bags, including driver, front passenger, front side and curtain air bags
• Seat-belt reminders, retractors and lap pretensioners with seat-belt load limiters

The Cruze is a member of Chevrolet's new range of small, compact and mid-size products being rolled out in markets around the world. It is or will be built in Korea, Russia and the United States, and sold in over 130 countries around the world.

For more information on EuroNCAP's safety ratings, go to www.euroncap.com.