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Holden ute scores five stars

The Holden Commodore utility has received the first five-star rating for any ute on the Australian market.

It is the first five-star rating for any ute on the Australian market, according to the latest Australian New Car Assessment Program. The top score comes just a month after two imports, the Proton Jumbuck and Great Wall Motors utes, scored one and two stars. The five-star results has been hailed by motoring organizations and the Transport Accident Commission.

TAC road safety manager Samantha Cockfield said after those disappointing results, the five-star rating was welcomed by the ANCAP partners. "This is great news for utility drivers, especially tradespeople, farmers and others who rely on utes for their work and lifestyle," she said. The ute result now means Holden has a five-star Commodore fleet.

The RACV's chief engineer, vehicles, and ANCAP program manager Michael Case said the rating meant more choices for drivers who need a workhorse vehicle. "ANCAP has just awarded Australia's first five-star light commercial van rating for the Mercedes-Benz Vito and now the first five-star ute, so those motorists who need a work vehicle can now opt for five-star safety," Case said. "Having a five-star vehicle in this category means Australians can buy more home-grown vehicles that are the safest on the road."

ANCAP council chair Ross McArthur said Australians would continue to see five-star ratings across a wider range of vehicles. "We know other local manufacturers are working hard to produce similar five-star utes for the Australian market and we look forward to testing those as they become available," McArthur said.

The five-star ANCAP rating applies to all Commodore ute models. In testing, the ute's passenger compartment held its shape well and provided good airbag protection for the driver and passenger and no knee hazards for the driver.