Holden utes join the five-star crash club

Holden's Commodore ute has scored five stars in the latest ANCAP test results.

Holden's VE ute has gained a perfect score in the latest Aussie crash tests.

The utility is the first Aussie built workhorse to make the grade - with Ford's rival currently only meeting the four-star standard.

Ratings are given by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

"As well as the growing number of locally-made 5-star vehicles now competing with similar imports, we have just awarded Australia's first 5-star light commercial van rating and now the first 5-star ute," said ANCAP boss Lauchlan McIntosh. "this is great news for motorists and their families and even better that it is a locally-made vehicle."

This comes after two extremely poor showings for imported vehicles.

"This rating compares to other, recent ANCAP tests which have produced poor 1 and 2-star ratings," said McIntosh.

The Malaysian-made Proton Jumbuck only managed one star, and the super-cheap Great Wall Motors utes were awarded two stars.

"Those motorists who need a work vehicle such as a light commercial or a ute can now opt for 5-star safety in making their new ute purchase," he said.

- NZ HERALD STAFF