Poor crash-test results raise fears over Holden Barinas

The new Holden Barina earned just two stars out of five in Ancap testing.

Car safety specialists have warned of concerns about the new Holden Barina after the car did poorly in crash test results.

The latest model of the car, which went on sale in February, earned just two stars out of five in tests under the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (Ancap).

It is the lowest recorded rating by the programme for a small passenger car since 2004.

Almost 300 Barinas have been sold in New Zealand and Holden moved yesterday to allay fears, saying the car met strict safety standards and the test was just one measure of safety performance.

But Land Transport New Zealand said it was releasing the results because of the particularly poor performance, and the fact that the previous Barina model scored four stars in 2001.

John White, Land Transport NZ vehicles manager, said car buyers needed to be aware that it was a completely different vehicle.

"It is built in a different country and it does not provide the same level of occupant protection in crash testing as the previous model," Mr White said.

"New car buyers would not expect the new Barina to be a two-star vehicle when the previous model achieved four stars."

The new Barina, with a 1.6-litre engine, sells for almost $17,000.

When released, Holden said it would "shift the balance" in the small car market.

Stella Stocks, general manager of AA Technical Services, said most passenger cars and four-wheel-drive vehicles tested had achieved four or five star ratings.

"Manufacturers routinely achieve four or five stars in crash tests using current technology, so we would expect this technology to be used in new model vehicles."

The crash test involved a "frontal impact test" at 64km/h, where the vehicle hits a barrier head-on and a side impact test at 50km/h.

The vehicles also undergo a test to assess likely injuries caused to pedestrians by a vehicle travelling at 40km/h.

Brodie McClellan, Holden NZ corporate affairs manager, said the new Barina had undergone similar tests in the US and had received a five-star rating.

"While we are disappointed with the results, Ancap is only one measure of safety performance."

All Holden vehicles met strict Australian and New Zealand safety standards and the Barina came from a family that had sold 800,000 vehicles in 95 countries.

However, Land Transport spokesman Andy Knackstedt said the model tested in the US was a Chevy Aveo - the equivalent to the Barina - and had also received two stars when crash tested recently in Europe.

In New Zealand, the car was not actually an evolution of the older Barina but a re-badged Daewoo Kalos - a brand recently bought by Holden, he said.