Rep Power: 594

A full range of U.S. crash-test results for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze are now officially available, and just as GM had anticipated, this new compact sedan gets top scores in each test—including, now, an excellent five-star overall rating from the federal government.

Actually, the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze does a step better than any model that has been rated: It’s the first model to get top five-star scores in every category of the new revised New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), which was revised for 2011 with a much tougher ratings system and more rigorous front and side tests, along with a new side pole test.
With these results, plus the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) results recently announced—including top ‘good’ scores in all categories and a 2011 IIHS Top Safety Pick accolade—the Cruze is by most the safest car in its class.

The Cruze had already earned top results in a number of other crash-test programs around the world, and GM has conducted extensive crash-testing on the model based on the revised federal tests.

The 2011 Cruze also includes a long list of safety features, and it’s the first car in its class with ten airbags, including knee airbags in front. Electronic stability control, Brake Assist, and a Smart Pedal brake override are also on the roster.

The news has prompted us to raise the Safety score in our full review of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze from a 9 to a 10. In its class, it’s definitely this year’s safety leader.
At the time of writing, these GM-released ratings had not yet been posted on the official NHTSA site, SaferCar.gov.



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