Holden has enjoyed a long standing reputation of setting benchmarks in safety for Australian built large cars. Holden remains at the forefront of occupant protection, offering primary safety features which focus on accident avoidance, and secondary safety features which offer protection in the event of a collision.
Holden Commodore was the first Australian built car to introduce features like Anti-lock Braking System, seat belt pre-tensioners, Independent Rear Suspension, Electronic Stability Program ESP® and Electronic Traction Control.
Now once again Commodore leads the way by introducing standard side impact and curtain airbags for the driver and front seat passenger. Holden's unique 2 stage side impact airbags first protect the chest, then the head and neck. The technology behind the Holden developed side impact airbags is considered to be amongst the best in the world.
The side impact airbags deploy separately from the front airbags. They deploy in two stages, firstly at a 45 degree angle away from the occupant to protect the chest area, then upwards to protect the head and neck.
Holden's unique system has the side impact airbags in the outer seat bollard, so they are always in the correct position, regardless of front seat positioning.
The complete SRS system is designed to deploy only in a higher speed collision, thus minimising the risk of injuries that can occur in these instances.
The curtain airbag extends from the top of the windscreen pillar to the rear pillar, deploying through the headlining to protect occupants in the zone between belt line and roof line.
Holden has installed a new multiple point sensing system with two front and two side sensors to determine whether airbags should be activated.
In the event of the front seat belt pre-tensioners being triggered, the on-board computer switches off the engine ignition and the fuel pump, turns on the interior light, and unlocks the doors as soon as the vehicle stops, to allow access.
The side impact & curtain airbag system is standard across the complete Commodore and Statesman range.