I am not the only New Zealander with suspicions about the Holden Epica’s (or Daewoo Tosca’s) safety. Steve Vermeulen, writing for the AA, makes several disturbing observations.
   He begins:

Holden’s design and technical representatives were not able to offer an indication to how Epica compared with the Vectra in their in-house crash testing.

Given Holden claims to crash-test its cars extensively, then this probably means that the results will be bad for business, especially after the Barina (Daewoo Kalos) safety débâcle of 2006.
   Mr Vermeulen continues:

Active safety features are limited to ABS and Traction Control, no Electronic Stability Program (ESP) is offered.
   Given the Vectra at CDXi level offered ESP, as well as the importance Holden has placed on the VE Commodore and Korean-built Captiva offering ESP across their range, we feel the omission of the safety feature from the Epica range is a mistake.
   Holden’s Marketing department admits it was a difficult decision, but didn’t believe that the comfort and cruisey orientated buyer would push the handling envelope enough to justify including ESP. A feature that is included on range-topping models of even the most budget conscious of the Epica’s competitors.
   Perhaps Holden should’ve re-read their own 2006 press material that quotes TAC road safety manager David Healy on ESP technology: (source: http://www.holden.co.nz/press/article/78)
   “Consumers should vote with their feet. We are talking about (saving) 50 lives a year.”

   Sadly, it is more hypocrisy from Holden, which will only go to highlight the gulf between its billion-dollar Commodore and its rebadged Daewoos, damaging its brand associations extensively. As I have pointed out before (with subsequent discussion on a separate thread), this has negative consequences for the whole range.
   Mr Vermeulen even quotes Holden boss Denny Mooney:

The lack of ESP in the Epica also underrates the word’s (sic) of Holden’s own Chairman and Managing Director, Denny Mooney, who when speaking of the VE said[,] “The decision to make ESP standard was easy because it’s the right thing to do for our buyers” (sic)
   “We hope this will create the momentum which governments and road bodies have sought to push ESP further into the mainstream.”
   A shame Holden doesn't feel making ESP available at any level is right for Epica buyers.

   I’m not sure if Holden’s marketing department is even listening to the boss or aware they once had a precious commodity in the Holden brand, which saw its most recent heyday at the turn of the century.
   The dark days of the 1980s are being played out again with Australia’s Own. Posted by Jack Yan, 07:30  permalink

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