BIG news in the VY Commodore SS safety story is the fact Holden's performance flagship now comes with side-impact airbags as standard, in addition to twin front airbags.

Belt force-limiting technology has been added to the front seatbelts, which also feature pyrotechnic pretensioning, while structural floorpan improvements are claimed to reduce the risk of lower limb injury.

Four-channel ABS is standard on SS, while Commodore's braking system offers a brake pressure proportioning valve. Falcon goes one better by offering electronic brake-force distribution.

Like all Commodores, SS offers five three-point seatbelts, plus height and angle-adjustable front head restraints.

There is no centre rear head restraint and no front seatbelt height adjustment, while outboard rear occupants make do with non-adjustable head restraints integrated into the rear seatback.

Other standard safety features include an improved traction control system (switch pictured), a rear power window override switch (also pictured), child-proof rear door locking and a single central child restraint anchor.