The 2019 Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid vehicle, offers a blend of electric and gasoline power, providing an efficient and versatile driving experience. For those prioritizing safety, understanding vehicle crashworthiness is crucial. This article delves into the safety performance of the 2019 Chevy Volt, based on evaluations by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
The small overlap front test assesses the protection offered when the front corner of the vehicle collides with another vehicle or a narrow object like a tree or pole. The 2019 Chevy Volt earned a “Good” rating in this demanding test, the highest possible.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Small overlap front: driver-side | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/thigh | G |
| Driver injury measures – Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | A |
Despite the overall “Good” rating, there was an “Acceptable” rating for driver restraints and dummy kinematics. The IIHS noted that the dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but began to slide off due to excessive forward movement allowed by the seat belt. However, the side curtain airbag deployed effectively, providing sufficient forward coverage to protect the head.
Action shot from the IIHS small overlap front crash test, demonstrating the impact on a 2019 Chevy Volt.
Post-crash dummy position inside the 2019 Chevy Volt, showing the maintained survival space for the driver.
Dummy head movement in the 2019 Chevy Volt small overlap test, showing partial slide-off from the frontal airbag.
Assessment of leg and foot injury risk for the driver dummy in the 2019 Chevy Volt small overlap front crash test, indicating low risk.
Technical measurements from the small overlap test provide further detail:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 9 |
| Footrest (cm) | 4 |
| Left toepan (cm) | 2 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 4 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 1 |
| Steering column | 1 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 7 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 8 |
| Lower instrument panel (cm) | 7 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 103 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.1 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 11 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.18 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 19 |
| Femur – Left (kN) | 0.1 |
| Femur – Right (kN) | 0.6 |
| Knee displacement – Left (mm) | 0 |
| Knee displacement – Right (mm) | 2 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk – Left (%) | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk – Right (%) | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index – Left | 0.57 |
| Maximum tibia index – Right | 0.65 |
| Tibia axial force – Left (kN) | 1.2 |
| Tibia axial force – Right (kN) | 2.0 |
| Foot acceleration – Left (g) | 33 |
| Foot acceleration – Right (g) | 34 |
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original
In the moderate overlap front test, a significant portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a barrier. The 2019 Chevy Volt again achieved a “Good” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Moderate overlap front: original test | G |
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/foot, left | A |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/foot, right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
The ratings were predominantly “Good,” with an “Acceptable” rating for left leg/foot injury measures.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Footrest (cm) | 5 |
| Left Footwell (cm) | 6 |
| Center Footwell (cm) | 9 |
| Right Footwell (cm) | 8 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 5 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement – Left (cm) | 0 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement – Right (cm) | 0 |
| Steering column movement – Upward (cm) | 3 |
| Steering column movement – Rearward (cm) | -1 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 0 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 204 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 14 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.19 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 27 |
| Femur force – left (kN) | 0.3 |
| Femur force – right (kN) | 0.8 |
| Knee displacement – left (mm) | 0 |
| Knee displacement – right (mm) | 2 |
| Maximum tibia index – left | 0.83 |
| Maximum tibia index – right | 0.64 |
| Tibia axial force – left (kN) | 1.8 |
| Tibia axial force – right (kN) | 3.3 |
| Foot acceleration – Left (g) | 65 |
| Foot acceleration – Right (g) | 85 |
Side Impact Crash Test: Original
The side impact test simulates a collision between a vehicle and another vehicle impacting the driver’s side. The 2019 Chevrolet Volt once again earned a “Good” rating, demonstrating strong protection in side crashes.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Side: original test | G |
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | G |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis/leg | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis/leg | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
Both driver and rear passenger injury measures, as well as head protection, all received “Good” ratings.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | VTS1617 |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -18.0 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 366 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.7 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.0 |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection (mm) | 23 |
| Shoulder Lateral force (kN) | 1.4 |
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 32 |
| Torso Average deflection (mm) | 30 |
| Torso Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 2.73 |
| Torso Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.35 |
| Pelvis Iliac force (kN) | 0.8 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum force (kN) | 1.3 |
| Pelvis Combined force (kN) | 2.0 |
| Left femur L-M force (kN) | 0.4 |
| Left femur L-M moment (Nm) | 60 |
| Left femur A-P moment (Nm) | 95 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 228 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.2 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.7 |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection (mm) | 19 |
| Shoulder Lateral force (kN) | 1.1 |
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 21 |
| Torso Average deflection (mm) | 17 |
| Torso Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 1.31 |
| Torso Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.12 |
| Pelvis Iliac force (kN) | 0.5 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum force (kN) | 0.8 |
| Pelvis Combined force (kN) | 1.1 |
| Left femur L-M force (kN) | 0.1 |
| Left femur L-M moment (Nm) | 40 |
| Left femur A-P moment (Nm) | 150 |
Roof Strength
The roof strength test evaluates the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash. The 2019 Chevy Volt received a “Good” rating, indicating a strong roof structure.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Roof strength | G |
| Curb weight | 3,480 lbs |
| Peak force | 17,081 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 4.91 |
Head Restraints & Seats
Evaluations of head restraints and seats are crucial for preventing whiplash in rear-end collisions. The 2019 Chevy Volt’s manual cloth seats earned a “Good” rating in this assessment.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Head restraints & seats | G |
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
Technical measurements for this test
| Seat type | Manual cloth seat |
|---|---|
| Backset (mm) | 22 |
| Distance below top of head (mm) | 26 |
| Max T1 acceleration (g) | 15.1 |
| Head contact time (ms) | 58 |
| Force rating | 1 |
| Max neck shear force (N) | 33 |
| Max neck tension (N) | 401 |
Headlights
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime visibility and accident prevention. The IIHS tested two headlight variations on the 2019 Chevy Volt.
Premier trim with Driver Confidence II package (Good Rating)
This trim level, equipped with the Driver Confidence II package, features LED projector low beams and halogen reflector high beams, along with high-beam assist. It achieved a “Good” overall rating for headlights.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Headlights – Premier trim equipped with Driver Confidence II package | G |
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | G |
LT and Premier trims (Acceptable Rating)
The standard headlights on the LT and Premier trims (without the Driver Confidence II package) also feature LED projector low beams and halogen reflector high beams, but lack high-beam assist. These headlights received an “Acceptable” rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Headlights – LT trim and Premier trim | A |
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | No |
| Overall rating | A |
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems can significantly reduce or prevent accidents. The 2019 Chevy Volt offers optional systems with varying levels of performance.
Forward Automatic Braking (Superior)
With the optional Adaptive Cruise Control package, the 2019 Chevy Volt features Forward Automatic Braking, earning a “Superior” rating. This system successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests.
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
|---|---|
| Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle – Optional Forward Automatic Braking | Superior |
| System details | Optional Forward Automatic Braking |
| Package name | Optional Adaptive Cruise Control |
Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking (Advanced)
The optional Driver Confidence Package II includes Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking, which received an “Advanced” rating. This system avoided a collision at 12 mph and reduced impact speed by 5 mph in the 25 mph test.
| Overall evaluation | Advanced |
|---|---|
| Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle – Optional Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking | Advanced |
| System details | Optional Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking |
| Package name | Optional Driver Confidence Package II |
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
The LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) is evaluated for ease of use. The 2019 Chevy Volt received a “Marginal” rating for its LATCH system.
| Overall evaluation | M |
|---|---|
| Child seat anchors (LATCH) | M |
| Vehicle trim | LT |
| Seat type | cloth |
While the Volt has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware, and an additional position with a tether anchor, the system was deemed “Marginal” due to factors like lower anchors being too deep in the seat and requiring excessive force to attach child seats.
Details by seating position
| Position | Rating |
|---|---|
| 1 | Marginal |
| 2 | Marginal |
| 3 | Marginal |
Conclusion
The 2019 Chevy Volt demonstrates robust safety performance in IIHS crash tests, achieving “Good” ratings in key areas like small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side impact, and roof strength. Headlights range from “Acceptable” to “Good” depending on trim and options, and front crash prevention systems are available with “Advanced” and “Superior” ratings. However, the LATCH system for child seats was rated “Marginal,” indicating potential challenges in child seat installation. Overall, the 2019 Chevy Volt is a safe vehicle choice, particularly when equipped with optional safety features and considering its strong crash test performance.
