The 2019 Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid praised for its fuel efficiency and electric driving range, has undergone rigorous safety testing. This report, based on evaluations from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), delves into the Chevy Volt’s safety performance in various crash scenarios and headlight effectiveness. Understanding these ratings is crucial for any prospective buyer prioritizing safety.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a barrier. This is a challenging test that assesses how well the car’s structure and safety systems protect the driver in such severe frontal impacts.
Rating: Good
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Hip/Thigh | Good (G) |
| Lower Leg/Foot | Good (G) |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | Acceptable (A) |
The 2019 Chevy Volt earned a “Good” rating in the small overlap front crash test, indicating a strong structural performance and good protection for most body regions. However, the “Acceptable” rating for driver restraints and dummy kinematics suggests an area for potential improvement. The test noted that while the dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag, it slid off to the side due to excessive forward movement allowed by the seatbelt. The side curtain airbag performed as expected, providing adequate head protection from side impacts.
Technical Measurements – Small Overlap Front Test
| Measures of Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side) | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| Lower Hinge Pillar Max | 9 |
| Footrest | 4 |
| Left Toepan | 2 |
| Brake Pedal | 4 |
| Rocker Panel Lateral Average | 1 |
| Steering Column | 1 |
| Upper Hinge Pillar Max | 7 |
| Upper Dash | 8 |
| Lower Instrument Panel | 7 |
| Driver Injury Measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 103 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | No Contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.1 |
| Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 11 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.18 |
| Chest | Maximum Compression (mm) |
| Femur | Left (kN) |
| Right (kN) | |
| Knee Displacement | Left (mm) |
| Right (mm) | |
| Knee-Thigh-Hip Injury Risk | Left (%) |
| Right (%) | |
| Maximum Tibia Index | Left |
| Right | |
| Tibia Axial Force | Left (kN) |
| Right (kN) | |
| Foot Acceleration | Left (g) |
| Right (g) |
Learn more about the small overlap front test methodology.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
In the moderate overlap front crash test, a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a deformable barrier at 40 mph. This test is designed to represent a typical frontal collision between two vehicles.
Rating: Good
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good (G) |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Leg/Foot, Left | Acceptable (A) |
| Leg/Foot, Right | Good (G) |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | Good (G) |
The 2019 Chevy Volt again achieved a “Good” overall rating in the moderate overlap front crash test. All critical injury measures for the head, neck, and chest were rated “Good.” The “Acceptable” rating for the left leg/foot area indicates a slightly higher risk of injury in that specific region compared to the right leg/foot, which received a “Good” rating.
Technical Measurements – Moderate Overlap Front Test
| Measures of Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side) | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| Footwell Intrusion | |
| Footrest | 5 |
| Left | 6 |
| Center | 9 |
| Right | 8 |
| Brake Pedal | 5 |
| Instrument Panel Rearward Movement | Left |
| Right | |
| Steering Column Movement | Upward |
| Rearward | |
| A-Pillar Rearward Movement |
| Driver Injury Measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 204 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | No Contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 14 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.19 |
| Chest | Maximum Compression (mm) |
| Legs | Femur Force – Left (kN) |
| Femur Force – Right (kN) | |
| Knee Displacement – Left (mm) | |
| Knee Displacement – Right (mm) | |
| Maximum Tibia Index | Left |
| Right | |
| Tibia Axial Force | Left (kN) |
| Right (kN) | |
| Foot Acceleration | Left (g) |
| Right (g) |
Learn more about the original moderate overlap front test methodology.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original Test
The side impact test evaluates vehicle safety in a T-bone style collision. A moving deformable barrier strikes the driver’s side of the vehicle to assess occupant protection.
Rating: Good
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good (G) |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Torso | Good (G) |
| Pelvis/Leg | Good (G) |
| Driver Head Protection | Good (G) |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Torso | Good (G) |
| Pelvis/Leg | Good (G) |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | Good (G) |
The 2019 Chevy Volt demonstrated excellent side impact protection, earning “Good” ratings across all categories for both driver and rear passenger injury measures. This indicates robust protection in side collision scenarios.
Technical Measurements – Side Impact Test
| Measures of Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side) | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| B-Pillar to Longitudinal Centerline of Driver’s Seat | -18.0 |
| Driver Injury Measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 366 |
| Neck | Tension (kN) |
| Compression (kN) | |
| Shoulder | Lateral Deflection (mm) |
| Lateral Force (kN) | |
| Torso | Maximum Deflection (mm) |
| Average Deflection (mm) | |
| Maximum Deflection Rate (m/s) | |
| Maximum Viscous Criterion (m/s) | |
| Pelvis | Iliac Force (kN) |
| Acetabulum Force (kN) | |
| Combined Force (kN) | |
| Left Femur | L-M Force (kN) |
| L-M Moment (Nm) | |
| A-P Moment (Nm) |
| Passenger Injury Measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 228 |
| Neck | Tension (kN) |
| Compression (kN) | |
| Shoulder | Lateral Deflection (mm) |
| Lateral Force (kN) | |
| Torso | Maximum Deflection (mm) |
| Average Deflection (mm) | |
| Maximum Deflection Rate (m/s) | |
| Maximum Viscous Criterion (m/s) | |
| Pelvis | Iliac Force (kN) |
| Acetabulum Force (kN) | |
| Combined Force (kN) | |
| Left Femur | L-M Force (kN) |
| L-M Moment (Nm) | |
| A-P Moment (Nm) |
Learn more about the original side crash test methodology.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test measures the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash. The strength-to-weight ratio is a key metric, indicating how many times the vehicle’s weight the roof can support before significant crush.
Rating: Good
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good (G) |
| Curb Weight | 3,480 lbs |
| Peak Force | 17,081 lbs |
| Strength-to-Weight Ratio | 4.91 |
The 2019 Chevy Volt earned a “Good” rating in roof strength, with a strength-to-weight ratio of 4.91. This means the roof can withstand almost five times the vehicle’s weight, providing strong protection in rollover accidents.
Learn more about the roof strength test methodology.
Head Restraints & Seats
Head restraints and seats are evaluated for their ability to protect against neck injuries in rear-end collisions. A good rating indicates effective protection against whiplash.
Rating: Good
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good (G) |
| Dynamic Rating | Good (G) |
| Seat/Head Restraint Geometry | Good (G) |
The 2019 Chevy Volt’s head restraints and seats received a “Good” rating, indicating effective design to minimize whiplash injuries in rear impacts.
Technical Measurements – Head Restraints & Seats
| Seat Type | Manual Cloth Seat |
|---|---|
| Geometry | |
| Backset (mm) | 22 |
| Distance Below Top of Head (mm) | 26 |
| Seat Design Parameters | |
| Pass/Fail | Pass |
| Max T1 Acceleration (g) | 15.1 |
| Head Contact Time (ms) | 58 |
| Force Rating | 1 |
| Neck Forces | |
| Max Neck Shear Force (N) | 33 |
| Max Neck Tension (N) | 401 |
Learn more about the head restraint & seat test methodology.
Headlight Ratings
Headlight performance is crucial for nighttime driving safety. The IIHS evaluates headlights based on visibility and glare in various driving scenarios. The 2019 Chevy Volt has two headlight variations tested.
Premier Trim with Driver Confidence II Package
Rating: Good
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-Beam Headlight Type | LED Projector |
| High-Beam Headlight Type | Halogen Reflector |
| Curve-Adaptive? | No |
| High-Beam Assist? | Yes |
| Overall Rating | Good (G) |
The Premier trim of the 2019 Chevy Volt, when equipped with the Driver Confidence II package, features LED projector low beams and halogen reflector high beams with high-beam assist. This headlight system achieved a “Good” overall rating. Low beams provided good to fair visibility on straightaways and curves, and high-beam assist compensates for some low-beam limitations.
LT and Premier Trims (Standard Headlights)
Rating: Acceptable
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-Beam Headlight Type | LED Projector |
| High-Beam Headlight Type | Halogen Reflector |
| Curve-Adaptive? | No |
| High-Beam Assist? | No |
| Overall Rating | Acceptable (A) |
The standard headlight system on the LT and Premier trims, featuring LED projector low beams and halogen reflector high beams without high-beam assist, received an “Acceptable” rating. While low beams performed similarly to the upgraded system, the lack of high-beam assist and potentially slightly different high-beam performance resulted in the lower overall rating.
Learn more about headlight evaluation methodology.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems are tested for their effectiveness in avoiding or mitigating collisions with other vehicles. The IIHS tests both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention systems. The 2019 Chevy Volt offers optional front crash prevention features.
Optional Forward Automatic Braking (Adaptive Cruise Control Package)
Rating: Superior
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Superior |
When equipped with optional Forward Automatic Braking as part of the Adaptive Cruise Control package, the 2019 Chevy Volt earned a “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. The system successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests and meets forward collision warning requirements.
Optional Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking (Driver Confidence Package II)
Rating: Advanced
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Advanced |
With the optional Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking included in the Driver Confidence Package II, the 2019 Chevy Volt achieved an “Advanced” rating. This system also avoided a collision in the 12 mph test and reduced impact speed by 5 mph in the 25 mph test, while also meeting forward collision warning requirements.
Learn more about the original front crash prevention test methodology.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
The ease of use of LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) systems for installing child safety seats is assessed. A higher rating indicates that the vehicle’s LATCH system is easier to use.
Rating: Marginal
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Marginal (M) |
The 2019 Chevy Volt’s LATCH system received a “Marginal” rating. While the vehicle has LATCH hardware in multiple seating positions, certain aspects, such as the lower anchors being too deep in the seat and requiring excessive force to attach, contributed to the lower rating.
LATCH System Details
| Seating Position | Tether Anchor | Lower Anchors |
|---|---|---|
| Position 1 | Easy-to-find location, other hardware could be confused for anchor | Too deep in seat, too much force needed, easy to maneuver around anchors |
| Position 2 | Easy-to-find location, other hardware could be confused for anchor | None available |
| Position 3 | Easy-to-find location, other hardware could be confused for anchor | Too deep in seat, too much force needed, easy to maneuver around anchors |
Learn more about child seat anchor evaluation methodology.
Conclusion
The 2019 Chevy Volt demonstrates strong safety performance in most IIHS crash tests, achieving “Good” ratings in key areas like moderate overlap front, side impact, roof strength, and head restraints. While the small overlap front test revealed an “Acceptable” rating for driver restraints and LATCH system ease of use is “Marginal,” the Chevy Volt overall provides a high level of safety for its occupants. The availability of optional superior-rated front crash prevention systems and good-rated headlights (on specific trims) further enhances its safety profile, making the 2019 Chevy Volt a safe and reliable choice in the plug-in hybrid market.
