The 2019 Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid praised for its efficiency and electric range, also holds its own when it comes to safety. For those prioritizing safety in their vehicle choice, understanding the safety ratings of the 2019 Volt is crucial. This article delves into the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) evaluations for the 2019 Chevrolet Volt, providing a comprehensive overview of its performance in various crash tests and safety assessments.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side Evaluation
The small overlap front crash test simulates what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or a narrow object like a tree or pole. For the 2019 Chevy Volt, which shares the same design as the 2017 model tested, the results are largely positive, though with a note for restraint performance.
In this demanding test, the 2017 Chevrolet Volt Premier 4-door model received a “Good” rating, the highest possible, for overall performance. This “Good” rating extends to critical areas like structure and safety cage, meaning the Volt’s fundamental construction held up well, maintaining the driver’s survival space.
Action shot of the 2019 Chevy Volt during the IIHS small overlap frontal crash test, demonstrating structural integrity.
Looking at driver injury measures, the 2019 Chevy Volt again scored “Good” across the board for head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot protection. This indicates a low risk of significant injuries in these areas in a similar real-world crash scenario.
Post-crash dummy positioning in the 2019 Chevy Volt small overlap test, illustrating effective occupant survival space.
However, the evaluation noted the driver restraints and dummy kinematics received an “Acceptable” rating. While the dummy’s head did contact the frontal airbag, it began to slide off the left side. This was attributed to the seat belt allowing excessive forward movement of the head and torso. Despite this, the side curtain airbag deployed effectively, offering good forward coverage to protect the head from side structure and external objects.
Detailed view of dummy head interaction with airbags in the 2019 Chevy Volt small overlap test, highlighting restraint system performance.
Technical measurements from the test (CEN1623) further detail the Volt’s performance. Intrusion into the occupant compartment was minimal, with measurements like lower hinge pillar max intrusion at 9 cm and footrest intrusion at 4 cm. Driver injury measures were also low, with a Head Injury Criterion (HIC-15) of 103 and chest maximum compression of 19 mm, indicating low impact forces on critical body regions.
Driver side footwell integrity after the 2019 Chevy Volt small overlap crash, indicating good protection for lower extremities.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Evaluation
In the moderate overlap front crash test, a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a deformable barrier. For the 2019 Chevy Volt (based on the 2016 model tested), the performance remained strong.
The 2016 Chevrolet Volt LT 4-door, representative of the 2019 model’s design, earned an overall “Good” rating in the moderate overlap frontal test. This “Good” rating was consistent for structure and safety cage and driver restraints and dummy kinematics.
Looking at driver injury measures, the 2019 Chevy Volt achieved “Good” ratings for head/neck and chest protection. For leg/foot protection, the left side was rated “Acceptable”, while the right side received a “Good” rating. This slight difference suggests a marginally higher risk of injury to the left lower extremity compared to the right, but overall protection remained high.
Technical measurements (Test ID: VTF1618) showed minimal footwell intrusion and instrument panel movement, further supporting the “Good” structural rating. Driver injury measures were also favorable, with a HIC-15 of 204 and chest maximum compression of 27 mm, indicating effective energy absorption and occupant protection.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original Evaluation
The side impact test assesses how well a vehicle protects occupants in a side collision. The 2019 Chevy Volt, based on the 2016 model tested, again demonstrated excellent performance.
The 2016 Chevrolet Volt LT 4-door achieved an overall “Good” rating in the side crash test. This extended to all evaluation categories, including structure and safety cage, driver injury measures (head/neck, torso, pelvis/leg), driver head protection, rear passenger injury measures (head/neck, torso, pelvis/leg), and rear passenger head protection. This comprehensive “Good” rating signifies robust side impact protection for both front and rear occupants.
Technical measurements (Test ID: VTS1617) showed minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment, with the B-pillar intrusion stopping short of the driver’s seat centerline. Driver and passenger injury measures were also low, indicating a low risk of serious injuries in a side impact scenario.
Roof Strength Test
Roof strength is crucial for rollover protection. The 2019 Chevy Volt, based on the 2017 model tested, demonstrated a strong roof structure.
The 2017 Chevrolet Volt LT 4-door received an overall “Good” rating for roof strength. With a strength-to-weight ratio of 4.91, the Volt’s roof proved capable of withstanding forces well over its own weight, indicating good protection in a rollover accident.
Head Restraints & Seats Evaluation
Head restraints and seats play a vital role in preventing whiplash in rear-end collisions. The 2019 Chevy Volt with manual cloth seats earned a “Good” rating in this assessment.
The 2017 Chevrolet Volt LT 4-door with manual cloth seats received an overall “Good” rating for head restraints and seats. Both dynamic rating and seat/head restraint geometry were rated “Good”. Technical measurements further confirmed effective head restraint performance in preventing neck injuries.
Headlights Evaluation
Headlight performance is crucial for nighttime visibility and accident prevention. The 2019 Chevy Volt offers different headlight variations, with varying ratings.
The Premier trim equipped with the Driver Confidence II package features LED projector low beams and halogen reflector high beams, achieving an overall “Good” rating. These headlights provided good visibility on straightaways and curves in low beam mode, and high beam assist further compensated for limitations.
However, the LT trim and standard Premier trim, also equipped with LED projector low beams and halogen reflector high beams but without the Driver Confidence II package, received an “Acceptable” overall rating. While low beam performance remained similar, the absence of high-beam assist resulted in a lower overall score.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle Evaluation
Front crash prevention systems are increasingly important for mitigating or avoiding frontal collisions. The 2019 Chevy Volt offers optional systems with “Superior” and “Advanced” ratings depending on the package.
With the optional Forward Automatic Braking and Adaptive Cruise Control package, the 2019 Chevy Volt achieved a “Superior” rating. The system avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph vehicle-to-vehicle tests, demonstrating excellent automatic emergency braking capabilities.
With the optional Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking in the Driver Confidence Package II, the 2019 Chevy Volt earned an “Advanced” rating. This system also avoided a collision in the 12 mph test and significantly reduced impact speed in the 25 mph test, providing robust low and moderate speed front crash prevention.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH) Evaluation
Child seat anchors need to be accessible and easy to use for secure child seat installation. The 2019 Chevy Volt received a “Marginal” rating for LATCH ease of use.
The 2017-2019 Chevy Volt received an overall “Marginal” rating for child seat anchors (LATCH). While it has LATCH hardware in multiple rear seating positions, the lower anchors were rated as being too deep in the seat and requiring too much force to attach to, making installation potentially challenging. Tether anchors were easier to find but could be confused with other hardware.
Conclusion
The 2019 Chevy Volt demonstrates strong safety performance in IIHS crash tests, earning “Good” ratings in most categories. Areas of note include “Acceptable” performance in driver restraints in the small overlap test and “Marginal” rating for LATCH ease of use. However, overall, the 2019 Chevy Volt provides a high level of safety for its occupants, especially when equipped with optional front crash prevention and headlight packages. This detailed safety analysis should empower potential buyers to make informed decisions about the 2019 Chevy Volt.
