The Chevrolet Cruze 2014 marked a significant model in Chevrolet’s lineup, succeeding the Cobalt and appealing to drivers prioritizing both efficiency and safety. For those considering a used Chevrolet Cruze 2014, understanding its safety performance is crucial. This article delves into the safety ratings of the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze, providing insights based on rigorous testing.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted moderate overlap frontal tests on the Chevrolet Cruze, evaluating models from 2011 to 2015. The ratings specifically apply to this range, encompassing the Chevrolet Cruze 2014. This test simulates a common type of frontal collision, impacting a portion of the vehicle’s front end. The goal is to assess how well the vehicle protects occupants in such a crash scenario.
The Chevrolet Cruze earned a “Good” overall evaluation in the moderate overlap frontal test. This “Good” rating is the highest possible, indicating that in this type of crash, a vehicle provides a high level of protection to its occupants. Specifically, the Cruze demonstrated “Good” performance in key areas critical to safety.
Looking closer at the evaluation criteria, the Chevrolet Cruze 2014 achieved a “Good” rating for structure and safety cage integrity. A strong safety cage is fundamental in maintaining survival space for occupants during a crash. Furthermore, in terms of driver injury measures, the Cruze also scored “Good” across the board. This includes protection for the head and neck, chest, and legs and feet. The driver restraints and dummy kinematics were also rated as “Good,” indicating that the safety systems effectively controlled occupant movement during the simulated crash, minimizing potential injuries.
General Motors refined the driver frontal airbag design in the Chevrolet Cruze starting with the 2013 models, including the 2014 year. This updated “smart” airbag, featuring flexible venting technology, was designed to adapt to different crash severities and occupant sizes. While tests were conducted on both the original airbag and the updated “smart” airbag, the results showed no significant changes in safety performance. This suggests that both airbag designs provided effective protection in the moderate overlap frontal crash scenario.
For a more detailed understanding, technical measurements from the crash tests provide granular data. These measurements quantify occupant compartment intrusion and driver injury measures. Analyzing footwell intrusion, instrument panel movement, and steering column movement gives insights into the structural integrity of the vehicle during impact. Similarly, head and neck injury criteria, chest compression, and leg and foot injury measures offer a detailed look at potential injury risks. These technical details, while more in-depth, corroborate the “Good” ratings, showing low intrusion and minimal injury measures in the tests.
It’s important to note that the “Chevrolet Cruze Limited,” introduced in 2016 and sold primarily to fleets, is a distinct model from the 2014 Cruze and has different safety ratings due to a redesign. Therefore, the safety ratings discussed here are specific to the Chevrolet Cruze models from 2011-2015, including the Chevrolet Cruze 2014.
In conclusion, the Chevrolet Cruze 2014 stands as a safe vehicle in the moderate overlap frontal crash test, achieving the highest rating of “Good.” This rating, backed by detailed evaluations of structural performance and driver injury measures, provides valuable information for anyone considering a Chevrolet Cruze 2014, especially concerning occupant safety in frontal impact collisions.
