The 2019 Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid vehicle, stands out not only for its fuel efficiency but also for its safety performance. Redesigned in 2016, the 2019 model (part of the 2016-2019 generation) has undergone rigorous testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). For anyone considering a used 2019 Chevy Volt, understanding its safety ratings is crucial. Let’s delve into the IIHS crash test results to see how this vehicle protects its occupants.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side Performance
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where just the front corner of the vehicle impacts another vehicle or a stationary object. For the 2019 Chevrolet Volt, this test reveals critical insights into driver protection.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Small overlap front: driver-side | Good |
| Structure and safety cage | Good |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | Good |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | Good |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/Thigh | Good |
| Driver injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | Good |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Acceptable |
The 2019 Chevy Volt earned a “Good” rating in the small overlap front crash test, the highest possible rating. This indicates that the vehicle’s structure held up well during the impact, maintaining the driver’s survival space. Specifically, the structure and safety cage were rated “Good,” meaning they effectively resisted intrusion during the crash. All driver injury measures – head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot – also received “Good” ratings, suggesting a low risk of significant injuries in these areas in a real-world crash of similar severity.
However, the rating for “Driver restraints and dummy kinematics” was “Acceptable.” This is because, during the test, the dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but then slid off to the left. The seat belt allowed excessive forward movement of the head and torso, causing the head to move towards the gap between the frontal and side curtain airbags. While the side curtain airbag did deploy and provided sufficient forward coverage, the head sliding issue prevented a “Good” rating in this category.
Despite the head-sliding issue, the overall “Good” rating for the small overlap test is a positive sign for 2019 Chevrolet Volt safety. The structural integrity and good injury measures highlight the vehicle’s ability to protect the driver in a challenging crash scenario.
Technical measurements from the small overlap test further illustrate the Volt’s performance. Occupant compartment intrusion 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.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Evaluation
The moderate overlap front test involves a larger portion of the vehicle’s front impacting a barrier. The 2019 Chevrolet Volt also performed admirably in this test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Moderate overlap front: original test | Good |
| Overall evaluation | Good |
| Structure and safety cage | Good |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | Good |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | Good |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/Foot, Left | Acceptable |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/Foot, Right | Good |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good |
The 2019 Volt achieved a “Good” overall rating in the moderate overlap front test. Structure and safety cage integrity remained “Good,” and driver restraints and dummy kinematics also earned a “Good” rating, indicating effective occupant control in this type of frontal impact. Injury measures for head/neck and chest were “Good.” However, the left leg/foot injury measure received an “Acceptable” rating, while the right leg/foot was rated “Good.” This suggests a slightly higher risk of injury to the driver’s left lower extremity in a moderate overlap frontal crash compared to the right.
Technical measurements for this test show minimal occupant compartment intrusion and low driver injury measures, reinforcing the “Good” rating.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original Assessment
Side impacts are another significant real-world crash scenario. The 2019 Chevrolet Volt’s performance in the side impact test is reassuring.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Side: original test | Good |
| Overall evaluation | Good |
| Structure and safety cage | Good |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | Good |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | Good |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis/Leg | Good |
| Driver head protection | Good |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | Good |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | Good |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis/Leg | Good |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good |
The 2019 Chevrolet Volt earned a “Good” rating in every category of the side impact test. This includes overall evaluation, structure and safety cage, all driver injury measures (head/neck, torso, pelvis/leg), driver head protection, and all rear passenger injury measures and head protection. This comprehensive “Good” performance demonstrates the Volt’s robust side impact protection for both front and rear occupants.
Technical measurements indicate minimal B-pillar intrusion into the occupant compartment and low injury measures for both driver and passenger dummies.
Roof Strength Test
Roof strength is critical for rollover crashes. The 2019 Chevrolet Volt again demonstrated excellent performance.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Roof strength | Good |
| Curb weight | 3,480 lbs |
| Peak force | 17,081 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 4.91 |
The 2019 Chevy Volt achieved a “Good” rating in roof strength. Its strength-to-weight ratio of 4.91 significantly exceeds the IIHS requirement, indicating a strong roof capable of protecting occupants in a rollover situation.
Head Restraints & Seats
Whiplash protection is an important aspect of safety, and head restraints play a crucial role.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Head restraints & seats | Good |
| Dynamic rating | Good |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | Good |
The 2019 Chevrolet Volt’s head restraints and seats earned a “Good” overall rating. Both dynamic rating (performance in simulated rear-end collision) and seat/head restraint geometry (physical measurements) were rated “Good,” indicating effective whiplash protection in rear-impact crashes.
Headlight Performance
Headlight effectiveness is a vital safety feature, especially for nighttime driving. The 2019 Chevrolet Volt has two different headlight configurations, with varying ratings.
Premier Trim with Driver Confidence II Package: Good Rating
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Headlights (Premier trim w/ Driver Confidence II) | Good |
| Overall rating | Good |
The Premier trim of the 2019 Chevrolet Volt, when equipped with the Driver Confidence II package, comes with LED projector low-beam headlights and halogen reflector high-beam headlights, and high-beam assist. This configuration earned an overall “Good” rating from IIHS. Both low beams and high beams provided good visibility on straightaways and curves, with high-beam assist compensating for some limitations of the low beams. Glare was not an issue with the low beams.
LT and Premier Trims: Acceptable Rating
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Headlights (LT & Premier trims standard) | Acceptable |
| Overall rating | Acceptable |
The standard headlight configuration on the LT and Premier trims (LED projector low beams, halogen reflector high beams, no curve-adaptive or high-beam assist) received an “Acceptable” rating. While low beam performance was similar to the “Good” rated headlights, the lack of high-beam assist and potentially slightly less optimal high beam performance led to the lower rating.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Crash prevention technology is increasingly important in modern vehicles. The 2019 Chevrolet Volt offers optional front crash prevention systems.
Forward Automatic Braking (Optional): Superior Rating
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle (Forward Automatic Braking) | Superior |
| Overall rating | Superior |
With optional Forward Automatic Braking, the 2019 Chevy Volt earns a “Superior” rating for front crash prevention. The system avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph vehicle-to-vehicle tests and meets forward collision warning requirements.
Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking (Optional): Advanced Rating
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle (Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking) | Advanced |
| Overall rating | Advanced |
The optional Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking system, part of the Driver Confidence Package II, receives an “Advanced” rating. While it also avoided a collision in the 12 mph test and meets forward collision warning criteria, in the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 5 mph but not fully avoided.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchor ease of use is important for families. The 2019 Chevrolet Volt’s LATCH system received a “Marginal” rating.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Child seat anchors (LATCH) | Marginal |
| Overall evaluation | Marginal |
The LATCH system in the 2019 Volt was rated “Marginal” due to lower anchors being located too deep in the seat and requiring excessive force to attach child seat connectors. While tether anchors are present in all three rear seating positions and are easy to find, the lower anchor issues detract from the overall ease of use.
Seat Anchor Details:
| Position | Rating | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Position 1 & 3 (Outboard) | Marginal | Lower anchors too deep, require force. Tether anchor easy to find. |
| Position 2 (Center) | Not Rated for Lower Anchors | Tether anchor only, lower anchors not available. |
Conclusion: 2019 Chevrolet Volt – A Safe Plug-In Hybrid
Overall, the 2019 Chevrolet Volt demonstrates strong safety performance in IIHS crash tests. It achieved “Good” ratings in most crashworthiness evaluations, including small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side impact, and roof strength tests. Head restraints and seats also earned a “Good” rating. Headlight ratings vary from “Acceptable” to “Good” depending on the trim and optional packages. Front crash prevention systems are available and rated “Advanced” or “Superior” depending on the specific system. The child seat LATCH system is the only area with a “Marginal” rating, indicating some difficulty in using lower anchors.
For prospective buyers of a 2019 Chevrolet Volt, these IIHS safety ratings provide valuable insights. The Volt is a safe vehicle, particularly in crash protection. Consideration should be given to headlight options and LATCH system ease of use, but overall, the 2019 Chevrolet Volt is a solid choice for safety-conscious consumers in the plug-in hybrid market.
