The Chevrolet Cobalt, a compact car produced by General Motors from 2004 to 2010, served as a replacement for the Chevrolet Cavalier. Understanding the safety performance of vehicles is crucial for car buyers, especially when considering models from past generations. This article delves into the safety ratings of the Chevrolet Cobalt, based on evaluations conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). We will explore its performance in moderate overlap frontal, side impact, and head restraint tests, providing a comprehensive overview for potential buyers and automotive enthusiasts.
Moderate Overlap Frontal Crash Test: Good Rating
The IIHS moderate overlap frontal test simulates a common type of collision where the front corner of a vehicle strikes another vehicle or a fixed object. The Chevrolet Cobalt received a “Good” overall rating in this evaluation for models manufactured between 2005 and 2010.
This “Good” rating signifies robust structural performance. Key evaluation criteria and their corresponding ratings for the Chevrolet Cobalt in the frontal test include:
- Overall Evaluation: Good (G)
- Structure and Safety Cage: Good (G)
- Driver Injury Measures:
- Head/Neck: Good (G)
- Chest: Good (G)
- Leg/Foot, Left: Good (G)
- Leg/Foot, Right: Good (G)
- Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Good (G)
The crash test data reveals minimal intrusion into the driver’s space. Measurements of occupant compartment intrusion on the driver’s side were recorded, including footwell intrusion and instrument panel/steering column movement. These measurements were relatively low, indicating a well-maintained survival space for the driver.
Furthermore, injury measures recorded on the driver dummy were low across all body regions. Head, neck, chest, and leg/foot injury measures were all within the “Good” range, demonstrating effective occupant protection in a moderate overlap frontal crash.
Technical measurements from the frontal crash test provide further detail:
Technical Measurements – Frontal Crash Test
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Footwell Intrusion | |
| Footrest (cm) | 9 |
| Left (cm) | 14 |
| Center (cm) | 19 |
| Right (cm) | 13 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 9 |
| Instrument Panel Rearward Movement | |
| Left (cm) | 6 |
| Right (cm) | 6 |
| Steering Column Movement | |
| Upward (cm) | 6 |
| Rearward (cm) | 3 |
| A-pillar Rearward Movement | 3 |
Driver Injury Measures – Frontal Crash Test
| Injury Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 231 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | 24 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 29 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.36 |
| Chest Maximum Compression (mm) | 25 |
| Legs | |
| Femur force – left (kN) | 1.0 |
| Femur force – right (kN) | 1.4 |
| Knee displacement – left (mm) | 1 |
| Knee displacement – right (mm) | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index – left | 0.39 |
| Maximum tibia index – right | 0.76 |
| Tibia axial force – left (kN) | 1.6 |
| Tibia axial force – right (kN) | 2.8 |
| Foot Acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 62 |
| Right | 84 |
Side Impact Crash Test: Varying Ratings Based on Airbag Availability
The side impact test evaluates vehicle safety in side collisions, a particularly dangerous type of accident. The Chevrolet Cobalt’s side impact rating varies significantly depending on whether the vehicle is equipped with optional side airbags.
Side Impact with Optional Side Airbags: Acceptable Rating
For Chevrolet Cobalt models from 2005-2009 equipped with optional front and rear head curtain airbags, the IIHS side impact test resulted in an “Acceptable” overall rating.
While the overall rating is “Acceptable,” indicating room for improvement, the presence of side airbags played a crucial role in occupant protection. The structural performance of the Cobalt in the side impact test was rated as “Marginal,” suggesting that the vehicle’s structure provided some protection, but could be better.
However, driver head protection was rated as “Good,” highlighting the effectiveness of the side curtain airbags in preventing head injuries. Rear passenger head protection was also rated “Good,” indicating that the side airbags extended protection to rear occupants as well.
Driver injury measures showed “Good” ratings for head/neck and pelvis/leg, but “Marginal” for torso, suggesting moderate risk of torso injury in a side impact even with airbags. Rear passenger injury measures were “Good” across all categories.
Technical Measurements – Side Impact Test (with Side Airbags)
| Measurement | Value (Test ID: CES0501) |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -2.0 |
Driver Injury Measures – Side Impact Test (with Side Airbags)
| Injury Measure | Value (Test ID: CES0501) |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 620 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.1 |
| Shoulder Lateral Deflection (mm) | 53 |
| Shoulder Lateral Force (kN) | 2.3 |
| Torso Maximum Deflection (mm) | 43 |
| Torso Average Deflection (mm) | 30 |
| Torso Maximum Deflection Rate (m/s) | 6.72 |
| Torso Maximum Viscous Criterion (m/s) | 1.26 |
| Pelvis Iliac Force (kN) | 1.6 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum Force (kN) | 3.0 |
| Pelvis Combined Force (kN) | 4.6 |
| Left Femur L-M Force (kN) | 0.3 |
| Left Femur L-M Moment (Nm) | 78 |
| Left Femur A-P Moment (Nm) | 35 |
Passenger Injury Measures – Side Impact Test (with Side Airbags)
| Injury Measure | Value (Test ID: CES0501) |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 185 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.5 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.5 |
| Shoulder Lateral Deflection (mm) | 39 |
| Shoulder Lateral Force (kN) | 2.0 |
| Torso Maximum Deflection (mm) | 32 |
| Torso Average Deflection (mm) | 25 |
| Torso Maximum Deflection Rate (m/s) | 3.06 |
| Torso Maximum Viscous Criterion (m/s) | 0.49 |
| Pelvis Iliac Force (kN) | 0.2 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum Force (kN) | 3.0 |
| Pelvis Combined Force (kN) | 3.1 |
| Left Femur L-M Force (kN) | 0.4 |
| Left Femur L-M Moment (Nm) | 105 |
| Left Femur A-P Moment (Nm) | 52 |
Side Impact without Side Airbags: Poor Rating
In stark contrast, Chevrolet Cobalt models from 2005-2009 tested without optional side airbags received a “Poor” overall rating in the side impact test.
The absence of side airbags resulted in significantly compromised occupant protection. Driver head protection was rated “Poor” as the dummy’s head struck the intruding barrier, leading to high head injury measures. Rear passenger head protection was rated “Marginal” due to head contact with the window frame and sill.
The structural rating remained “Marginal,” consistent with the airbag-equipped test, indicating that the structural performance was not the primary factor in the “Poor” overall rating. Driver injury measures were “Poor” for head/neck, “Good” for torso, and “Acceptable” for pelvis/leg. Rear passenger injury measures were “Good” across all categories except for head protection, which was “Marginal.”
These results underscore the critical importance of side airbags in the Chevrolet Cobalt for side impact protection. The difference in ratings highlights a significant safety disparity based on this optional feature.
Technical Measurements – Side Impact Test (without Side Airbags)
| Measurement | Value (Test ID: CES0502) |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -2.0 |
Driver Injury Measures – Side Impact Test (without Side Airbags)
| Injury Measure | Value (Test ID: CES0502) |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 1,604 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.7 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.9 |
| Shoulder Lateral Deflection (mm) | 53 |
| Shoulder Lateral Force (kN) | 1.9 |
| Torso Maximum Deflection (mm) | 39 |
| Torso Average Deflection (mm) | 33 |
| Torso Maximum Deflection Rate (m/s) | 6.43 |
| Torso Maximum Viscous Criterion (m/s) | 0.99 |
| Pelvis Iliac Force (kN) | 2.2 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum Force (kN) | 3.2 |
| Pelvis Combined Force (kN) | 5.2 |
| Left Femur L-M Force (kN) | 0.2 |
| Left Femur L-M Moment (Nm) | 74 |
| Left Femur A-P Moment (Nm) | -30 |
Passenger Injury Measures – Side Impact Test (without Side Airbags)
| Injury Measure | Value (Test ID: CES0502) |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 438 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.7 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.6 |
| Shoulder Lateral Deflection (mm) | 40 |
| Shoulder Lateral Force (kN) | 2.1 |
| Torso Maximum Deflection (mm) | 34 |
| Torso Average Deflection (mm) | 31 |
| Torso Maximum Deflection Rate (m/s) | 3.40 |
| Torso Maximum Viscous Criterion (m/s) | 0.52 |
| Pelvis Iliac Force (kN) | 0.4 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum Force (kN) | 3.6 |
| Pelvis Combined Force (kN) | 3.6 |
| Left Femur L-M Force (kN) | 0.5 |
| Left Femur L-M Moment (Nm) | 96 |
| Left Femur A-P Moment (Nm) | 33 |
Head Restraints & Seats: Good Rating
The IIHS also evaluates head restraints and seats to assess their ability to protect against whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions. The Chevrolet Cobalt received a “Good” overall rating for its head restraints and seats across all seating positions.
Head Restraints & Seats Evaluation
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good (G) |
| Dynamic Rating | Good (G) |
| Seat/Head Restraint Geometry | Good (G) |
Technical measurements for the head restraint and seat test include:
Technical Measurements – Head Restraints & Seats
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Geometry | |
| Backset (mm) | 38 |
| Distance below top of head (mm) | 50 |
| Seat design parameters | |
| Pass/fail | Pass |
| Max T1 acceleration (g) | 9.8 |
| Head contact time (ms) | 64 |
| Force rating | 1 |
| Neck forces | |
| Max neck shear force (N) | 35 |
| Max neck tension (N) | 653 |
These measurements indicate effective head restraint geometry and dynamic performance in preventing whiplash.
Conclusion: Safety Considerations for the Chevrolet Cobalt
The Chevrolet Cobalt demonstrates varying levels of safety performance depending on the type of crash and the presence of optional safety equipment. It achieved a “Good” rating in the moderate overlap frontal crash test, indicating solid frontal impact protection. However, side impact safety is heavily reliant on optional side airbags. Models equipped with side airbags achieved an “Acceptable” rating, while those without received a “Poor” rating, primarily due to inadequate driver head protection. The head restraints and seats provide “Good” protection against whiplash.
When considering a Chevrolet Cobalt, particularly models from earlier years, it is crucial to verify if it is equipped with side airbags. This feature significantly impacts side impact safety and should be a key consideration for potential buyers prioritizing safety. While the Cobalt performs well in frontal crashes and whiplash protection, the side impact results highlight the importance of optional safety features in older vehicles.
