2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
small car / 4-door sedan
Moderate overlap front: original test
Rating applies to 2005-10 models
Tested vehicle: 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt 4-door
The Chevrolet Cobalt was introduced in the 2005 model year as a replacement for the Cavalier and was discontinued after the 2010 model year.
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Chest | |
| Leg/foot, left | |
| Leg/foot, right | |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics |
Action shot taken during the frontal crash test.
The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well.
Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head hit the roof rail and head restraint during rebound. Head accelerations from these hits were low.
Intrusion into the driver's space was minimal, and all leg and foot injury measures were low.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | CEF0501 |
|---|---|
| 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 (cm) | 3 |
Driver injury measures
| Test ID | CEF0501 |
|---|---|
| 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: original test
Rating applies to 2005-09 models
Tested vehicle: 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt 4-door with optional front and rear head curtain airbags
The Chevrolet Cobalt was introduced in the 2005 model year as a replacement for the Cavalier.
Two tests of a Cobalt were conducted, one with an optional side airbag for the driver and rear passenger, and one without. These vehicles are rated separately, except that the structural ratings for both vehicles are based on both tests.
Beginning with 2008 models, side airbags were made standard, except in cars sold to fleet buyers that could still be ordered without side airbags. Caution: This means that when fleet vehicles without side airbags are eventually sold, they will be available to retail purchasers.
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis/leg | |
| Driver head protection | |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis/leg | |
| Rear passenger head protection | |
View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.
View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbag and damage to the occupant compartment.
Action shot taken during the side impact crash test showing the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag.
Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy's head was protected by the side airbag.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | CES0501 | CES0502 |
|---|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) | -2.0 | -2.0 |
| Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline. | ||
Driver injury measures
| Test ID | CES0501 |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 620 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.1 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 53 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 2.3 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 43 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 30 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 6.72 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 1.26 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 1.6 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 3.0 |
| Combined force (kN) | 4.6 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.3 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 78 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 35 |
Passenger injury measures
| Test ID | CES0501 |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 185 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.5 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.5 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 39 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 2.0 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 32 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 25 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 3.06 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.49 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.2 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 3.0 |
| Combined force (kN) | 3.1 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.4 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 105 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 52 |
Rating applies to 2005-09 models
Tested vehicle: 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt 4-door without optional side airbags
The Chevrolet Cobalt was introduced in the 2005 model year as a replacement for the Cavalier.
Two tests of a Cobalt were conducted, one with an optional side airbag for the driver and rear passenger, and one without. These vehicles are rated separately, except that the structural ratings for both vehicles are based on both tests.
Beginning with 2008 models, side airbags were made standard, except in cars sold to fleet buyers that could still be ordered without side airbags. Caution: This means that when fleet vehicles without side airbags are eventually sold, they will be available to retail purchasers.
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis/leg | |
| Driver head protection The dummy's head was hit by the intruding barrier, producing high head injury measures. |
|
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis/leg | |
| Rear passenger head protection The dummy's head was hit by the window frame and window sill of the rear passenger door. These impacts did not produce high head injury measures, but the head protection is inadequate. |
|
View of the vehicle just after the crash test.
View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing damage to the occupant compartment.
Action shot taken during the side impact crash test showing the driver dummy's head being hit by the intruding barrier.
Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy's head was hit by the window frame and window sill of the rear passenger door. The window frame was bent by the impact.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | CES0501 | CES0502 |
|---|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) | -2.0 | -2.0 |
| Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline. | ||
Driver injury measures
| Test ID | CES0502 |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 1,604 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.7 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.9 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 53 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.9 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 39 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 33 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 6.43 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.99 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 2.2 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 3.2 |
| Combined force (kN) | 5.2 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.2 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 74 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | -30 |
Passenger injury measures
| Test ID | CES0502 |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 438 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.7 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.6 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 40 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 2.1 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 34 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 31 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 3.40 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.52 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.4 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 3.6 |
| Combined force (kN) | 3.6 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.5 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 96 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 33 |
Head restraints & seats
Seat type: All seats
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | |
| Seat/head restraint geometry |
| Seat type | All seats |
|---|---|
| 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 |
About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.