2018 Chevrolet Impala

large car / 4-door sedan

2018 Chevrolet Impala 4-door sedan
2017 Chevrolet Impala shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system
Superior
Optional system
Basic

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Optional lane departure warning

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2015-20 models

Tested vehicle: 2017 Chevrolet Impala 1LT 4-door

The Chevrolet Impala was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Beginning with the 2015 model year, the front-end structure was modified and the door sill was reinforced to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but then slid off the left side, leaving the head vulnerable to contact with forward structure. The side curtain airbag deployed and had sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag also deployed.

Action shot taken during the small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained reasonably well.

The dummy's head contacted the frontal airbag but slid completely off the left side, allowing the head to move into the gap in coverage between the frontal and side curtain airbags.

The driver's space was maintained reasonably well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1709
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 11
Footrest (cm) 8
Left toepan (cm) 1
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 3
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Upper dash (cm) 8
Lower instrument panel (cm) 8

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1709
Head
HIC-15 89
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 17
Maximum Nij 0.21
Chest maximum compression (mm) 17
Femur (kN)
Left 0.5
Right 0.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.68
Right 0.32
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.0
Right 0.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 54
Right 48

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2014-20 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Chevrolet Impala LS 4-door

The Chevrolet Impala was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by General Motors.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1225
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 4
Left (cm) 8
Center (cm) 10
Right (cm) 7
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -2
Rearward (cm) -8
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1225
Head
HIC-15 230
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 4
Maximum Nij 0.27
Chest maximum compression (mm) 27
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.6
Femur force - right (kN) 1.9
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1
Maximum tibia index - left 0.55
Maximum tibia index - right 0.47
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.9
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 4.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 48
Right 90

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2014-20 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Chevrolet Impala LT 4-door with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front and rear seat-mounted torso airbags

The Chevrolet Impala was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by General Motors.

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
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1233
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -19.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1233
Head HIC-15 316
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.5
Compression (kN) 0.9
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 40
Lateral force (kN) 1.7
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 39
Average deflection (mm) 35
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.20
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.67
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.1
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.0
Combined force (kN) 3.1
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.1
L-M moment (Nm) 78
A-P moment (Nm) -21

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1233
Head HIC-15 113
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.2
Compression (kN) 0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 15
Lateral force (kN) 1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 19
Average deflection (mm) 14
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.19
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.14
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.4
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.6
Combined force (kN) 2.8
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.4
L-M moment (Nm) 108
A-P moment (Nm) -29

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2014-20 models

Tested vehicle: 2017 Chevrolet Impala 1LT 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,745 lbs
Peak force16,836 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio4.50

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leather seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 15
Distance below top of head (mm) 17
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 13.1
Head contact time (ms) 56
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 1
Max neck tension (N) 446

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • Premier trim
Low-beam headlight typeHID projector
High-beam headlight typeHID projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Premier trim
Low-beam headlight type HID projector
High-beam headlight type HID projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2017-20 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 76.0 m None
Straightaway left edge 42.5 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 55.1 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 41.6 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 48.9 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 38.9 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 129.4 m
Straightaway left edge 99.2 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 57.5 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 55.2 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 49.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 47.0 m

Trim level(s)

  • LS trim
  • LT trim
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen projector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • LS trim
  • LT trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type Halogen projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2017-20 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 73.2 m None
Straightaway left edge 36.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 42.9 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 37.3 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 35.1 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 32.3 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 118.6 m
Straightaway left edge 77.7 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 44.9 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 47.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 36.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 37.6 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

Ratings are given for 2 different trim variations available on this vehicle.

System details

  • Optional Forward Automatic Braking
  • Optional Forward Collision Alert

Package name

  • Optional Premier Confidence Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2018-19 models

Superior
Superior
with optional equipment
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 10 mph.

System details

  • Optional Forward Collision Alert

Package name

  • Optional Driver Confidence Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2016-19 models

Basic
Basic
with optional equipment
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • Autobrake not available.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2015-20 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim1LS
Seat type cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor, a single lower anchor and the ability to borrow the second anchor from another position.

Note: When anchors are borrowed, they aren't available to use in their designated positions.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim1LS
Seat type cloth
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
1 dedicated anchor and 1 that can be borrowed from seat 3
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 27
Clearance angle (degrees) 68
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 33
Clearance angle (degrees) 69
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 22
Clearance angle (degrees) 54
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 32
Clearance angle (degrees) 72
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 27
Clearance angle (degrees) 73
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation