Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2017 Chevrolet Volt

small car / 4-door hatchback

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention

Plug-in hybrid
2017 Chevrolet Volt 4-door hatchback

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 (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system
Superior
Optional system
Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Optional lane departure warning
  • Optional lane departure prevention

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 2016-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2017 Chevrolet Volt Premier 4-door

The Chevrolet Volt was redesigned for the 2016 model year. The car is a plug-in battery-electric/gasoline hybrid, featuring an electric-only mode with a range of 53 miles for 2017 models according to the EPA. After the electric-only mode ends, the gas engine kicks in to power the vehicle.

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 started to slide off the left side because the seat belt allowed excessive forward excursion of the head and torso. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects.

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 well.

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

The driver's space was maintained 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 CEN1623
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 9
Footrest (cm) 4
Left toepan (cm) 2
Brake pedal (cm) 4
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 7
Upper dash (cm) 8
Lower instrument panel (cm) 7

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1623
Head
HIC-15 103
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 11
Maximum Nij 0.18
Chest maximum compression (mm) 19
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.6
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.57
Right 0.65
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.2
Right 2.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 33
Right 34

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2016-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Chevrolet Volt LT 4-door

The Chevrolet Volt was redesigned for the 2016 model year. The car is a plug-in battery-electric/gasoline hybrid, featuring an electric-only mode with a range of 53 miles for 2017 models according to the EPA. After the electric-only mode ends, the gas engine kicks in to power the vehicle.

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 VTF1618
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 5
Left (cm) 6
Center (cm) 9
Right (cm) 8
Brake pedal (cm) 5
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 3
Rearward (cm) -1
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1618
Head
HIC-15 204
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 14
Maximum Nij 0.19
Chest maximum compression (mm) 27
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.3
Femur force - right (kN) 0.8
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 2
Maximum tibia index - left 0.83
Maximum tibia index - right 0.64
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.8
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 3.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 65
Right 85

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2016-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Chevrolet Volt LT 4-door

The Chevrolet Volt was redesigned for the 2016 model year. The car is a plug-in battery-electric/gasoline hybrid, featuring an electric-only mode with a range of 53 miles for 2017 models according to the EPA. After the electric-only mode ends, the gas engine kicks in to power the vehicle.

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 VTS1617
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -18.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1617
Head HIC-15 366
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.0
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 23
Lateral force (kN) 1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 32
Average deflection (mm) 30
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.73
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.35
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.8
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.3
Combined force (kN) 2.0
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.4
L-M moment (Nm) 60
A-P moment (Nm) 95

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1617
Head HIC-15 228
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.2
Compression (kN) 0.7
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 19
Lateral force (kN) 1.1
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 21
Average deflection (mm) 17
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 1.31
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.12
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.5
Acetabulum force (kN) 0.8
Combined force (kN) 1.1
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.1
L-M moment (Nm) 40
A-P moment (Nm) 150

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2016-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2017 Chevrolet Volt LT 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,480 lbs
Peak force17,081 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio4.91

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Manual cloth seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 22
Distance below top of head (mm) 26
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 15.1
Head contact time (ms) 58
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 33
Max neck tension (N) 401

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 equipped with Driver Confidence II package
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
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 High-beam assist credit

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

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve and fair on the sharp right and both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway, on both left curves and on the sharp right curve.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Premier trim equipped with Driver Confidence II package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2017-19 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 92.4 m None
Straightaway left edge 64.8 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 71.1 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 55.7 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 56.4 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 49.4 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 180.7 m
Straightaway left edge 108.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 79.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 68.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 62.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 56.2 m

Trim level(s)

  • LT trim
  • Premier trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
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 good on the left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and fair on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve and fair on the sharp right and both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • LT trim
  • Premier trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2017-19 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 92.4 m None
Straightaway left edge 64.8 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 71.1 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 55.7 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 56.4 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 49.4 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 180.7 m
Straightaway left edge 108.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 79.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 68.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 62.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 56.2 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

Package name

  • Optional Adaptive Cruise Control

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2017-19 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, this vehicle avoided a collision.

System details

  • Optional Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking

Package name

  • Optional Driver Confidence Package II

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2016-19 models

Advanced
Advanced
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 5 mph.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2017-19 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimLT
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 only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimLT
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
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
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) could not measure
Clearance angle (degrees) 106
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) could not measure
Clearance angle (degrees) 108
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
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
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
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) could not measure
Clearance angle (degrees) 105
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) could not measure
Clearance angle (degrees) 105
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
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