2011 Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf Earn Top Safety Pick Status
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has completed its testing of the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf — the first two mainstream plug-in electric vehicles — and both received the organization’s top award.
To become a Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn IIHS’ highest rating, Good, in frontal, side, rear and roof-strength crash tests. The vehicle also must be equipped with electronic stability control. The Volt and Leaf meet those requirements.
More than a year ago, IIHS revised its guidelines to include tough roof-strength parameters, making it harder for new cars to earn the Top Safety Pick award. With the Volt and Leaf added to the list, there are now 80 new-vehicle nameplates that sport the designation. It brings GM’s total to 12 and Nissan’s to three.
IIHS says the added weight of the two vehicles helped them achieve their ratings, noting the Leaf weighs more than a Nissan Altima and the Volt more than a Chevy Impala.
