2007 Chevrolet Cobalt Safety Review [ 2008 ]
Chevrolet Cobalt Safety Review
Safety - 8.9 (Very Good)
The Chevrolet Cobalt scores well in federal government and private crash tests when equipped with optional safety equipment, but a safety concern has been identified for drivers in side impact crashes.
In frontal-crash tests, the government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the base model sedan four out of five stars for driver safety and a perfect five stars for passenger safety. In side-crash tests, the Cobalt gets three stars for the front seat and four for the rear. The base model coupe has similar scores, but NHTSA classifies the front seat in side crash tests as a safety concern, explaining, "During the side-impact test, the head of the driver dummy struck the windowsill, causing a high head acceleration. Head impact events resulting in high accelerations have a higher likelihood of serious head trauma."
In frontal-offset tests, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the 2005-2007 models a perfect score of "good." However, in side-impact tests, models with optional front and rear head-curtain air bags get a score of "acceptable" -- and without the optional side air bags, that score plummets to "poor," the worst possible rating. But USA TODAY notes that "IIHS says: 'Taken together with ratings in the side-impact test, the Cobalt and (Toyota) Corolla equipped with optional side air bags now are the highest-rated small cars overall in the institute's crash-worthiness ratings.'"
The 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt is "as good as, if not better than, most of its competition on the safety-equipment front," according to Motor Trend. Despite overall good results in crash tests, the Cobalt receives inferior ratings in side-impact crash tests without the optional side-impact air bags.
Accident Avoidance
To help drivers avoid an accident, the Cobalt's standard brake configuration puts large vented discs up front and composite drums in the rear. All trims except the base LS and 1LT feature four-channel anti-lock brakes with rear proportioning as standard equipment; it's a recommended option on the base model. Stability control is not available on any model -- an omission that Motor Trend says is "typical of this class."
But a 2005 USA TODAY article reports a blemish on the Cobalt's safety record: "GM recalled 1,378 Cobalts last November because their headlight reflectors might loosen, tilt and blind oncoming drivers. That's according to files at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. GM and potential Cobalt buyers hope that's an aberration, not a harbinger."
Crash Protection
AutoMedia.com notes that the "Cobalt offers a comprehensive package of safety and security features." Crash-protection features include front and rear energy-management crumple zones, impact protection in the pillars and roof, dual-stage air bags designed to help protect occupants in 30-degree angled frontal impacts, front belt pretensioners, and locking open-front headrests. AutoMedia.com further notes that "the roof can take a crushing force 1.5 times the weight of the car, and the rear structure is designed to absorb a 50-mph impact to help protect the fuel tank." On the child-safety front, USA TODAY reports, "The back seat has three sets of child-seat connectors, not just two. You can strap the kid chair in the middle, which is the safest spot and gives junior a good view forward between the front bucket seats."
Dual front air bags are included across the board, but side-curtain air bags are available only as an option on all models. GM's OnStar security and communications system is also optional.
In frontal-crash tests, the government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the base model sedan four out of five stars for driver safety and a perfect five stars for passenger safety. In side-crash tests, the Cobalt gets three stars for the front seat and four for the rear. The base model coupe has similar scores, but NHTSA classifies the front seat in side crash tests as a safety concern, explaining, "During the side-impact test, the head of the driver dummy struck the windowsill, causing a high head acceleration. Head impact events resulting in high accelerations have a higher likelihood of serious head trauma."
In frontal-offset tests, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the 2005-2007 models a perfect score of "good." However, in side-impact tests, models with optional front and rear head-curtain air bags get a score of "acceptable" -- and without the optional side air bags, that score plummets to "poor," the worst possible rating. But USA TODAY notes that "IIHS says: 'Taken together with ratings in the side-impact test, the Cobalt and (Toyota) Corolla equipped with optional side air bags now are the highest-rated small cars overall in the institute's crash-worthiness ratings.'"
