The Volt received a high crash test rating 04/27/2011
As many people are looking for vehicles that are both safe and fuel-efficient, many may be excited to know that two electric cars won top ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Automotive News reports that the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf electric cars won the highest safety ratings during the IIHS' crash tests, which puts them in the top 57 percent of models that were tested so far.
This may be something that auto consumers want to keep in mind if they're thinking of purchasing a smaller vehicle, as the two electric cars ranked higher than other small models when paired against something bigger in a crash.
"When they collide with something bigger and heavier like a truck or SUV, they have an advantage over other small cars," IISH spokesman Russ Rader told the news provider.
Reuters reports that analysts at the IISH noted that the electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles have extra mass, which is what gives them a higher advantage in safety performance against other small models.