Both the 2011 Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf have received the highest safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This was the first-ever U.S. crash test evaluation of plug-in vehicles.
The Volt and Leaf earned the top rating of good for front, side, rear, and rollover crash protection. 
“What powers the wheels is different, but the level of safety for the Volt and Leaf is as high as any of our other top crash test performers,” says Joe Nolan, the Institute’s chief administrative officer.
“Eco-minded drivers keen on switching to electric would do well to buy a Leaf or Volt for highway driving instead of a low-speed vehicle if they’re at all concerned about being protected in a crash,” Nolan says.
This year alone, the IIHS has named 80 cars as Top Safety Picks.
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