ANCAP crash test results

VW Golf (LHD) | 2009 on

Front+side+head+knee airbags

Occupant protection score: 35.72 out of 37

Important note: The left-hand-drive European model was tested by Euro NCAP. Australasian specifications may vary and therefore models sold in Australasia might provide different levels of protection to those described on this page.

Model history and safety features

The tested model of Golf VI was introduced in Australia and New Zealand during 2009.

Dual front airbags, side airbags, head-protecting side curtains and a driver knee airbag are standard equipment. Antilock brakes (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), emergency brake assist and electronic stability control (ESC) are also standard. Intelligent seat belt reminders are fitted to both front seats.

The front seat belt buckles are mounted on the seats and the upper anchorages are adjustable. These features improve the fit of the seat belt. Pretensioners are fitted to the front seat belts to reduce slack in the event of a crash. A three point seat belt is fitted to the centre rear seat. This provides better protection than a two point (lap) seat belt.

Occupant protection:

The Golf scored 15.73 out of 16 in the offset crash test. The passenger compartment held its shape well. There was a slight risk of serious leg injury for the driver.

The vehicle scored 15.99 out of 16 in the side impact crash test. There was a very slight risk of serious chest injury for the driver. A further two points were earned in the optional pole test.

Frontal offset crash test

Body region scores out of 4 points each: Head/neck 4 pts, chest 4 pts, upper legs 4 pts, lower legs 3.73 pts.

The passenger compartment held its shape well in the offset crash test. The brake pedal moved rearwards by 9 mm. The accelerator pedal moved downwards 6mm. The steering wheel hub moved 65mm forward, 22mm downward and 2 mm sideways. The front ("A") pillar moved 6 mm rearwards. All doors remained closed during the crash. After the crash all doors could be opened with normal effort.

The airbag cushioned the head of the driver and contact was stable. A knee airbag protected the driver's knees. The passenger's head was cushioned by the airbag.

Side impact crash test

Body region scores out of 4 points each: Head 4 pts, chest 3.99 pts, abdomen 4 pts, pelvis 4 pts.

The vehicle was eligible for an optional pole impact test, since it had head-protecting side airbags. The manufacturer decided to go ahead with the pole test and the vehicle earned a further two points.

Injury measurements

Body region		Offset crash test at 64 km/h (v4.1)		Side impact crash test at 50 km/h (v4.1)
		Driver	Passenger	Driver
Head HIC		410	418	73
Acceleration (g for 3ms)		48.5	53.1	27.4
Neck - Shear (kN)		0.33	0.39	-
- Tension (kN)		1.29	0.08	-
- Extension (Nm)		12.5	11.4	-
Chest Accln (g for 3ms)		-	-	-
Compression (mm)		18.41	20.32	22.05
Viscous criterion (m/s)		0.07	0.06	0.15
Abdomen - Force (kN)		-	-	0.570
Pelvis - Force (kN)		-	-	1.730
Upper legs - Force (kN)	Left	1.01	0.30
	Right	0.88	0.41
Knee displ (mm)	Left	2.30	0.00
	Right	1.60	0.10
Lower legs - Force (kN)	Left	2.40	1.48
	Right	2.14	1.82
Index (Upper/Low)	Left	0.34/0.41	0.30/0.29
	Right	0.33/0.22	0.37/0.17

Bonus points (maximum 5)

Pole test: 2 pts

Seat belt reminders: 2 (see table below for details)

Modifiers - deductions from offset test scores

Head		No deduction
Chest		No deduction
Upper leg		No deduction
Lower leg		No deduction
Foot score		Score 4 points

Modifiers - deductions from side impact test scores

Chest

No deduction

Safety features

These specifications are subject to change. Please check with manufacturer for the latest specifications.

Driver airbag	S
Passenger front airbag	S
Side airbags, front seats - chest protection	S
Side airbags, front seats - head protection	S
Side airbags, rear seats - head protection *	S
Driver knee airbag	S
Seat belt pretensioners (Front/Rear outboard)	S/X
Antilock (ABS) brakes / Electronic brake distribution / Brake Assist	S/S/S
Electronic stability control (ESC, VSC, DSC, ESP, VSA)	S#
3 point centre rear seat belt	S
Active head restraints - front seats	S
Intelligent seat belt reminder - driver	S
Intelligent seat belt reminder - front passenger	S
Rear seat belt status indicator	X

Key:
* Side airbags with chest protection are optional in New Zealand but are not available in Australia
S = standard on all variants
O = optional on base variant. May be standard on higher variants
V = not available on base variant but standard or optional on higher variants
X = not available on any variant
# = ESC required by ANCAP for 5 star rating from 2008.

Pedestrian protection rating:

The bumper scored maximum points and the front edge of the bonnet was rated as good in some areas. The protection offered by the bonnet to the head of a struck child was rated as predominantly good but that offered to an adult pedestrian was mostly poor.

Child head impacts	8
Adult head impacts	4
Upper leg impacts	3.88
Lower leg impacts	6
Total (out of 36)	21.88

ANCAP printable version (PDF, 482 KB)

Page created: 16 March 2009