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ood
A
cceptable
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arginal
P
oor
Volkswagen
Beetle

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2014 Volkswagen Beetle

Small car
  • Small overlap front
    M
  • Moderate overlap front
    G
  • Side
    G
  • Roof strength
    G
  • Head restraints & seats
    G
2013 Volkswagen Beetle shown
2013 Volkswagen Beetle shown

Print full report for this vehicle

1
Side airbags: front seat-mounted combination head and torso airbags
2
Electronic stability control
3
Antilock brakes
4
Daytime running lights
Model yearFront moderate overlapFront small overlapSideRoof strengthHead restraints & seats
2014
G
M
G
G
G
2013
G
M
G
G
G
2012
G
G
G

Applies to 2013-14 models

Overall evaluation
M
Structure and safety cage
A
Injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
G
Retraints and dummy kinematics
P
Important: Frontal crash test ratings should be compared only among vehicles of similar weight.

The Volkswagen Beetle was redesigned for the 2012 model year after a one-year absence from the market. Beginning with 2013 models built after March 2013, the side airbags were reprogrammed to deploy in small overlap frontal crashes. Also, the door and B-pillar structure was modified to improve occupant protection (note: information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on or near the driver door).

Structure

The driver space was maintained reasonably well, with maximum intrusion of the lower interior of 17 cm at the lower hinge pillar, and the instrument panel intruded 10-11 cm.

Injury measures

Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity. Head acceleration from the instrument panel hit was low.

Restraints and dummy kinematics

The dummy’s head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off the left side as the steering column moved 12 cm to the right. Additionally, the seat belt allowed excessive forward excursion of the dummy’s head and torso, contributing to the head hitting the instrument panel. The seat-mounted combination head/torso side airbag did not deploy, despite the reprogramming, leaving the dummy's head vulnerable to contacts with side structure and outside objects.

Tested vehicle specifications

Tested vehicle2013 Volkswagen Beetle 2-door
Weight 3,030 lbs.
Side airbagsfront seat-mounted combination head and torso airbags
Wheelbase100 in.
Length168 in.
Width71 in.
Engine2.5 L 5-cylinder
EPA ratings22 mpg city / 29 mpg highway

How this test is conducted

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test IDCEN1316
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)17
Footrest (cm)11
Lower occupant compartment
Left toepan (cm)7
Brake pedal (cm)4
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)9
Steering column2
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)5
Upper occupant compartment
Upper dash (cm)11
Lower instrument panel (cm)7

Driver injury measures

Test IDCEN1316
Head
HIC-15293
Peak gs at hard contactno contact
Neck
Tension (kN)1.6
Extension bending moment (Nm)18
Maximum Nij 0.33
Chest maximum compression (mm)23
Femur (kN)
Left2.2
Right1.6
Knee displacement (mm)
Left2
Right0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left0
Right0
Maximum tibia
Left0.53
Right0.55
Maximum tibia index
Left0.53
Right0.55
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left2.1
Right2.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left94
Right79

Applies to 2012-14 models

Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Leg/foot, left
G
Leg/foot, right
A
Retraints and dummy kinematics
G
Important: Frontal crash test ratings should be compared only among vehicles of similar weight.

The Volkswagen Beetle was redesigned for the 2012 model year after a one-year absence from the market. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen as part of frontal crash test verification.

Injury measures

Measures taken from the head, neck, and chest indicate low risk of injuries to these body regions in a crash of this severity. A high acceleration was recorded on the right foot, indicating that foot injuries would be possible. Head acceleration from the roof rail hit was low.

Restraints and dummy kinematics

Dummy movement was well controlled. During rebound, the dummy's head hit the roof rail.

Tested vehicle specifications

Tested vehicle2012 Volkswagen Beetle 2-door
Weight 3,117 lbs.
Side airbagsfront seat-mounted combination head and torso airbags
Wheelbase100 in.
Length168 in.
Width71 in.
Engine2.5 L 5-cylinder
EPA ratings22 mpg city / 29 mpg highway

How this test is conducted

Measures of occcupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test IDVTF1120
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)3
Left (cm)5
Center (cm)7
Right (cm)4
Brake pedal (cm)2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)0
Right (cm)0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)0
Rearward (cm)3
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)0

Driver injury measures

Test IDVTF1120
Head
HIC-15256
Peak gs at hard contact25.000000
Neck
Tension (kN)1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm)31
Maximum Nij 0.24
Chest maximum compression (mm)34
Legs
Femur force - left (kN)0.5
Femur force - right (kN)2.5
Knee displacement - left (mm)0
Knee displacement - right (mm)9
Maximum tibia index - left0.40
Maximum tibia index - right0.76
Tibia axial force - left (kN)1.5
Tibia axial force - right (kN)3.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left78
Right183

Applies to 2013-14 models

Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
A
Pelvis/leg
G
Head protection
G
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
A
Pelvis/leg
G
Head protection
A
Side crash test ratings can be compared across vehicle categories.

The Volkswagen Beetle was redesigned for the 2012 model year after a one-year absence from the market. Beginning with 2013 models built after March 2013, the door and B-pillar structure was modified to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes (note: information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on or near the driver door). The tested car was built after the modifications were made.

Injury measures

Driver — Measures taken from the dummy indicate that rib fractures would be possible in a crash of this severity. The risk of significant injuries to other body regions is low.

Passenger — Measures taken from the dummy indicate that rib fractures and/or internal organ injuries would be possible in a crash of this severity. The risk of significant injuries to other body regions is low.

Head protection

Driver — The dummy's head was protected from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier, by a side airbag that deployed from the seat.

Passenger — The dummy's head was hit by the window sill and then by the pillar behind the window. According to Volkswagen, both surfaces satisfy the federal standard to provide some protection for occupants' heads.

Tested vehicle specifications

Tested vehicle2013 Volkswagen Beetle 2-door
Weight 3,034 lbs.
Side airbagsstandard front seat-mounted combination head and torso airbags
Wheelbase100 in.
Length168 in.
Width71 in.
Engine2.5 L 5-cylinder
EPA ratings22 mpg city / 29 mpg highway

How this test is conducted

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test IDCES1305
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.		-15.5

Driver injury measures

Test IDCES1305
Head HIC-15382
Neck
Tension (kN)1.1
Compression (kN)0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)45
Lateral force (kN)1.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)41
Average deflection (mm)35
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)4.08
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)0.56
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)1.1
Acetabulum force (kN)2.8
Combined force (kN)3.3
Left femur
L-M force (kN)0.6
L-M moment (Nm)195
A-P moment (Nm) 55

Passenger injury measures

Test IDCES1305
Head HIC-15393
Neck
Tension (kN)1.1
Compression (kN)0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)33
Lateral force (kN)1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)36
Average deflection (mm)25
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)7.36
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)1.11
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)0.1
Acetabulum force (kN)1.3
Combined force (kN)1.3
Left femur
L-M force (kN)0.2
L-M moment (Nm)126
A-P moment (Nm) -69

Applies to 2012-14 models

Overall evaluation
G
Curb weight3,024 lbs
Peak force16,594 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.49
Roof strength test ratings can be compared across vehicle categories.

In the test, the strength of the roof is determined by pushing a metal plate against one side of it at a slow but constant speed. The force applied relative to the vehicle's weight is known as the strength-to-weight ratio. This graph shows how the ratio varied as the test of this vehicle progressed. The peak strength-to-weight ratio recorded at any time before the roof is crushed 5 inches is the key measurement of roof strength.

A good rating requires a strength-to-weight ratio of at least 4. In other words, the roof must withstand a force of at least 4 times the vehicle's weight before the plate crushes the roof by 5 inches. For an acceptable rating, the minimum required strength-to-weight ratio is 3.25. For a marginal rating, it is 2.5. Anything lower than that is poor.

How this test is conducted

Applies to 2012-14 models

Overall evaluation
G
Dynamic rating
G
Seat/head restraint geometry
G
Important: Head restraints & seats ratings should be compared only among vehicles of similar weight.

Seat type

Manual leatherette seats

How this test is conducted

Seat typeManual leatherette seats
Geometry
Backset (mm)38
Distance below top of head (mm)34
Seat design parameters
Pass/failPass
Max T1 acceleration (g)14.2
Head contact time (ms)54
Force ratingLow
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N)51
Max neck tension (N)265

©1996-2013, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute | www.iihs.org