Applies to 2016-18 models
| Overall evaluation |
M
|
| Structure and safety cage |
A
|
| Passenger injury measures |
| Head/neck |
A
|
| Chest |
G
|
| Hip/thigh |
G
|
| Lower leg/foot |
G
|
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics |
M
|
| Driver injury measures |
| Head/neck |
G
|
| Chest |
G
|
| Hip/thigh |
G
|
| Lower leg/foot |
G
|
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics |
G
|
| Important: Frontal crash test ratings should be compared only among vehicles of similar weight. |
The Volkswagen Passat was redesigned for the 2012 model year. Beginning with 2013 models built after October 2012, the side curtain airbags were reprogrammed to deploy in small overlap frontal crashes to improve occupant protection. Beginning with 2016 models, the A-pillars and door sills were strengthened and the side curtain airbags were lengthened to further improve such protection.
Structure
The passenger space was maintained reasonably well, with maximum intrusion of the lower interior of 18 cm at the lower hinge pillar. Upper interior intrusion measured 11 cm at the hinge pillar and a maximum of 10 cm at the dashboard.
Passenger injury measures
A high head acceleration occurred when the dummy's head hit the dashboard, indicating that head injuries would be possible in a crash of this severity. The risk of significant injuries to other body regions is low.
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off the right side, allowing the head to move far enough forward to hit the dashboard. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects.
Driver injury measures
Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s movement was well controlled. The dummy’s head loaded the frontal airbag, which stayed in front of the dummy until rebound.
Tested vehicle specifications
| Tested vehicle |
2017 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T S 4-door |
| Weight |
3,269 lbs. |
| Side airbags |
front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags |
| Wheelbase |
110 in. |
| Length |
192 in. |
| Width |
72 in. |
| Engine |
1.8 L turbocharged 4-cylinder |
| EPA ratings |
23 mpg city / 34 mpg highway |
How this test is conducted
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side
| Test ID |
CEP1704 |
| Lower occupant compartment |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) |
18 |
| Footrest (cm) |
12 |
| Right toepan (cm) |
6 |
| Center toepan (cm) |
3 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) |
4 |
| Upper occupant compartment |
| Center dash (cm) |
5 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) |
11 |
| Upper dash (cm) |
8 |
| Right lower dash (cm) |
10 |
Passenger injury measures
| Test ID |
CEP1704 |
| Head |
| HIC-15 |
447 |
| Peak gs at hard contact |
79 |
| Neck |
| Tension (kN) |
2.0 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) |
21 |
| Maximum Nij |
0.37 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) |
23 |
| Femur (kN) |
| Left |
0.0 |
| Right |
1.5 |
| Knee displacement (mm) |
| Left |
0 |
| Right |
2 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) |
| Left |
0 |
| Right |
0 |
| Maximum tibia index |
| Left |
0.41 |
| Right |
0.60 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) |
| Left |
1.5 |
| Right |
1.1 |
| Foot acceleration (g) |
| Left |
45 |
| Right |
34 |
Driver injury measures
| Test ID |
CEP1704 |
| Head |
| HIC-15 |
106 |
| Peak gs at hard contact |
no contact |
| Neck |
| Tension (kN) |
1.0 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) |
19 |
| Maximum Nij |
0.22 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) |
28 |
| Femur (kN) |
| Left |
0.2 |
| Right |
1.0 |
| Knee displacement (mm) |
| Left |
0 |
| Right |
2 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) |
| Left |
0 |
| Right |
0 |
| Maximum tibia index |
| Left |
0.27 |
| Right |
0.28 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) |
| Left |
0.8 |
| Right |
1.9 |
| Foot acceleration (g) |
| Left |
61 |
| Right |
51 |