Volkswagen Jetta sedan

Test details:

The Volkswagen Jetta sedan was redesigned for the 2011 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 (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 retrofitted by Volkswagen engineers with a new airbag computer identical to that used in the modified production cars.

The ratings below do not apply to the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, which is built on a platform designed earlier.

Structure — The driver space was not maintained well. Lower interior intrusion measured as much as 27 cm at the hinge pillar, and the instrument panel intruded 15-18 cm. The steering column was pushed back 6 cm toward the driver.

Restraints/dummy kinematics — The dummy’s head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off the left side as the steering column moved 14 cm to the right, leaving the head vulnerable to contact with forward structure. The frontal airbag module also detached from the steering column, which didn't appear to affect the dummy's movement because it occurred relatively late in the crash. Still, such detachments shouldn't occur. The side curtain airbag deployed and had sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects.

Injury measures — Measures from the dummy indicate that injuries to the left lower leg would be likely in a crash of this severity. The risk of significant injuries to other body regions is low.