2021 Volkswagen Passat

midsize car / 4-door sedan

2021 Volkswagen Passat 4-door sedan
2020 Volkswagen Passat shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Standard daytime running lights
  • Standard blind spot detection
  • Optional lane departure warning
  • Standard lane departure prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T S 4-door

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.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off the left side, leaving the head vulnerable to contact with forward structure. Additionally, the seat belt allowed excessive forward excursion of the dummy’s head and torso to the extent the head hit the steering wheel rim. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects.

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well.

During the crash, the dummy's head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off to the left, and the seat belt allowed far too much forward movement of the dummy.

The driver's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1533
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 10
Footrest (cm) 6
Left toepan (cm) 3
Brake pedal (cm) 4
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 3
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 3
Upper dash (cm) 6
Lower instrument panel (cm) 6

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1533
Head
HIC-15 234
Peak gs at hard contact 31
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 20
Maximum Nij 0.34
Chest maximum compression (mm) 19
Femur (kN)
Left 1.2
Right 0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.39
Right 0.46
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.8
Right 0.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 69
Right 79

How the driver-side small overlap front test is conducted

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2020-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T S 4-door

The Volkswagen Passat was redesigned for the 2012 model year. Beginning with 2016 models, the A-pillars and door sills were strengthened and the side curtain airbags were lengthened to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes. Beginning with 2020 models, the front-end structure, passenger frontal airbag, and front seat belts were modified to further improve protection in passenger-side small overlap crashes.

Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen as part of frontal crash test verification.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s head contacted the right side of the frontal airbag but began to slide to the right into the gap between the frontal and side curtain airbags, leaving the head vulnerable to contact with forward structure. 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
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP1921
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 11
Footrest (cm) 9
Right toepan (cm) 7
Center toepan (cm) 6
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Upper dash (cm) 7
Right lower dash (cm) 8

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1921
Head
HIC-15 237
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.22
Chest maximum compression (mm) 23
Femur (kN)
Left 1.0
Right 1.6
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.36
Right 0.40
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.6
Right 2.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 63
Right 69

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1921
Head
HIC-15 105
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 11
Maximum Nij 0.16
Chest maximum compression (mm) 24
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 1.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.57
Right 0.40
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.0
Right 3.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 41
Right 65

How the passenger-side small overlap front test is conducted

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2012-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2012 Volkswagen Passat S 4-door

The Volkswagen Passat was redesigned for the 2012 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen as part of frontal crash test verification.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1104
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 3
Left (cm) 7
Center (cm) 6
Right (cm) 6
Brake pedal (cm) 4
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -5
Rearward (cm) -3
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1104
Head
HIC-15 167
Peak gs at hard contact 34
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.24
Chest maximum compression (mm) 34
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.3
Femur force - right (kN) 0.8
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.33
Maximum tibia index - right 0.71
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.7
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 1.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 86
Right 134

How the moderate overlap front test is conducted

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2012-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2012 Volkswagen Passat S 4-door with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Volkswagen Passat was redesigned for the 2012 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen as part of side crash test verification.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1104
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -16.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1104
Head HIC-15 413
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Compression (kN) 0.0
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 32
Lateral force (kN) 1.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 36
Average deflection (mm) 33
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.00
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.50
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 2.4
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.7
Combined force (kN) 4.0
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.3
L-M moment (Nm) 56
A-P moment (Nm) 149

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1104
Head HIC-15 127
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 1.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 27
Lateral force (kN) 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 30
Average deflection (mm) 27
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.78
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.47
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.4
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.6
Combined force (kN) 1.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 2.0
L-M moment (Nm) 189
A-P moment (Nm) 46

How the side crash test is conducted

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2012-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight 3,256 lbs
Peak force 20,592 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio 6.32

How the roof strength test is conducted

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seats

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leather seats
Geometry
Backset (mm) 24
Distance below top of head (mm) 20
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 12.6
Head contact time (ms) 60
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 19
Max neck tension (N) 548

How the head restraint & seat test is conducted
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • SEL trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve and fair on the sharp right and both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway, on both left curves and on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • SEL trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2020-22 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 97.0 m None
Straightaway left edge 64.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 66.6 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 62.7 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 52.7 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 50.0 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 158.5 m
Straightaway left edge 169.7 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 71.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 70.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 56.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 55.3 m

Trim level(s)

  • S trim
  • SE trim
  • R-Line trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual left and both right curves and inadequate on the sharp left curve.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • S trim
  • SE trim
  • R-Line trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2020-22 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 95.0 m None
Straightaway left edge 67.6 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 61.6 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 56.0 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 49.3 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 44.4 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 99.0 m
Straightaway left edge 71.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 61.3 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 56.3 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 49.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 45.9 m

How headlights are evaluated

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2015-22 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim SE
Seat type leatherette

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim SE
Seat type leatherette
1 2 3
G Good
A Acceptable
M Marginal
P Poor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 16
Clearance angle (degrees) 71
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 17
Clearance angle (degrees) 74
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
No

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
No

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 15
Clearance angle (degrees) 76
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 14
Clearance angle (degrees) 73
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
No

How child seat anchors are evaluated