Top Safety PickTop Safety Pick criteria

2020 Volkswagen GTI

small car / 4-door hatchback

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights (2019 models only)

2020 Volkswagen GTI 4-door hatchback
2019 Volkswagen GTI 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)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system
Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Standard blind spot detection
  • Optional lane departure warning
  • Optional 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 2015-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Volkswagen GTI 4-door

The Volkswagen Golf and GTI were redesigned for the 2015 model year. The small overlap frontal crash test ratings also apply to the station wagon version of the Golf, known as the Golf SportWagen, introduced in the 2015 model year as a replacement for the Jetta SportWagen. Similarly, the ratings apply to the 4-wheel-drive variant of the wagon, the Golf Alltrack, introduced in the 2017 model year.

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 contacted the frontal airbag but nearly slid 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. The side curtain airbag deployed and had 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 contacted the frontal airbag but then nearly slid off the left side. The seat belt allowed the dummy to move too far forward, as is evident from the gap between the seat back and the dummy's torso.

Intrusion into the driver's space was minimal, 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 CEN1422
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 10
Footrest (cm) 7
Left toepan (cm) 3
Brake pedal (cm) 1
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Upper dash (cm) 7
Lower instrument panel (cm) 6

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1422
Head
HIC-15 243
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.7
Extension bending moment (Nm) 17
Maximum Nij 0.31
Chest maximum compression (mm) 24
Femur (kN)
Left 1.1
Right 0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.55
Right 0.53
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 3.1
Right 0.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 75
Right 38

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2015-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Volkswagen GTI 4-door

The Volkswagen Golf and GTI were redesigned for the 2015 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen.

The passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test ratings also apply to the station wagon version of the Golf, known as the Golf SportWagen, introduced in the 2015 model year as a replacement for the Jetta SportWagen. Similarly, the ratings apply to the 4-wheel-drive variant of the wagon, the Golf Alltrack, introduced in the 2017 model year.

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 barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off the right side, 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 VTP1725
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 13
Footrest (cm) 9
Right toepan (cm) 5
Center toepan (cm) 3
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 9
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 11
Upper dash (cm) 12
Right lower dash (cm) 11

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1725
Head
HIC-15 165
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.5
Extension bending moment (Nm) 15
Maximum Nij 0.27
Chest maximum compression (mm) 26
Femur (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 3.9
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 4
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.49
Right 0.29
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.2
Right 1.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 65
Right 65

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1725
Head
HIC-15 159
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 29
Maximum Nij 0.19
Chest maximum compression (mm) 33
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.4
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.35
Right 0.25
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.5
Right 1.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 48
Right 44

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2015-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Volkswagen GTI 4-door

The Volkswagen Golf and GTI were redesigned for the 2015 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen.

The moderate overlap frontal crash test ratings also apply to the station wagon version of the Golf, known as the Golf SportWagen, introduced in the 2015 model year as a replacement for the Jetta SportWagen. Similarly, the ratings apply to the 4-wheel-drive variant of the wagon, the Golf Alltrack, introduced in the 2017 model year.

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 VTF1401
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 3
Left (cm) 4
Center (cm) 2
Right (cm) 1
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -2
Rearward (cm) -7
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1401
Head
HIC-15 301
Peak gs at hard contact 26
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 43
Maximum Nij 0.33
Chest maximum compression (mm) 33
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.2
Femur force - right (kN) 0.3
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.37
Maximum tibia index - right 0.98
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.7
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 1.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 95
Right 82

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2015-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Volkswagen GTI 4-door with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Volkswagen Golf and GTI were redesigned for the 2015 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen.

The side crash test ratings also apply to the station wagon version of the Golf, known as the Golf SportWagen, introduced in the 2015 model year as a replacement for the Jetta SportWagen. Similarly, the ratings apply to the 4-wheel-drive variant of the wagon, the Golf Alltrack, introduced in the 2017 model year.

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 VTS1402
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -22.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1402
Head HIC-15 154
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Compression (kN) 0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 43
Lateral force (kN) 1.2
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 34
Average deflection (mm) 32
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.67
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.40
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 2.1
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.7
Combined force (kN) 3.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.8
L-M moment (Nm) 266
A-P moment (Nm) 41

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1402
Head HIC-15 112
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 43
Lateral force (kN) 1.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 37
Average deflection (mm) 31
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.47
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.44
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.3
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.8
Combined force (kN) 2.8
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.0
L-M moment (Nm) 65
A-P moment (Nm) 28

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2015-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Volkswagen GTI 4-door

Rating applies to the GTI 4-door (tested), Golf 4-door, and the structurally similar Golf SportWagen and Golf Alltrack.

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,166 lbs
Peak force18,303 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.78

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leather seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 29
Distance below top of head (mm) 12
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 15.1
Head contact time (ms) 60
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 6
Max neck tension (N) 397

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

Headlights

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

Trim level(s)

  • SE trim
  • Autobahn trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED 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 the left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp left and sharp right curves and fair on the gradual right and gradual left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the left side of the road and inadequate on the right side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • SE trim
  • Autobahn trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2019-21 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 79.5 m None
Straightaway left edge 60.1 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 63.2 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 60.5 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 56.2 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 56.6 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 120.4 m
Straightaway left edge 141.2 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 64.0 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 61.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 53.1 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 54.2 m

Trim level(s)

  • S trim
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
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 inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • S trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2018-21 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 66.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 38.8 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 49.4 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 39.0 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 43.5 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 36.7 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 137.0 m
Straightaway left edge 113.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 63.9 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 59.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 49.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 45.5 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard Front Assist (with Autonomous Emergency Braking)

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2020-21 models

Superior
Superior
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • standard Front Assist (with Autonomous Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring)

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2019-21 models

Advanced
Advanced

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 16 mph.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow.
  • In the 37 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow. A warning was issued 0.1 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2017-21 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimS
Seat type cloth

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 trimS
Seat type cloth
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
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 Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 67
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 65
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

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 Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 68
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 65
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation