2021 Volkswagen GTI

small car / 4-door hatchback

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

Evaluation criteria	Rating
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

Standard blind spot detection
Optional lane departure warning
Optional lane departure prevention
Standard rear automatic braking

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.

Evaluation criteria	Rating

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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

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.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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 weight	3,166 lbs
Peak force	18,303 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio	5.78

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

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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:

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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux 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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

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

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

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	S
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.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	S
Seat type	cloth

Rating icon	Rating
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

Position	Rating
1
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
2	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	none available
3
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

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

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

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