Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2017 Volkswagen Jetta

midsize car / 4-door sedan

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

2017 Volkswagen Jetta 4-door sedan

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
Optional system
Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection

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 2015-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Volkswagen Jetta S 4-door

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. Beginning with 2015 models, the A-pillars and door sills were strengthened to further improve such protection.

Note: The ratings do not apply to the station wagon version of the Jetta, known as the Jetta SportWagen, which is built on a platform designed earlier.

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. 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 very well.

The dummy's head and torso barely contacted the airbag before sliding off to the left, and 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.

The driver's space was maintained very 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 CEN1437
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 8
Footrest (cm) 8
Left toepan (cm) 4
Brake pedal (cm) 4
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Upper dash (cm) 6
Lower instrument panel (cm) 7

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1437
Head
HIC-15 306
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 2.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 19
Maximum Nij 0.41
Chest maximum compression (mm) 24
Femur (kN)
Left 2.6
Right 1.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 5
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.41
Right 0.38
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.2
Right 3.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 47
Right 83

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2015-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T S 4-door

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. Beginning with 2015 models, the A-pillars and door sills were strengthened to further improve such protection.

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

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

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame and dashboard after the crash test indicates that the passenger’s survival space was maintained reasonably well.

The dummy’s head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off the right side and approaching the dashboard.

The passenger’s space was maintained reasonably 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 passenger side

Test ID CEP1703
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 14
Footrest (cm) 10
Right toepan (cm) 4
Center toepan (cm) 2
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 6
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 7
Upper dash (cm) 9
Right lower dash (cm) 10

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CEP1703
Head
HIC-15 289
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 2.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.42
Chest maximum compression (mm) 22
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 1.8
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 4
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.44
Right 0.49
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.1
Right 2.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 43
Right 33

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEP1703
Head
HIC-15 170
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 17
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 34
Femur (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 0.7
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.40
Right 0.23
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.8
Right 2.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 65
Right 62

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2011-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta S 4-door

The Volkswagen Jetta sedan was redesigned for the 2011 model year. Two moderate overlap frontal tests of the Jetta were conducted, one by the Institute and the other by Volkswagen. Ratings are based on both tests.

These ratings do not apply to the station wagon version of the Jetta, known as the Jetta SportWagen, which is built on a platform designed earlier.

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

Action shot taken during the Institute's moderate overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well (Institute test car shown).

Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head hit the roof rail in the Institute's test.

Intrusion into the driver's space was minimal in both tests, and all leg and foot injury measures were low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1006 CEF1011
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 4 8
Left (cm) 9 11
Center (cm) 6 8
Right (cm) 5 5
Brake pedal (cm) 8 4
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 1 2
Right (cm) 2 1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -3 0
Rearward (cm) -5 -1
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0 1

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1006 CEF1011
Head
HIC-15 173 250
Peak gs at hard contact no contact 53
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.6 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 25 21
Maximum Nij 0.31 0.50
Chest maximum compression (mm) 33 33
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.8 3.7
Femur force - right (kN) 1.5 1.7
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0 6
Knee displacement - right (mm) 2 11
Maximum tibia index - left 0.28 0.40
Maximum tibia index - right 0.49 0.76
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.0 1.7
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 3.3 1.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 72 100
Right 124 123

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2011-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4-door with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Volkswagen Jetta sedan was redesigned for the 2011 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen.

Note: The ratings do not apply to the station wagon version of the Jetta, known as the Jetta SportWagen, which is built on a platform designed earlier.

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 VTS1004
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -13.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1004
Head HIC-15 97
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 43
Lateral force (kN) 1.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 43
Average deflection (mm) 40
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.94
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.98
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 2.6
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.5
Combined force (kN) 4.9
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.8
L-M moment (Nm) 31
A-P moment (Nm) 149

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1004
Head HIC-15 313
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 38
Lateral force (kN) 1.2
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 42
Average deflection (mm) 40
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.83
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.65
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.7
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.2
Combined force (kN) 2.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.3
L-M moment (Nm) 59
A-P moment (Nm) 57

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2011-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta S 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight2,963 lbs
Peak force15,859 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.35

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Manual cloth seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 35
Distance below top of head (mm) 10
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 13.0
Head contact time (ms) 53
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 38
Max neck tension (N) 491

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)

  • SEL Premium trim
  • Sport trim equipped with Lighting package
Low-beam headlight typeHID projector
High-beam headlight typeHID projector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
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 fair on the left side of the road and inadequate on the right side. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves, fair on the sharp left curve and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • SEL Premium trim
  • Sport trim equipped with Lighting package
Low-beam headlight type HID projector
High-beam headlight type HID projector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-17 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 76.5 m None
Straightaway left edge 50.9 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 69.6 m None
250m radius left curve, right edge 50.6 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 59.0 m None
150m radius left curve, right edge 49.4 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 154.0 m
Straightaway left edge 136.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 73.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 71.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 64.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 64.0 m

Trim level(s)

  • S trim
  • SE trim
  • SEL trim
  • GLI trim
  • Sport 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 Some glare

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

The low beams created some glare.

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • S trim
  • SE trim
  • SEL trim
  • GLI trim
  • Sport trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-18 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 92.2 m None
Straightaway left edge 45.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 55.9 m 15.8%
250m radius left curve, left edge 44.0 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 46.9 m 23.1%
150m radius left curve, left edge 39.7 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 168.2 m
Straightaway left edge 128.6 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 58.6 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 56.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 47.3 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 44.3 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Optional Front Assist (with Autonomous Emergency Braking)

Package name

  • Optional 1.8L SEL or 1.8L SEL Premium Trims

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2017 models

Advanced
Advanced
with optional equipment
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 9 mph.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2016-18 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimSEL TSI
Seat type leather

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 trimSEL TSI
Seat type leather
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
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult 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
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 31
Clearance angle (degrees) 46
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 28
Clearance angle (degrees) 59
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
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 Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
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 No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 38
Clearance angle (degrees) 52
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 39
Clearance angle (degrees) 43
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation