2023 Volkswagen Jetta

midsize car / 4-door sedan

2023 Volkswagen Jetta 4-door sedan

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Side: original test
Side: updated 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
Basic
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)
Standard system
Basic

Seat belts & child restraints

Seat belt reminders
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 2019-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T SEL Premium 4-door

The Volkswagen Jetta was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
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 driver side

Test ID VTN1812
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 9
Footrest (cm) 7
Left toepan (cm) 3
Brake pedal (cm) 4
Parking brake (cm) 0
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 0
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 2
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Upper dash (cm) 7
Lower instrument panel (cm) 7

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTN1812
Head
HIC-15 242
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.6
Extension bending moment (Nm) 16
Maximum Nij 0.26
Chest maximum compression (mm) 26
Femur (kN)
Left 0.7
Right 0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.56
Right 0.37
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.5
Right 1.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 57
Right 73

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T SEL Premium 4-door

The Volkswagen Jetta was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
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 VTP1828
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 11
Footrest (cm) 9
Right toepan (cm) 5
Center toepan (cm) 3
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Upper dash (cm) 8
Right lower dash (cm) 10

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1828
Head
HIC-15 147
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 11
Maximum Nij 0.19
Chest maximum compression (mm) 26
Femur (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 0.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 3
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.41
Right 0.46
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.6
Right 1.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 55
Right 30

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1828
Head
HIC-15 145
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 8
Maximum Nij 0.21
Chest maximum compression (mm) 31
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.37
Right 0.27
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 0.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 34
Right 43

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T S 4-door

The Volkswagen Jetta was redesigned for the 2019 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.

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 contacted the side curtain airbag, mainly during rebound, 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 CEF1803 VTF1824
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 4 7
Left (cm) 6 10
Center (cm) 5 6
Right (cm) 1 4
Brake pedal (cm) 3 3
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0 -2
Right (cm) 0 -1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -3 -1
Rearward (cm) -6 -6
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF1803 VTF1824
Head
HIC-15 252 215
Peak gs at hard contact no contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3 1.4
Extension bending moment (Nm) 7 7
Maximum Nij 0.24 0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25 30
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.2 1.6
Femur force - right (kN) 0.1 1.6
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.26 0.30
Maximum tibia index - right 0.79 0.52
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.1 2.1
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.4 2.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 61 71
Right 86 130

About the original moderate overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: updated test

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Volkswagen Jetta 1.5T S 4-door

The Volkswagen Jetta was redesigned for the 2019 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh/hip
Leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh
Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics

View of the vehicle after the crash showing the airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

The rear passenger dummy's head approached the front seatback, which increases the risk of head injuries.

Rear passenger dummy injury values indicate a likely risk of injury to the head or neck and chest. During the crash, the shoulder belt remained in an ideal position on the dummy’s chest.

The rear passenger dummy's lap belt remained in the ideal position on the pelvis.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEF2310
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 3
Left (cm) 4
Center (cm) 5
Right (cm) 1
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -1
Rearward (cm) -5
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF2310
Head
HIC-15 239
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm) 28
Femur (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.24
Right 0.41
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.4
Right 1.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 52
Right 42

Rear passenger injury measures

Test ID CEF2310
Head
HIC-15 for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 3.4
Compression (kN) 0.4
Maximum Nij for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Chest
Chest index 46
Shoulder belt tension (kN) 6.0
Thigh (kN)
Left femur compression 0.2
Right femur compression 0.3

About the moderate overlap front test

February 2024 adjustment to rating criteria

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T SEL Premium 4-door

The Volkswagen Jetta was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen.

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 VTS1822
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -21.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1822
Head HIC-15 192
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Compression (kN) 0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 35
Lateral force (kN) 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 39
Average deflection (mm) 34
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 7.76
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.88
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 2.3
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.1
Combined force (kN) 4.4
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.5
L-M moment (Nm) 21
A-P moment (Nm) 195

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1822
Head HIC-15 241
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 36
Lateral force (kN) 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 34
Average deflection (mm) 26
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.24
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.41
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.3
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.1
Combined force (kN) 2.2
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.6
L-M moment (Nm) 99
A-P moment (Nm) 56

About the original side crash test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2019-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T S 4-door

The Volkswagen Jetta was redesigned for the 2019 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES2219
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -18.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES2219
Head
HIC-15 226
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Compression (kN) 0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 27
Lateral force (kN) 1.1
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 47
Average deflection (mm) 37
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 5.51
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 1.00
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 5.3

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES2219
Head
HIC-15 274
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.4
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 50
Lateral force (kN) 1.7
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 43
Average deflection (mm) 39
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.35
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.82
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 4.7

About the side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2019-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T S 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight2,942 lbs
Peak force17,181 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.84

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) 40
Distance below top of head (mm) 14
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 12.4
Head contact time (ms) 68
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 46
Max neck tension (N) 411

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 trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
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 fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve, fair on the sharp right and sharp left curves, and inadequate on the gradual 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.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on both left 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? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2019-24 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 83.8 m None
Straightaway left edge 50.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 65.1 m None
250m radius left curve, right edge 48.2 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 50.4 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 45.7 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 105.0 m
Straightaway left edge 66.0 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 63.6 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 55.1 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 48.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 47.3 m

Trim level(s)

  • S trim
  • SE trim
  • Sport trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED 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 fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • S trim
  • SE trim
  • Sport trim
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2019-24 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 68.8 m None
Straightaway left edge 33.3 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 56.3 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 38.1 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 51.0 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 34.1 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 153.3 m
Straightaway left edge 120.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 67.7 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 57.1 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 55.6 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 44.9 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

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

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2022-23 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 2022-24 models

Basic
Basic

Crossing child

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

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 18 mph.

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 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)

Night

System details

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

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2023-24 models
Basic
Basic

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 18 mph when using its high beams. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 18 mph.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle failed to slow.
  • In the 37 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow when using its high beams and a warning was issued 0 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, this vehicle failed to slow and a warning was issued 0 seconds before impact.

About pedestrian front crash prevention test

Seat belt reminders

Rating applies to 2021-24 models

Overall evaluation
Front row
Unbelted occupant alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
DurationNegligible (under 8 seconds)
Volume
Audio frequency
Second row
Startup status alert (visual)
None
Technical measurements for this test
Background cabin sound pressure level at 24 km/h 52 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 24 km/h 54 dB
Difference between background and signal 1.8 dB
Background cabin sound pressure level at 40 km/h 55 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 40 km/h 58 dB
Difference between background and signal 2.6 dB
Dominant audio frequency 600 Hz

About the seat belt reminder evaluation

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2019-24 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
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
not 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 Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) could not measure
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) could not measure
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
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 Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
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) could not measure
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) could not measure
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
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