Euro NCAP confirms five stars for the safest Polo ever

Volkswagen put together a safety package for the new 5th-generation Polo including optimised body structure, a highly effective belt-and-airbag combination and driver-assist systems. The result is the safest compact car in the world.

During the most recent tests performed by the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the Polo was subjected to a controlled collision with a barrier at a speed of 64 km/h, whereby the passenger cell remained virtually undamaged. The crash dummies testify to the Polo's high scores in the most important categories: occupant protection and child safety. The structurally rigid body, among other things, contributes to this result.

The extreme rigidity of the new Polo was achieved through, among other things, the use of high-strength and ultra high-strength steels in the side structures and footwell. The extremely rigid bumper cross-member in front ensures that impact forces are distributed.

But pedestrian safety is just as important as occupant safety. The requirements for pedestrian safety were already integrated into the developmental work during the design phase of the new Polo. Consequently, the "harp", as the newly designed sheet metal behind the front bumper cover is called, provides the deformation space necessary to minimize the severity of leg injuries.

Electronic safety and assistance systems which prevent accidents or avoid severe injuries are also evaluated in the new Euro NCAP procedure. One of the most important assistance systems, the electronic stabilisation programme ESP, is standard in the Polo. Additional standard equipment such as a highly effective belt-and-airbag combination as well as front head restraints which counteract whiplash further improves safety.