New 2007 Volkswagen GTI Safety Review [ 2009 , 2008 ]
Volkswagen GTI Safety Review
Safety - 9.1 (Excellent)
Reviewers' consensus is that the GTI is very competitive for its class with regards to safety. Cars.com points out, "While the rest of the auto industry is just getting around to including ergonomic/safety features ... Volkswagens have had them for years."
The Auto Channel sums up the reasoning: "The new GTI ... surrounds its occupants with a strong structure, and has dual front, front side, and side curtain air bags, side door beams, active front head restraints, strong four-wheel antilock disc brakes, traction control, and the ESP electronic stability program." Limited crash test data is available for the GTI, which was fully revamped last year, but it did receive four out of five stars in frontal crash tests and five out of five stars in side crash tests in government crash tests.
Accident Avoidance
New Car Test Drive provides a helpful rundown of some of the GTI's standard accident-avoidance features: "ABS comes standard, helping the driver maintain steering control while braking. Brake Assist helps the driver maintain full braking pressure in an emergency stopping situation. Electronic brake-force distribution balances braking front to rear for quicker, more stable braking." Also standard is a tire-pressure monitoring. Perhaps because of all of these features, the Oregonian reports, "The GTI never felt unstable and remained well-glued to the road in all weather conditions." Cars.com offers an important safety tip, noting, "If you intend to drive in snow, you must get winter or at least all-season tires. The standard rubber is a summer tire -- disastrous in snow."
Crash Protection
Six standard air bags surround driver and passengers within the GTI's sturdy frame. Autobytel rationalizes the GTI's strong performance: "The front passenger's seat has an occupant detection system, each front bucket boasts an active headrest to help prevent whiplash, a crash sensor unlocks the doors in the event of a crash, and all five passengers, even the one riding the middle hump out back, gets a three-point lap and shoulder seatbelt." Special child-seat anchors offer extra safety for children. According to About.com, "The second row LATCH child-seat anchors were easy to access -- in fact I found them easier to find and reach in the GTI than they in the much larger VW Touareg SUV."
