2009 Volkswagen Jetta

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Safety - What the Auto Press Says

The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta gets great safety scores from both the federal government and insurance industry.

Crash Tests

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the '09 Jetta four out of a possible five stars for front impacts, and five stars for side impact crashes. The Jetta also has a four-star rollover rating.
• The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the '09 Jetta a "Good" rating, the highest possible, for both frontal offset and side impact tests. The Jetta is also honored as an IIHS "Top Safety Pick" for good performance in front, side and rear tests with electronic stability control.

Safety Features

The Jetta's safety features are largely well liked. The sedan comes with standard anti-lock disc brakes with brake assist, as well as traction control. Each Jetta also has standard dual front air bags, front side air bags, and side curtain air bags. VW's Active Head Restraint technology built into the front and rear seats. The restraints help prevent whiplash by edging closer to a passenger's head during a near crash.

• "The front seat belts also have pre-tensioners with load limiters for a more effective reaction to need, and the front headrests are active, automatically moving up and forward if the occupants torso is pressed back in the seat, as happens in many kinds of collisions. To help reduce leg injuries, the pedals get away from the driver in the event of a front-end collision." -- Automotive.com