For their day, the original Volkswagen Beetles didn’t have a poor safety record, but Volkswagen is not likely to put the gas tank in front of the cabin again. And the original Type 2 Bus? Well, it didn’t exactly have a front crumple zone, did it? But that was a very different time for the industry. Today, Sisbarro Volkswagen wants you to know that every current model comes with many safety features to help you avoid a collision in the first place and to better survive one after the fact.
As Volkswagen says on its site regarding safety, a lot goes into a VW before you do. Volkswagen may not tout its safety features in all its advertising, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Every model includes a version of IQ.Drive, an array of safety and driver assistance technologies.
To start, every model has a front sonar system. It can detect not only vehicles but also pedestrians, cyclists, and objects in front of you. It is the key sensor for the Front Assist Systems (Forward Collision Warning & Autonomous Emergency Braking w/ Pedestrian Monitoring). It is also key to the very useful Adaptive Cruise control, which lets you use the convenience of cruise control not just on the open highway but also on city highways with moderate traffic, where you can easily keep pace while automatically maintaining a proper distance.
There is also a forward-facing camera, a key component of the Lane Assist feature. Lane Assist monitors lane markings on both sides and gently steers the vehicle back into the lane if it drifts outside the lane with no signal engaged. You are expected to keep your hands on the wheel, but it can be particularly useful for those brief moments when you take a drink or briefly turn your attention away from the road.
Volkswagen tries to keep blind spots to a minimum, but recognizes that some areas may still be obscured at a glance. The Blind Spot Monitor alerts you to vehicles in your blind spots with a light on the inside housing of either side mirror. Using the same sensors, Rear Traffic Avoidance is particularly useful in a parking lot with large adjacent vehicles blocking your view. It will give you visual and audio alerts if a vehicle is approaching from either side while Reverse is engaged.
There are stability-enhancing systems, such as Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD), which help maintain appropriate stopping power during hard braking. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) can adjust engine throttle and apply corrective forces to the wheels that need them most. All Volkswagen vehicles are equipped with a total of six stability-enhancing systems.
A modern VW is likely to look awful after a moderate to severe front or rear collision. That is a good thing, as the front and rear of the vehicle are designed with crumple zones that will do just that: crumple to absorb energy and help distribute forces away from the very rigid laser-welded cabin structure. They may look awful, but a closer look may reveal an intact cabin with doors that still open properly.
After a collision, the vehicle may still be moving, and the driver may be too dazed to react immediately. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System can help slow the vehicle further after an impact, reducing the risk of additional collisions. In most collisions, the Intelligent Crash Response System will automatically turn off the fuel pump (on gas-powered models), turn on the interior lights, unlock the doors, and activate the hazard lights.
Of course, there are a few items you expect because they are required, such as front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger, and side curtain airbags to protect the heads of both front and rear occupants in a side collision. ABS keeps the tires from locking up and losing traction. Also found on every model is the rear-view camera system, which displays what is behind you on the center screen the moment Reverse is engaged.
When you are visiting Sisbarro Volkswagen and looking at new models, your attention will likely be on the feel of the seats, the feel of the controls, and, on a test drive, all of the European-derived vehicle dynamics. It is hard to test the safety features, and we would rather you not, but just know that they are always there.
