2012 Volkswagen Golf  RealSafeCars74Safety Rating

#39 of 2012 Sedan/Hatchback/Wagons

#87 of all 2012 vehicles


Pictured: 2015 Volkswagen Golf
The Golf, part of Volkswagen's lineup for decades, is a midsize hatchback with seating up to 5. Strong on technology, it has offered Android Auto and Apple CarPlay since 2016. Volkswagen offers a 6-year, 72,000-mile basic/powertrain warranty on its lineup.


The 2012 Volkswagen Golf is below average compared to all vehicles.

Comparison to all vehicles.  This plot shows RSC safety scores on the horizontal axis vs. the number of vehicles with each safety score (depicted by bar height and percentages at the bottom). Colors reflect vehicle safety, ranging from red (not that safe) to green (safer). For reference, a score of 0 implies a 0.15% chance of driver death (13% chance of driver injury) over 15 years, and a score of 100 reflects a 0.016% chance (1.4% chance of driver injury). The 2012 Volkswagen Golf has a score of 74, implying a 0.05% chance of driver death (4.5% chance of injury).

We estimate that the 2012 Volkswagen Golf has a vehicle lifetime fatality chance of 0.0502% and a vehicle lifetime injury chance of 5.7279%, meaning the average driver has a 0.0502% chance of dying in an accident if they drive the car under regular conditions for fifteen years, and a 5.7279% chance of being injured.

Compared to the average vehicle, the 2012 Volkswagen Golf is 8% more likely to result in a fatal accident. Compared to other sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons, the 2012 Volkswagen Golf is 1% less likely to result in a fatal accident.


But it is safer than many comparable models.

8353Toyota MatrixHyundai VelosterToyota Scion tCNissan AltimaDodge CaliberMitsubishi LancerVolkswagen BeetleVolkswagen GolfNissan JukeVolkswagen JettaM. Outlander SportToyota Scion xBComparison to similar models.  This plot compares the RSC rating of the 2012 Volkswagen Golf with its main competition. Models are plotted on a scale from 53 to 83. The 2012 Volkswagen Golf is safer than the 2012 Toyota Matrix, the 2012 Hyundai Veloster, the 2012 Toyota Scion tC, the 2012 Nissan Altima, the 2012 Dodge Caliber, the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer, the 2012 Toyota Scion xB, the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, and the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta and less safe than the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle. It is about as safe as the 2012 Nissan Juke.

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