2016 Volkswagen Golf  RealSafeCars78Safety Rating

#33 of 2016 Sedan/Hatchback/Wagons

#73 of all 2016 vehicles


Pictured: 2015 Volkswagen Golf
The Golf, a mainstay of Volkswagen's lineup for decades, is a small hatchback with seating up to 5. The Volkswagen Golf has some real zest, surpassing typical horsepower for its class. The Golf has offered Android Auto and Apple CarPlay since 2016. Volkswagen offers a 6-year, 72,000-mile basic/powertrain warranty on its lineup.


The 2016 Volkswagen Golf is 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 2016 Volkswagen Golf has a score of 78, implying a 0.045% chance of driver death (4% chance of injury).

We estimate that the 2016 Volkswagen Golf has a vehicle lifetime fatality chance of 0.0447% and a vehicle lifetime injury chance of 5.1096%, meaning the average driver has a 0.0447% chance of dying in an accident if they drive the car under regular conditions for fifteen years, and a 5.1096% chance of being injured.

Compared to the average vehicle, the 2016 Volkswagen Golf is 4% less likely to result in a fatal accident. Compared to other sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons, the 2016 Volkswagen Golf is 11% less likely to result in a fatal accident.

2016 Volkswagen Golf offers AEB optionally. With AEB, the vehicle lifetime fatality chance drops by 1%.


But it is safer than many comparable models.

8458Hyundai VelosterKia ForteMazda CX-3Honda HR-VToyota Scion iMFord FocusFIAT 500LVolkswagen GolfChevrolet TraxV. Golf SportWagenNissan JukeVolkswagen BeetleComparison to similar models.  This plot compares the RSC rating of the 2016 Volkswagen Golf with its main competition. Models are plotted on a scale from 58 to 84. The 2016 Volkswagen Golf is safer than the 2016 Hyundai Veloster, the 2016 Kia Forte, the 2016 Mazda CX-3, the 2016 Honda HR-V, the 2016 Toyota Scion iM, the 2016 Ford Focus, the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle, the 2016 Nissan Juke, and the 2016 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen. It is about as safe as the 2016 FIAT 500L.

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