NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The 2005 Volkswagen Jetta received the best score ever in a side-impact crash test performed by an insurance group.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which conducts its own tests apart from the federal vehicle crash ratings, gave the VW car its top rating of "good" in every individual measurement category -- injury measures, head protection, and structural design -- for a side-impact crash. No other vehicle tested has ever gotten the good rating on all three measures.

In the institute's side-impact crash test, a barrier strikes the car at the height of an occupant's head, which it said simulates the kind of crash that happens when an SUV or pickup hits a car from the side.

The Jetta's results "show you don't have to spend a lot of money to get a vehicle that offers good protection in front and side crashes," said a statement from Institute president Brian O'Neill. "We want more manufacturers to do what Volkswagen has done and make side airbags with head protection standard in all of their vehicles."

more:
http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/25/Autos/iihs...dex.htm?cnn=yes

k.

lol

This is actually good, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety actually tests vehicles unlike the NHTS group. The NHTS gives 4 or 5 stars to everyone, and doesn't test multiple angles of crashes and whatnot. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety really does put a vehicle through extensive testing.

Nice... this new Jetta is now called Bora in Mexico

and in europe too (bora).

really nice car i must say for people who are looking for a safe vehicle.

And it's all grown up. Kind of.

Unfortunately, I assume the reason that it gets better ratings than the old Jetta is because it's bigger . I've got a 95, and one thing I've always loved about it is how small it is. ie easy to parallel park, etc.

But, kudos to VW for a safe[r] car. damn germans and their engineering

yeah but here it used to be called jetta until the 5th gen was unveiled.... in europe it's always been the bora