VW Golf II crashed in a crash test to prove the superiority of modern models

The Dekra organisation has clearly shown how far automotive safety has advanced in recent decades. For this purpose, they conducted a crash test of a 1989 Volkswagen Golf II according to the Euro NCAP protocol of 2020 and compared the results with the modern Golf VIII.

Here's What We Know

The test took place in Neumünster: the Golf II crashed at 64 km/h into a barrier with 40 per cent frontal overlap. This scenario simulates a head-on collision between two identical cars at speeds of around 50-55 kilometres per hour. The result is telling. In the "second" Golf, the passenger capsule completely collapsed, structural elements penetrated the passenger compartment, and the overloads and impact with the steering wheel would have made survival unlikely. In the Golf VIII, the integrity of the passenger capsule was intact, the airbags and restraint systems worked correctly and the occupants would have suffered only minor injuries.

The behaviour of the cars on the move was also compared. On the Lausitzring circuit, the Golf VIII showed a braking distance around 30 per cent shorter than its predecessor, regardless of surface and speed. In the oversteer manoeuvre, the Golf II remained stable only up to 65 km/h, pulling the wheel off the road, whereas the modern Golf passed the test at 75 km/h without losing contact with the pavement.

The striking progress is also noticeable in lighting technology. Halogen headlights Golf II by the standards of the 1980s was a step forward, but next to modern LED headlights Golf VIII look outdated: the new ones give a bright and uniform light, close to daylight, better illuminate pedestrians and cyclists. At the rear, additional LED lights and the mandatory third brake light noticeably increase visibility.

"These tests show what level of safety has been achieved in 35 years," summarised Dekra expert Markus Egelhaaf. He emphasised, however, that the focus on digital services and comfort should not distract carmakers and regulators from the main task of maintaining and improving safety standards.

Source: Motor1