TOUGH STUFF: This graphic shows the body construction that helped the VW Golf 6 become EuroNCAP's Safest Car of 2009.

 

For the first time the EuroNCAP Institute in Brussels has tabulated all its crash test results for 2009 and named the safest car of the year.

And the winner was the Volkswagen Golf 6 with 103 points.

The Golf 6 had already attained a five-star EuroNCAP rating in 2008. Initially, this testing programme − conducted since 1997 − only assessed frontal crashes, side crashes and pedestrian protection.

After stricter criteria were introduced at the beginning of 2009, the Golf was re-tested and performed impressively in all four categories - occupant protection of adults, protection of children, pedestrian protection and supporting safety and driver assistance systems 33 cars were tested in 2009 under the new, stricter procedure.

The Wolfsburg hatch again attained a five-star rating, racking up 103 points, earning it the title of "Safest car of 2009".

33 cars were tested in 2009 under the new, stricter and more extensive EuroNCAP crash testing procedure.

Electronic safety and assistance systems that help prevent accidents and serious injuries are now also incorporated in a new, stricter assessment method.

The Golf scores highly in this category with standard safety features that include and electronic stability programme with countersteer assistance, antilock braking with braking assistance, traction control, electronic differential lock, engine drag torque control, trailer stabilisation, IsoFix mounting brackets for two child seats on the rear bench and crash bags for driver and front passenger with passenger-side deactivation, knee bag for the driver and a head bag system for front and rear passengers with side crash bags.

The Golf 6 was also the 2008 "Top Safety Pick" of the independent US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In this evaluation vehicles were tested in a frontal crash at 64km/h and in a side crash at 50km/h with a movable barrier shaped like the front end of an SUV.

Seat behaviour was also studied in a rear-end crash.