VW Atlas Receive NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Rating

Volkswagen does know how to build cars that meet safety standards. In this case, the 2018 VW Atlas, the automaker’s only U.S.-made three-row crossover, joins other models that have earned a 5-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The federal safety agency runs the government’s New-Car Assessment Program (NCAP) which has provided people with vehicle safety information since 1978.

The 2018 Atlas joins the Golf family, as well as the Jetta, Jetta GLI and Passat as 2017 models that have earned 5-Star ratings from the NHTSA. The 2017 Beetle Coupe also received a 5-Star Rating. VW Atlas Wins Connected Award.

Ratings Make Up New-Car Assessment Program

The NCAP provides front, side, and rollover crash test scores. The ratings aim at assisting consumers in making their vehicle purchasing decisions. Buyers receive the rating results, using an easy to recognize one to five rating system with five being the best.

Hendrik Muth, senior vice president, product marketing, and strategy, said that Volkswagen designed the Atlas for the modern family. “There’s nothing more important than keeping your family safe, and the Atlas is engineered to help do that with excellent structural integrity and numerous available safety and driver assistance features,” the VW exec said.

Atlas, like the rest of the VW lineup, provides an assortment of active and passive safety systems. It is built to meet or exceed all current safety regulations. For example, the Atlas features six airbags – driver, passenger, driver and passenger side and full-length curtain) – along with a number electronic safety systems.

Also, the crossover has the latest version of VW’s 4Motion® all-wheel-drive technology as an available feature. The all-wheel-drive system optimizes traction and provides greater stability.

Unique Accident Safety System

Another feature unique to Atlas in this class is Automatic Post-Collision Braking. It is standard on all models. The system has an interesting premise. It is that a collision isn’t just a single action. Instead, it is a series of events that follow the first impact – the most significant of which can cause other collisions.

The Automatic Post-Collision Braking system handles this by applying the brakes when the airbag sensors detect the initial collision. In turn, this reduces the residual kinetic energy and, in turn, chances for additional damage.

Atlas also features driver assistance systems including Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring (Front Assist), Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert. Also, Atlas features Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist), front and rear Park Distance Control with Maneuver Braking (ParkPilot), Parking Steering Assistance (Park Assist), High Beam Control (Light Assist) and Overhead View Camera (Area View).

Source: Volkswagen