Volkswagen’s recently updated Polo Vivo has been awarded a four-star safety rating by the Global New Car Assessment programme, which makes the Volkswagen Polo Vivo one of the safest cars in the segment as well as the safest passenger vehicle available in South Africa that has been tested by the Global NCAP programme.

Volkswagen’s recently updated Polo Vivo has been awarded a four-star safety rating by the Global New Car Assessment programme. Global NCAP is a leading independent vehicle safety assessment organisation which promotes the universal adoption of the United Nation’s motor vehicle standard. Global NCAP is also the only organisation that tests cars in the exact specification in which they are sold in various markets. In the case of the Polo Vivo, as the car is sold in South Africa.

The four-star rating achieved by the Volkswagen Polo Vivo makes it one of the safest cars in the segment and also the safest passenger vehicle available in South Africa that has been tested by the Global NCAP programme.

The Polo Vivo, developed specifically for African markets, underwent stringent testing in accordance with Global NCAP’s 2024 test assessment criteria. During testing the vehicle demonstrated exceptional performance which saw it achieve a four-star rating in the Adult Occupancy Protection category and a three-star rating in the Child Occupancy Protection categories.

Recent updates to the Polo Vivo which centred around enhanced safety equipment were key to this achievement and include driver and seatbelt recognition with audible warning, Electronic Stability Control and dual front airbags for the driver and front passenger. Style and GT derivatives feature additional front side airbags for added head and chest protection. The Polo Vivo also met Global NCAP’s requirements for child seat types and Isofix.

Global NCAP’s crash test protocols assess frontal and side impact protection for all models as well as Electronic Stability Control by physically crashing vehicles in a bespoke vehicle testing laboratory according to standardised test methodology. The test results revealed a structure and footwell area that were rated as stable, and which can withstand further loadings.

The Polo Vivo firmly established itself as a leader in the entry-level hatch market when it was first introduced in 2010. The Polo Vivo which is locally developed and manufactured at the Kariega plant in the Eastern Cape, and which utilises a high percentage of local content, has been South Africa’s best-selling passenger car since its introduction with over 500 000 units sold in the local market and Sub-Saharan Africa.