Even with its awful diesel rigging scandal Volkswagen did increase safety features on many of its models. The company does a good job of explaining what each features does in the information they sent out in a news release earlier this year. The most interesting ADAS features VW offers are the Rear Traffic Alert and Park Assist for both parallel and perpendicular parking. Another high-end feature not usually found an mainstream models is Automatic Post-Collision Braking that applies the brakes after air bags are deployed for safety. The model that offers the most ADAS features standard is the Volkswagen Touareg, a luxury SUV designed for family safety which is why the VW Tourareg is nominated for the 2015 Tech CARS Awards.
For the 2016 model year, Volkswagen offers driver assistance features that were only previously available on the premium Touareg SUV. These available features include: Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist); Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); the Parking Steering Assistant (Park Assist); and an active Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist) system.
The Beetle, CC, e-Golf, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, and Jetta offer these available features, depending on model and trim line. In addition, all Beetle, Beetle Convertible and Jetta models add the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which was already fitted to Touareg and Golf family models, as standard. This safety system uses information from the airbag sensors to help prevent secondary collisions. Analysis of crash data in Germany ascertained that around 14 percent of accidents involved a secondary collision after an initial impact so Volkswagen engineers designed the system to help avoid them.
With a re-alignment of trim lines throughout the MY16 lineup, rearview cameras are now fitted as standard to more than 85% of Volkswagen models.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) uses forward facing radar to maintain a set speed while helping maintain a set distance to the vehicle in front. The driver sets the speed and the desired spacing via buttons on the multifunction steering wheel and can use the accelerator, brake pedal, or steering wheel to cancel or override the ACC function. All system messages appear in the central multifunction display.
When the roadway ahead of the vehicle is empty, the system maintains the set speed. Touareg, CC, and Golf, Golf GTI, and Golf SportWagen models fitted with automatic transmissions and ACC can match a vehicle in front and come to a stop, as well as resume ACC control after the driver presses the accelerator pedal or the “resume” button on the steering wheel. Golf R models fitted with DSG transmission automatically resume driving within a defined time period or if the driver chooses to do so. On manual transmission Golf and all Jetta models, the ACC ceases to operate below 19 mph.
Standard on: CC V6 4Motion Executive and Touareg Executive
Available on: Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, Jetta TSI, Touareg Lux/Sport with Tech
Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist)
Forward Collision Warning helps warn the driver of critical front-end collision situations, both acoustically and visually by a warning symbol in the instrument cluster, and, if necessary, Autonomous Emergency Braking is activated to slow the vehicle if the driver fails to brake. If the brake pedal is applied but the driver brakes too lightly, the brake pressure is increased by the system (Braking Support).
Standard on: CC V6 4Motion Executive and Touareg Executive
Available on: e-Golf (late availability), Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, Jetta TSI and Touareg Lux/Sport with Tech
Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert
Blind Spot Monitor uses two radar sensors at the rear of the vehicle to scan the approaching traffic and help warn drivers of potential danger in adjacent lanes. If the driver uses the turn signal to indicate a lane change while a vehicle is detected in a blind spot, the system utilizes a flashing LED symbol in the outer area of the side mirrors.
The system is designed to help alert drivers in specific situations; stationary objects or oncoming vehicles do not trigger warnings, nor will vehicles more than one lane across.
The Rear Traffic Alert system not only helps alert the driver to stationary and moving vehicles directly behind, but also helps detect vehicles approaching from the side that may be difficult for the driver to see while reversing. It offers a sizable range of about 65 to 80 feet, depending on model, and will present a visual and an acoustic warning, before applying the brakes if a potential impending collision is detected. The system is activated either by selecting reverse gear or by the optional Park Distance Control when starting off.
Standard on: CC V6 4Motion Executive, Beetle and Beetle Convertible (SEL), Jetta GLI and Hybrid (SEL), and Touareg (except Sport)
Available on: Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, and Jetta TSI/TDI.
Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist)
If there is an indication that the vehicle is unintentionally straying from its lane, the Lane Departure Warning system actively countersteers to keep the vehicle in the lane above 40mph. The system’s camera recognizes visible lane markings (one side suffices) and, using a special algorithm, calculates the risk of the car leaving the lane. If the driver takes their hands off the wheel for a defined period of time, or the vehicle crosses a lane marking, the system provides an audible warning and a visual signal in the instrument cluster, asking the driver to take over.
The system works in the dark and/or in fog, but will not engage if it cannot properly detect lane markings. If the turn signal has been set before crossing a lane marking, the Lane Departure Warning system will not engage or give a warning. The driver can “override” the system at any time by applying minimal force, and is not relieved of responsibility to make conscious driving decisions.
As fitted to the Touareg, the system incorporates all the functionality except there is no active steering intervention. Instead, the system causes the steering wheel to vibrate, while the lane markings that the car has crossed are highlighted on the appropriate multifunction display view in the instrument panel.
Standard on: CC V6 4Motion Executive, Touareg (except on Sport)
Available on: Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, and Golf SportWagen
Parking Steering Assistant (Park Assist)
The Parking Steering Assistant automatically steers the car into parallel and perpendicular parking spaces in reverse. After pressing the Park Assist button—once for parallel and twice for perpendicular—the driver only needs to activate the accelerator pedal and brake once a gear is selected, as Park Assist automatically steers the vehicle into the parking space.
The driver can override or deactivate the steering assistance at any time by turning the steering wheel, disengaging reverse gear or pressing the button. Below 25 mph, the system scans both the left-hand and right-hand sides of the road, for example in a one-way street, for any parking spaces as it drives past. By activating the turn signal, the driver stipulates which side of the road they wish to park on.
Available on: e-Golf (late availability), Golf, Golf GTI, Golf SportWagen
Park Distance Control
Park Distance Control uses ultrasonic sensors located in the front and rear bumpers to monitor a range of up to five feet in front or behind the vehicle. The system is activated when reverse gear is engaged or below a speed of 9 mph and helps provide guidance when parking or in tight situations.
The system provides static and dynamic guidance lines in the camera screen when reversing to assist the driver in assessing distances for parallel and perpendicular parking. It also has optical and visual warnings when the car starts to approach parked cars or static objects from the front or rear.
Standard on: CC V6 4Motion Executive, e-Golf (SEL Premium), Jetta Hybrid, Jetta GLI, Touareg (Lux, Executive)
Available on: Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, Touareg (Sport with Tech)
Automatic Post-Collision Braking System
The Automatic Post-Collision Braking system builds on the premise that a collision is rarely a single, instantaneous action, but rather a series of events that follow the initial impact—which can cause additional collisions. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking system helps address this by applying the brakes after a primary collision is detected by the airbag sensors, thus helping to reduce residual kinetic energy and, in turn, reduce the chance of additional damage.
Standard on: Beetle, Beetle Convertible, all Golf family models, Jetta, Touareg