No image car front available

The Touareg's body proved to be immensely strong, providing good protecton and achieving the five star Euro NCAP rating. Euro NCAP allowed a re-run of the pole test following the introduction of modifications to the curtain airbag packaging. Its restraint systems include dual-stage airbags and front belts with pre-tensioners and load limiters, seat-mounted side airbags and a curtain head airbag. Protection for child occupants was good, but pedestrians fared less well.

Front impact
The body suffered minimal deformation. The dual-stage tethered airbags and belt pre-tensioners plus load limiters controlled the loads and limited forward movement, reducing chest and leg injury risk for the front occupants. The footwell suffered little deformation or intrusion. However, the driver risked knee injury from hard structures behind the fascia.

Side impact
A very impressive protection system includes seat mounted thorax airbags and a head curtain airbag, which also protects those sat in the rear. The Touareg achieved maximum points in the side and pole impact tests.

Child-protection
A manual on/off switch is fitted for the passenger frontal airbag. A warning visible on the instrument binnacle and centre console shows when it is inactive. The only warnings of the dangers of placing a rear-facing restraint opposite an active airbag were given by a non-permanent pictogram on the door pillar and a label written in two languages on the windscreen. The older child was in a Britax Romer Duo Plus fitted to the car using ISOFIX mounting points and top tether. The younger child was in a rear-facing Britax Romer BabySafe secured by the adult belt. Both children were well protected although the chest load on the older child and head load on the younger child were just outside the ‘good’ limit in the frontal impact.

Pedestrian protection
This does not match the protection provided to occupants. The front gave some cushioning where an adult’s head would most likely strike. But the child head impact areas and particularly the bumper and leading edge of the bonnet were very unfriendly.