The passenger compartment of the Polo remained stable in the frontal offset test. Dummy numbers showed good protection of the knees and femurs of both the driver and passenger. Volkswagen showed that a similar level of protection would be provided to occupants of different sizes and to those sitting in different positions.  Analysis of the deceleration of the impact trolley during the test, and analysis of the deformable barrier after the test, revealed that the Polo would be a moderately benign impact partner in a frontal collision. In the full-width rigid barrier test, good or adequate protection was provided to all critical body areas, for both the driver and rear passenger. In both the side barrier test and the more severe side pole impact, protection of all critical body areas was good and the car scored maximum points in this part of the assessment. Control of excursion (the extent to which a body is thrown to the other side of the vehicle when it is hit from the far side) was found to be adequate. The Polo has a countermeasure to mitigate against occupant-to-occupant injuries in such impacts and this performed well in Euro NCAP's test. Tests on the front seats and head restraints demonstrated good protection against whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision.  A geometric analysis of the rear seats also indicated good whiplash protection.   The Polo has an advanced eCall system which alerts the emergency services in the event of a crash.   The car also has a system which applies the brakes after an impact, to avoid secondary collisions.

In the frontal offset test, dummy measurements indicated marginal protection of the head and chest of the 10-year dummy, and adequate protection of the head and neck of the 6-year dummy.  In the side barrier test, protection of the head of the 10-year dummy was rated as marginal, based on measured values of acceleration.  The front passenger airbag can be disabled to allow a rearward-facing child restraint to be used in that seating position.  Clear information is provided to the driver regarding the status of the airbag and the system was rewarded.  All of the restraint types for the which the Polo is designed could be properly installed and accommodated in the car.

The protection provided to the head of a struck pedestrian was predominantly good or adequate, with some poor results recorded on the still windscreen pillars.  The bumper provided good protection to pedestrians’ legs at all test points.  Protection of the pelvis was also good over most of the car width.  The autonomous emergency braking system, fitted as standard, can detect vulnerable road users as well as other vehicles.  The system performed adequately in tests of its reaction to pedestrians and cyclists, with collisions avoided or mitigated in many scenarios.

In tests of its response to other vehicles, the autonomous emergency braking system performed adequately.  A lane support system gently corrects the steering if the car is drifting out of lane and it can also intervene more aggressively in some other, more critical, situations.  A driver-set speed limiter is fitted as standard.  A seatbelt reminder is standard for all seating positions.