Safety Comparison – Volkswagen Polo Vivo vs the competition

By Chad Lückhoff

We compare the safety of the ever-popular Volkswagen Polo Vivo against five of its main rivals, pitting its standard safety features against the rest.

Safety is, or least should be, one of your primary concerns when purchasing a vehicle. When you're shopping on the more affordable side of the spectrum, you may encounter a few models that don't quite stack up on the safety side of things. The reason is simple; in order to keep the price of the vehicle down, manufacturers may delete some of the more advanced safety systems.

While there are a few that have skipped nearly all the respectable safety systems, the minimum you should look for is ABS and a driver airbag. Much like a parachute; if it's not there when you need it, the chances are you may not need it ever again. Not the ideal outcome.

Here's a comparison of the Volkswagen Polo Vivo and its safety features versus the competition.

2018 Volkswagen Polo Vivo
Airbags:	2 – driver and passenger
Braking:	ABS (Antilock Braking System)
	EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution)
ISOFix:	Standard
Child Locks:	Yes – rear
High-level brake light:	Yes
Front fog lights:	Yes - optional on Trendline
Seatbelt pre-tensioners:	Yes
Stability Control:	Electronic - optional on Trendline and 63kW Comfortline
Traction Control:	No
Tyre Pressure Monitor:	Yes - optional on Trendline and 63kW Comfortline
Security
Immobiliser:	Yes
Alarm Remote Control:	Yes

The Volkswagen Polo Vivo has a respectable list of standard safety kit, provided you opt for the higher-trim Comfortline or Highline derivatives. There is the option to include some of the excluded safety systems, but expect that to push up the pricetag.

2018 Micra Active
Airbags:	2 – driver and passenger
Braking:	ABS (Antilock Braking System)
	EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution)
	BAS (Brake Assist System)
ISOFix:	Standard
Child Locks:	Yes – Rear
High-level brake light:	Yes
Fog lights:	Yes - Rear
Seatbelt pre-tensioners:	Yes
Stability Control:	No
Traction Control:	No
Tyre Pressure Monitor:	No
Security
Immobiliser:	Yes
Alarm Remote Control:	Yes

The Nissan Micra Active is based on the previous generation Nissan Micra, albeit with a revised trim level. Nissan has retained much of the original safety systems and the Micra benefits from a brake assist system for improved emergency braking.

KIA Picanto
Airbags:	2 – driver and passenger - exluding 1.0 Start & 1.2 Start (Driver only)
Braking:	ABS - excluding 1.0 Start & 1.2 Start
	EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution), when fitted with ABS.
ISOFix:	Standard
Child Locks:	Yes – Rear
High-level brake light:	Yes
Fog lights:	Yes
Seatbelt pre-tensioners:	Yes
Stability Control:	No
Traction Control:	No
Tyre Pressure Monitor:	No
Security
Immobiliser:	Yes
Alarm Remote Control:	Yes

The KIA Picanto demonstrates how manufacturers keep the prices low on their entry-level offerings by cutting back on safety features. The Start models are only fitted with driver airbags and no ABS while the other models are fitted with ABS and dual airbags.

Ford Figo

Airbags:                                               2 – driver and passenger

Braking:                                                ABS (Antilock Braking System)

                                                                  EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution)

ISOFix:                                                   No

Child Locks:                                         Yes – Rear

High-level brake light:                    Yes

Fog lights:                                            Yes

Seatbelt pre-tensioners:              Yes

Stability Control:                               No

Traction Control:                               Yes – Only on Trend Auto

Tyre Pressure Monitor:                  No

Security

Immobiliser:                                         Yes

Alarm Remote Control:                  Yes – Excluding Ambiente models

The Ford Figo has a respectable list of standard safety features across the model range but it's the omission of ISOFix mountings for child seats that may be of some concern to parents of youngsters.

Toyota Etios

Airbags:                                               2 – driver and passenger

Braking:                                               ABS (Antilock Braking System)

                                                                 EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution)

ISOFix:                                                  Yes

Child Locks:                                        Yes – Rear

High-level brake light:                   Yes

Fog lights:                                            Yes – Sprint, Sport and Cross only

Seatbelt pre-tensioners:              Yes

Stability Control:                               No

Traction Control:                               No

Tyre Pressure Monitor:                  No

Security

Immobiliser:                                         Yes

Alarm Remote Control:                   Yes – Sprint and Cross Only

The Toyota Etios rates quite highly in terms of safety ratings and has scored a 4-star global NCAP rating. While some of it is due to the safety features, much of it has to do with the solid construction of the body shell.

Hyundai Grand i10

Airbags:                                               2 – Driver and passenger

Braking:                                               ABS (Antilock Braking System)

                                                                  EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution)

ISOFix:                                                  No

Child Locks:                                       Yes

High-level brake light:                   Yes

Fog lights:                                            Yes

Seatbelt pre-tensioners:              Yes

Stability Control:                               No

Traction Control:                               No

Tyre Pressure Monitor:                  No

Security

Immobiliser:                                         Yes

Alarm Remote Control:                   Yes

The Hyundai Grand i10 is another one that ticks many of the boxes and Hyundai South Africa has ensured that the local variants are specced with most of the necessary safety systems. The one omission is that of ISOFix child restraints which have not been included in local models.