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IIHS Tests SUVs, Pickups, Vans for Headrest and Seat Designs

In advertisements, brochures and other corporate literature automakers supply, safetyusually focuses on a vehicle's ability to protect occupants from front, side and sometimes even rollover collisions, but one crucial type of accident is not widely publicized... the rear-end collision, which just so happens to be one of the most common types of accidents in urban areas due to congestion and lower speeds. Though life-threatening injuries rarely occur at these low speeds, injuries – particularly to the head and neck – are common. The IIHS recently rounded up the majority of SUVs, minivans, crossovers and pickup trucks currently on sale and subjected their seat designs that simulate a 20 mph rear end collision.

The method that the IIHS uses to determine the

A BioRID (Rear Impact Dummy) is set up for a head restraint test. (Photo: IIHS)

scoring is via a “sled” test. The rear crash test “BioRID” dummy sits in the test chair in the specially engineered sled, which is then rear-ended by asecond sled of equal weight traveling at 20 mph. The forces that the dummy is subjected to are equal to that of a real-world crash at those speeds. Before the test can occur, the IIHS conducts a test to measure the geometry of the seat, specifically how far away the dummy's head is from the head rest when adjusted to the proper height and seating position.

The results that the IIHS recorded were

A Volvo seat plus dummy are mounted on a sled, which is rear-ended at 20 mph. (Photo: IIHS)

startling. Out of the entire pickup category tested only one, the new Toyota Tundrareceived a “good” rating, while out of the minivans tested only Kia's Sedona and Hyundai's Entourage received “Good” ratings. The now discontinued Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey also received the same top-tier rating, the best the IIHS awards.

Out of the SUVs and crossovers tested, only 17 of 59 were rated “Good”, with 5 as "Acceptable" (2nd best), 14 as "Marginal" and 23 as “Poor”. Surprisingly, quite a few luxury brands ended up on the "Poor" list too, including both of BMW's SAVs, the Lexus RX and GX as well as the Saab 9-7x.

Some manufacturer's seats didn't even make the cut due to the inability to adjust the head

Anti-whiplash head restraints such as Mercedes' NeckPRO system work to reduce injuries in rear-end collisions. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz)

restraint to accommodate taller drivers, such as those in the Cadillac SRX, Nissan Quest and Ford Ranger.

In general most newly introduced models have better safety ratings (e.g. Mitsubishi's Outlander improved from “Acceptable” to “Good”), though a few have worse ratings such as Suzuki's XL-7, which is now rated “Poor”.

While these results show that auto manufacturers need to do some serious work in improving the designs of their seats, it should be noted that more often than not new vehicle seat designs are moving forward for protection of their passengers. Some manufacturers have even pledged to redesign their head rests in light of receiving a low rating, although in the not too distant future we should expect more vehicles to be rated “Good” as the NHTSA is in the process of passing a mandate that requires all manufacturers to design head restraints that better protect drivers and passengers.

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