The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS) introduced at present that it’s implementing a brand new crash check that evaluates the power of the entrance seat head restraints to stop widespread whiplash accidents in rear-end collisions. The IIHS has examined entrance head restraints for many years, nevertheless it lately discontinued that authentic head restraint analysis as a result of basically all new automobiles have been performing effectively in it. Within the new check, the IIHS really performs two separate assessments, one at 20 mph just like the previous whiplash prevention check, and the opposite at a brand new, increased velocity of 30 mph.
The up to date check is in response to findings that occupants of good-rated automobiles have been nonetheless affected by whiplash accidents in real-world crashes primarily based on insurance coverage declare charges for various fashions. We have now coated some essential issues to learn about your headrest earlier than, however the IIHS additionally stresses that correct head restraint adjustment is an integral element of the efficacy of the pinnacle restraint system in actual world collisions.
The primary crop of 18 small SUVs examined fared comparatively effectively
The IIHS additionally introduced the outcomes from the primary implementation of its up to date whiplash prevention check, after evaluating 18 small SUVs. As a complete, the group carried out comparatively effectively, with 4 fashions scoring the best ranking of excellent, 9 scoring the second-highest ranking of acceptable, two incomes the second-lowest ranking of marginal, and three incomes the bottom ranking of poor.
The highest performers have been the outgoing 2025 Audi Q3 and the outgoing 2025 Toyota RAV4, in addition to the 2025 and 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Subaru Forester, all of which earned the best ranking of excellent. The vast majority of the automobiles examined earned acceptable rankings, which incorporates 2025 and 2026 Buick Encore GX, Chevrolet Equinox, Jeep Compass, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi Outlander, Volkswagen Taos, and Volvo XC40. The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLB additionally earned a suitable ranking, as did the 2024 and 2025 Honda CR-V.
The 2025 and 2026 Nissan Rogue scored a marginal ranking, as did the 2025 BMW X1, whereas the 2025 and 2026 Ford Bronco Sport, Hyundai Tucson, and Mazda CX-50 all earned the bottom rating of poor. Every of those fashions allowed for elevated measures in many of the evaluated classes, like tilting or bending power of the pinnacle relative to the neck, and subjectively, they appear somewhat painful within the video.
Why is not there an precise rear crash check, and why is not there a rear-seat head restraint check?
In 2025, when requested why the IIHS does not really carry out bodily rear-end crash assessments, an IIHS spokesperson mentioned that “extreme rear-end crashes are comparatively uncommon in contrast with lower-speed impacts. Whereas these higher-severity crashes do happen, ones that do end in fatalities usually contain business automobiles and are of a severity that may’t be addressed by crash testing.” In addition they cited the federal government’s regulatory necessities, which guarantee gasoline system integrity, which “to some extent ensures that automobile buildings will maintain up in a rear impression.”
The spokesperson additionally mentioned that the IIHS is a non-profit with restricted assets, so it prefers to give attention to the prevention of whiplash-type accidents, that are the most typical damage kind reported to insurance coverage firms.
The IIHS additionally forgoes testing rear-seat head restraints for monetary causes, saying, “We would be able to consider fewer automobiles general if we expanded testing to different seating positions.” The IIHS additionally lately up to date its average entrance overlap crash check and did so by evaluating rear seat occupant safety along with entrance seat occupant safety, so if the assessments proceed to broaden, there’s not less than an outdoor likelihood that rear seat whiplash safety might be examined in some unspecified time in the future, too. Although the spokesperson raised a great level, “there’s at all times an occupant within the driver seat and so focusing consideration on this place in as many fashions as potential goes to make the most important distinction.”