Rear Impact (Whiplash)Whiplash injuries are common in rear impacts. While the mechanisms by which the injuries are caused are not fully understood, it is known that seat and head restraint design can influence the risk of injury. Euro NCAP assesses the geometry of the restraint in relation to the head and tests the seats in three severities of impact – high, medium and low – using a dummy specially designed for rear impacts. Seats at the top of the table are likely to offer better protection than those at the bottom.
Examples of seats rated Good, Marginal and Poor
Films | Pictures
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| Make and model | Seat description | Head restraint type | | Score |
|---|
 |
Opel / Vauxhall Astra (2009) |
Standard, cloth, 2 way manual adjust |
Reactive |
 |
3.7 |
 |
Skoda Yeti (2009) |
Standard, cloth 4 way manual adjust |
Passive |
|
3.6 |
 |
Volvo XC60 (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment. |
Passive |
|
3.5 |
 |
Kia Sorento (2009) |
Cloth, single control 4 way manual, continuous adjustment |
Reactive |
|
3.5 |
| |
Kia Venga (2010) |
Standard, cloth, 2 way manual adjust |
Reactive |
|
3.4 |
 |
Alfa Romeo Giulietta (2010) |
Standard cloth 6 way manual |
Reactive |
|
3.4 |
| |
Alfa Romeo MiTo (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment |
Reactive |
|
3.3 |
 |
Toyota Avensis (2009) |
Standard, cloth trim |
Reactive |
|
3.3 |
 |
VW Golf (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment. |
Passive |
|
3.3 |
 |
BMW 5 Series (2010) |
Standard, cloth 6 way electric/manual |
Active |
|
3.3 |
| |
VW Scirocco (2009) |
Standard cloth, 6 way manual adjust |
Passive |
|
3.3 |
 |
Audi Q5 (2009) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment |
Passive |
|
3.3 |
| |
Kia Soul (2009) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment |
Reactive |
|
3.3 |
| |
Volvo V70 (2009) |
Standard Seat, Leather, 6 way, Manual |
Fixed |
|
3.3 |
| |
Volvo C30 (2009) |
Standard Seat, Cloth, 6 way, Manual |
Fixed |
|
3.2 |
| |
Audi A4 (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment. |
Passive |
|
3.2 |
 |
Honda CR-Z (2010) |
6 way, manual, cloth |
Reactive |
|
3.1 |
 |
Saab 9-5 (2009) |
Standard, cloth, 6 way adjust |
Reactive |
|
3.1 |
 |
Chevrolet Cruze (2009) |
Standard cloth, 4 way manual adjust |
Passive |
|
3.1 |
| |
Honda Insight Hybrid (2009) |
standard, cloth trim, 4 way manual adjust |
Reactive |
|
3.1 |
 |
Suzuki Swift (2010) |
Standard cloth, 6 way manual |
Passive |
|
3.1 |
| |
Opel/Vauxhall Insignia (2008) |
Single control electric, continuous adjustment |
Reactive |
|
3.1 |
| |
VW TIGUAN (2009) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment |
Passive |
|
3.0 |
 |
Hyundai ix35 (2010) |
Standard cloth, 4 way manual |
Reactive |
|
3.0 |
 |
Renault Koleos (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment |
Passive |
 |
2.9 |
| |
Chevrolet Spark (2009) |
Standard cloth, 2 way manual adjust |
Passive |
|
2.8 |
| |
Honda Jazz (2009) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment |
Passive |
|
2.8 |
 |
Citroen C4 (2010) |
4 way, manual, cloth |
static |
|
2.8 |
 |
Subaru Legacy (2009) |
Cloth trim, continuous electric adjust |
Passive |
|
2.8 |
 |
Infiniti FX (2009) |
Premium, leather, 10 way electric adjust |
Reactive |
|
2.8 |
 |
Nissan Cube (2010) |
Standard, cloth, 6 way manual adjust |
reactive |
|
2.7 |
| |
Hyundai i20 (2009) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment |
Reactive |
|
2.7 |
| |
Toyota iQ (2009) |
Standard, cloth trim |
Passive |
|
2.7 |
| |
VW Polo (2009) |
Standard, cloth trim, manual adjust |
Passive |
|
2.6 |
 |
Lancia Delta (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment |
Reactive |
|
2.6 |
 |
Mazda 3 (2009) |
Standard cloth, 4 way manual adjust |
Reactive |
|
2.5 |
 |
Mercedes E-Class (2010) |
Standard, fabric, 6 way adjust |
Active |
|
2.5 |
| |
BMW X1 (2010) |
Standard, cloth, 2 way manual adjust |
Passive |
|
2.5 |
| |
Subaru Impreza (2009) |
Standard, cloth trim |
Passive |
|
2.5 |
| |
BMW X3 (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment. |
Proactive |
|
2.4 |
 |
Seat Exeo (2010) |
Cloth, 6 way manual adjust |
Passive |
|
2.4 |
| |
Mercedes GLK (2010) |
Standard cloth, 8 way electric |
Active |
|
2.4 |
| |
Renault Grand Scenic (2009) |
Standard cloth, continuous manual adjust |
Passive |
|
2.4 |
| |
Renault Kangoo (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment. |
Passive |
|
2.4 |
| |
Citroen C4 Picasso (2009) |
Standard cloth 4 way manual adjust |
Passive |
|
2.4 |
| |
Renault Megane (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment. |
Passive |
|
2.4 |
| |
Honda Civic (2009) |
Standard seat, cloth, 4 way manual |
Reactive |
|
2.3 |
| |
Honda Accord (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment. |
Reactive |
|
2.3 |
| |
Suzuki Alto (2009) |
Standard, no adjustment |
Fixed, passive |
|
2.3 |
| |
Skoda Superb (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment |
Passive |
|
2.2 |
| |
Hyundai i30 (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment |
Reactive |
|
2.2 |
| |
Toyota Verso (2010) |
Standard, cloth, 6 way manual |
Reactive |
|
2.2 |
 |
Ford Fiesta (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment |
Passive |
|
2.2 |
| |
Citroen DS3 (2009) |
Standard cloth, 4 way manual adjust |
Passive |
|
2.2 |
| |
Mercedes Benz C Class (2009) |
Standard, fabric, 6 way adjust |
Active |
|
2.1 |
| |
Toyota Prius (2009) |
Standard cloth, continuous manual adjust |
Passive |
|
2.1 |
| |
Mazda 6 (2009) |
Standard, cloth trim |
Passive |
|
2.1 |
 |
Mitsubishi Lancer (2009) |
Standard, cloth trim |
Passive |
|
2.0 |
| |
Seat Ibiza (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment. |
Passive |
|
2.0 |
 |
Peugeot 5008 (2009) |
Standard cloth, 4 way manual adjust |
Passive |
|
1.9 |
| |
Peugeot 3008 (2009) |
Single control manual, continous adjustment |
Passive |
|
1.9 |
| |
Toyota Urban Cruiser (2009) |
Standard cloth, 6 way manual adjust |
Reactive |
|
1.9 |
| |
Peugeot 308 (2009) |
Standard cloth, 4 way manual adjust |
Passive |
|
1.6 |
 |
Dacia Sandero (2008) |
Single control manual, notched adjustment. |
Passive |
|
1.6 |
 |
Daihatsu Cuore (2008) |
No height adjustment. |
Passive |
 |
1.1 |
| |
Citroen Berlingo (2008) |
Single control manual, notched adjustment. |
Passive |
|
1.0 |
| |
Citroen Nemo (2010) |
Standard, cloth, 4 way manual |
passive |
|
1.0 |
| |
Hyundai i10 (2008) |
No height adjustment |
Passive |
|
0.9 |
| |
Citroen C3 (2009) |
Standard cloth, continuous manual adjust |
Passive |
|
0.9 |
| |
Citroen C5 (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment. |
Passive |
|
0.6 |
| |
Citroen C5 (2009) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment. |
Passive |
|
0.6 |
| |
Ford Kuga (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment |
Passive |
|
0.4 |
| |
Citroen C3 Picasso (2009) |
Standard, cloth trim |
Passive |
|
0.3 |
| |
Mazda CX-7 (2010) |
Standard, leather 6 way electric |
Passive |
|
0.0 |
| |
Peugeot 308CC (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment. |
Passive |
|
0.0 |
| |
Peugeot 308CC (2009) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment. |
Passive |
|
0.0 |
| |
Daihatsu Terios (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment |
Passive |
|
0.0 |
| |
Suzuki Splash (2008) |
Single control manual, continuous adjustment |
Passive |
|
0.0 |