AUTONEWS

Only 4 SUVs passed this new safety test at 30 mph

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is launching a new seat and head restraint evaluation targeting neck injuries stemming from rear-end crashes. Only four out of the first 18 small SUVs tested earn a good rating. 

“Neck sprains and strains are the most frequently reported injuries in U.S. auto insurance claims,” IIHS President David Harkey said. “This new test challenges automakers to further improve their seats and head restraints to provide better protection in the rear impacts that typically cause these injuries.”

The good performers in the new whiplash prevention test include the Audi Q3, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4.

Nine more models — the Buick Encore GX, Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V, Jeep Compass, Kia Sportage, Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class, Mitsubishi Outlander, Volkswagen Taos and Volvo XC40 — earn acceptable ratings.

The BMW X1 and Nissan Rogue are rated marginal, and the Ford Bronco Sport, Hyundai Tucson and Mazda CX-50 are rated poor.

Except for the CR-V, which was a 2024, the tested vehicles were 2025 models. Many of the ratings extend to the 2026 model year, as indicated in the table below. 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has just raised the bar again, this time focusing on one of the most common and frustrating injuries drivers experience: whiplash. While it may not sound as dramatic as a high speed crash, neck injuries from rear end collisions account for a huge share of insurance claims and long term discomfort for drivers. That reality is exactly why this new whiplash prevention test matters so much.

Unlike older evaluations that nearly every modern vehicle could pass, this updated test digs deeper into how seats and head restraints actually behave in real world rear impacts. Instead of a single simulated hit, seats are now tested at 20 mph and 30 mph impact pulses. That extra step exposes weaknesses that were previously hidden, even in vehicles that looked good on paper.

What makes this new test especially interesting is how detailed it gets. Engineers measure how quickly the head restraint reaches the driver’s head, how much the upper spine accelerates, how well the seat absorbs energy through pelvis movement, and how much the head bends or tilts during impact. The goal is simple but critical: keep the head and spine moving together so the neck does not take the hit.

The results were eye opening. Out of 18 small sport utility vehicles tested, only 4 earned a good rating. Those were the Audi Q3, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4. These models showed strong control of head and spine movement at both tested speeds, with seats that absorbed energy smoothly instead of snapping the occupant forward.

Several popular models landed in the acceptable range, including the Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR V, Volkswagen Taos, and Volvo XC40. These vehicles performed reasonably well but showed small shortcomings across multiple measurements. Two models fell into the marginal category, while others struggled badly, allowing excessive head movement or poor spine support during testing.

Test footage tells the story clearly. In poorly rated vehicles, the cervical spine straightened and stretched unnaturally, while better designs kept the spine in its natural curve. In the strongest performers, the seat and head restraint worked together almost as a single system, reducing stress before the driver even realized what happened.

This new evaluation sends a clear message to automakers. Meeting the minimum is no longer enough. Fine tuning seat structure, foam response, and head restraint geometry can make a real difference in everyday crashes that most drivers never expect.

The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) launched a new, more rigorous rear-impact test in 2026, simulating 20 mph and 30 mph crashes to address common whiplash injuries, as previous tests were too easy. Only four of the first 18 small SUVs tested earned a "good" rating: 2025 Audi Q3, 2025-26 Hyundai Ioniq 5, 2025-26 Subaru Forester, and 2025 Toyota RAV4.

Key features of the new IIHS 30 mph safety test:

Simulated Rear-Impact: Evaluates seat and head restraint performance at 20 mph and a higher 30 mph, as older tests (discontinued in 2022) were too easily passed.

Metrics Measured: The test evaluates head/spine alignment, head-to-restraint contact time, T1 vertebra acceleration, pelvis displacement, and neck tilting/bending forces.

Targeted Injuries: Focuses on reducing whiplash, the most frequent, often chronic, injury reported in U.S. insurance claims.

First results (Small SUVs):

Good: Audi Q3, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4.

Acceptable: Buick Encore GX, Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V, Jeep Compass, Kia Sportage, Mercedes-Benz GLB, Mitsubishi Outlander, Volkswagen Taos, Volvo XC40.

Marginal: BMW X1, Nissan Rogue.

Poor: Ford Bronco Sport, Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-50.

Proper Usage: The IIHS emphasizes that for the seat to work, the head restraint must be properly adjusted—close to the head and high enough to support it.

 IIHS: Whiplash prevention ratings for 18 small SUVs(below):

Vehicle	Rating
2025 Audi Q3	G
2025-26 Hyundai Ioniq 5	G
2025-26 Subaru Forester	G
2025 Toyota RAV4	G
2025-26 Buick Encore GX	A
2025-26 Chevrolet Equinox	A
2024-25 Honda CR-V	A
2025-26 Jeep Compass	A
2025-26 Kia Sportage	A
2025 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class	A
2025-26 Mitsubishi Outlander	A
2025-26 Volkswagen Taos	A
2025-26 Volvo XC40	A
2025 BMW X1	M
2025-26 Nissan Rogue	M
2025-26 Ford Bronco Sport	P
2025-26 Hyundai Tucson	P
2025-26 Mazda CX-50	P

https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/iihs-launches-new-whiplash-prevention-test

provided: IIHS