Euro NCAP gives low whiplash ratings

Publication date: 21 January 2009

During Euro NCAP's first-ever round of rear impact testing, the automobile safety organisation found that 80 per cent of front passenger seats need improvement in protecting against whiplash.

Euro NCAP carried out whiplash tests on the front seats of 25 passenger cars as part of crash tests conducted in 2008. The results clearly reveal that vehicle manufacturers have a long way to go in successfully improving seat design to protect consumers from whiplash injury.

Only five of the 25 seats tested received Euro NCAP's best score, which was a 'good' or green result, reflecting a state-of-the-art performance in whiplash protection. These five high scores came from the Volvo XC60, Alfa Romeo Mito, Volkswagen Golf Vi, Audi A4 and Opel Insignia.

Eight seats from the same test group were rated as 'poor' or red, meaning the occupant has a significantly higher risk of developing a long-term injury in the case of a low speed, rear end collision. These cars were the Daihatsu Cuore, Citroen Berlingo, Hyundai i10, Citroen C5, Ford Kuga, Daihatsu Terios, Peugeot 308CC and the Suzuki Splash.

Euro NCAP's test procedure was developed to take into account both the geometrical aspects of the seat, the size and shape of the head restraint and its proximity to the occupant, and its dynamic performance during an actual crash test. The dynamic performance is assessed using a seat mounted on a sled test, subjected to low, moderate and high test severities representing a range of crash forces causing injury.

Three of the eight seats that achieved a 'poor' rear impact result were from cars that were awarded five stars in Euro NCAP's adult occupant protection rating in 2008. These were the Citroen C5, Ford Kuga and the Peugeot 308CC. If judged under Euro NCAP's new rating scheme in 2009, the overall rating for these vehicles would be significantly affected by the low scores received in the rear impact test. Starting in 2009, the new rear impact (whiplash) test will automatically be included as part of Euro NCAP's adult occupant protection assessment.

"The importance of this new Euro NCAP test has just been underlined with the release of these results. A consumer would never know how a seat would perform without this test," said Dr. Michiel Van Ratingen, secretarygeneral of Euro NCAP. "Buying a five star award winner will not guarantee that you have a good seat that will protect you from a potential whiplash injury. Euro NCAP's new test will certainly encourage manufacturers to think again about seat design."