Whiplash 'worse in smaller cars'

Whiplash injuries are worse in smaller cars, according to insurance tester Thatcham.

Smaller cars require the most protection for their passengers, but while there is a wide range of good seats across a number of models, small cars need to provide better protection for occupants, says Thatcham.

Small cars tend to spend more time in urban environments - where most accidents occur - but no soc-alled city cars, such as the Fiat 500 - have a seat and head restraint rated as ‘Good’ for protection against whiplash injuries

Small cars need the best protection because they are smaller and lighter and more susceptible to high forces in a rear end crash but such city cars are not equipped to protect their occupants’ necks when they have to absorb the crash energy from larger, heavier vehicles.

The only two city cars to achieve an ‘Acceptable’ rating were the Renault Twingo and the Smart Fortwo, while the majority of the other nine City cars were rated as ‘Marginal’, with the ageing Ford Ka and Fiat Panda rated as ‘Poor’.

Two thirds of the supermini cars were rated as ‘ Marginal’ or ‘Poor’. The Renault Clio and Modus seats rated as ‘Good’. 


Over two thirds of small and large family cars - such as the Ford Focus and Mondeo respectively - have seats rated as ‘Good’ or ‘Acceptable’.

For SUVs and Executive cars the majority of seats rate as ‘Good’. 


Thatcham has been testing seats since 2004 for their ability to protect the occupant from whiplash injuries. The tester says that while companies are listening to whiplash research, more needs to be done to improve whiplash protection on cheaper cars.

How to use your headrest

To be effective, a head restraint must be as close to the back of the head as possible (touching is best) and the top of the restraint should be as high as the top of the head. Remember it is a head restraint, not a headrest.

Whiplash ratings by manufacturer