Bullwhip effect: new tests reveal that SUVs are failing to protect the necks of occupants

A first-of-its-kind battery of tests conducted by the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has exposed a hidden weakness in modern compact SUVs. By implementing a more rigorous protocol to assess protection against cervical injuries – the dreaded “whiplash effect” – the agency found an alarming scenario: of 18 models evaluated, only four obtained the maximum safety rating (“Good”).

The tightening of the criteria retires the old methodology, discontinued in 2022, in which practically all vehicles were approved. The new format uses a specialized mannequin, designed to accurately simulate the human spine in rear-end collisions at speeds of 24 km/h and, in a more severe scenario, at 48 km/h.

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Spine deformation and approved list

The technical flaw identified in the failed models lies in the inability of the seats and headrests to keep the torso and neck aligned during the impact. In the worst cases, the test recorded an “S” deformation in the cervical spine of the dolls – a movement that, in humans, results in chronic injuries that are difficult to treat.

The low score in this regard prevents the vehicles from achieving the maximum safety seals “Top Safety Pick”, essential for the North American market. Check out the detailed performance of each model below (many of them sold or with equivalents in Brazil):