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Four vehicles in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s initial small-SUV group earned its top Good rating for whiplash prevention: the 2025 Audi Q3, 2025–26 Hyundai Ioniq 5, 2025–26 Subaru Forester, and 2025 Toyota RAV4. IIHS does not use a pass/fail label; it rates results Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor. The list below covers the 18 small SUVs in IIHS’s initial announcement, not every vehicle that may have been rated since.
Which cars earned a Good IIHS whiplash rating?
These four models earned the highest rating in IIHS’s initial evaluation of 18 small SUVs, announced in 2026:
- 2025 Audi Q3
- 2025–26 Hyundai Ioniq 5
- 2025–26 Subaru Forester
- 2025 Toyota RAV4
IIHS reported that 4 of the 18 vehicles earned Good. Calling these models “passed” is shorthand; the official result is a rating, not a pass/fail determination. Read IIHS’s announcement and its full initial-results list.
How the other small SUVs were rated
The same initial group included vehicles rated Acceptable, Marginal, and Poor. The model years below reflect the scope stated in IIHS’s 2026 announcement.
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JZCreater Car Headrest Pillow, 180°Adjustable Head Neck Support Pillow, U- Shaped, Travel Sleeping Car Headrests, Only for Car Seat Headrest with 2 Metal Poles， Not for Fixed or Integrated headrests
- Only Suitable for Car Seats with Pole - Our car seat headrest plllow ONLY fits car seat with pole and the pole distance MUST between 2.5 to 5.7 inches / 6.5 cm-14.5 cm ! Not fully compatible with the vehicle Seat without 2 Poles. Before purchasing, please confirm if your car seat has 2 metal bars! Please check the pictures above to see if your car seat is the wrong type. Attention that any seat without metal bars cannot be installed and used!
- Say Goodbye to Neck Pain - Our travel headset pillow is designed to provide ultimate comfort and support for your neck during long-distance travel, collisions with car windows, and more.Please confirm that it can be installed on the car seat before purchasing.Please contact us if you have any installation problems and quality issues
- 180° Adjustable - Both side headrest pillows can be rotated 180° to adjust the height, making them suitable for adults and kids over 4 years old. When not in use, simply lift the pillows up to save space.Most rear seats are not compatible. Car seats without removable metal rods cannot be installed. Please check the seat model before purchasing.
- NOT COMPATIBLE: 2020 GMC Serria Truck third row seats, tesla seats, 2014 Toyota Rav4, 2017 suv, Volvo XC60 2013 model, Hyundai Elantra, Subaru legacy and outback, Cadillac Escalade 2016, 2004 mdx, Odyssey 2018 seats, Honda minivan, Honda minivan, middle seat of dodge durango, minivan sea, Chevy surburban, Tahoe seats, jeep grand, cherokee 2nd row bucket seat, 2017 Dodge Journey, Ford Explorer 2003, GMC Acadia, Cherokee , ford explorer, vovo s90, 2018 Honda Odyssey, Jeep Wrangler seats
- Easy Enstallation - No need for a screwdriver! Our car neck pillow can be installed in just three easy steps, and we provide clear instructions and video tutorials for your convenience. Notice:Will not fit fixed or integrated headrests; Only suitable for installation on car seats with metal barsCar seats without removable metal rods cannot be installed. Please check the seat model before purchasing.
| IIHS rating | Vehicles in the initial group |
|---|---|
| Acceptable | 2025–26 Buick Encore GX; 2025–26 Chevrolet Equinox; 2024–25 Honda CR-V; 2025–26 Jeep Compass; 2025–26 Kia Sportage; 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class; 2025–26 Mitsubishi Outlander; 2025–26 Volkswagen Taos; 2025–26 Volvo XC40 |
| Marginal | 2025 BMW X1; 2025–26 Nissan Rogue |
| Poor | 2025–26 Ford Bronco Sport; 2025–26 Hyundai Tucson; 2025–26 Mazda CX-50 |
These are the results reported for the initial cohort, not a verified exhaustive inventory of all vehicles tested under later versions of IIHS’s evaluation. For example, live IIHS profiles confirm the Ioniq 5’s Good rating and the Forester’s Good rating for 2025–26 models.
What the IIHS whiplash test measures
This is a test of a vehicle’s seat and head restraint, not an overall crashworthiness rating for the whole vehicle. IIHS removes the driver seat, attaches it to a sled, and seats a belted BioRID-II dummy representing an average-size male. The sled then delivers pulses intended to simulate rear impacts.
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2 Pack - Car Headrest Pillow for Neck Support, 100% Memory Foam Car Pillow
- 100% PURE SPACE MEMORY FOAM - Our car headrest pillow are made of high-quality space memory foam, which is soft and comfortable. Car seat neck pillow provide good support for your cervical spine and head, help you maintain a correct driving posture, make your driving safer, reduce neck pain and comfort your neck.
- BREATHABLE & REMOVABLE COVER - The car pillow cover is made of soft and breathable sports fabric. Baby-grade skin-friendly material. The pillowcase is removable for washing and also supports washing in the washing machine. Travel car neck pillow are suitable for all seasons, definitely a bonus for your car.
- ERGONOMIC DESIGN - This car neck pillow has an ergonomic, streamlined design that comfortably protects your neck and shoulders during long drives. 100% memory foam car headrest pillow provide great comfort for your cervical spine and head. It greatly reduces your chances of neck pain or numbness during long drives or while sleeping. Bring a good comfort experience to drivers and passengers.
- SUPER EASY TO INSTALL - The high quality buckle prevents the travel car neck pillow from slipping or falling off the seat. The car headrest pillow perfectly fills the gap between the car seat and the neck. It feels very comfortable and fits perfectly in both the driver and passenger seats. The travel car pillow is easy to install and can be easily installed without any tools. (Please note that our car neck pillow are also suitable for seats without metal bars. Like TESLA.)
- PACKAGE INCLUDED - This package includes 2 car pillows and 2 car sleep masks. The car pillows are designed to provide comfortable support for your neck during long drives, and the sleep eye mask can help you relax and get a good night's sleep in the car. Both products are made from high-quality materials for durability and comfort. We hope to use our products to bring the ultimate user experience to every user, and the ultimate user experience will make great products.
IIHS evaluates how the seat and restraint support the head and spine, including how quickly the restraint contacts the head and the relative movement of the head and pelvis. It also measures neck loading and energy transferred to the occupant, including pelvis movement and acceleration at the T1 vertebra. IIHS explains the whiplash-prevention test; its protocol index lists Version II protocol and rating-guideline documents dated August 2026.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to use a rating when shopping
- Check the exact model year. A result applies to the years stated on the vehicle’s live IIHS profile, not automatically to every generation or year of that nameplate.
- Check the tested seat configuration. IIHS profiles identify the seat type evaluated. For instance, the Forester profile describes a power cloth seat.
- Keep the category in context. A Good whiplash rating describes seat/head-restraint performance in a simulated rear impact; it is not a complete vehicle-safety ranking.
- Verify the current profile. Ratings and test protocols can be updated, and the initial 18-SUV announcement does not establish the full list of later-rated vehicles.
IIHS President David Harkey said in the January 27, 2026 announcement, “Neck sprains and strains are the most frequently reported injuries in U.S. auto insurance claims.”
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YGDMD 2PCS Car Headrest Pillow,Soft & Comfortable Car Neck Pillow for Driving Fatigue Relieve,All-Season Universal Cars Head Rest Pillows Automotive Interior Accessories for Cars,SUVs
- Neck Protection: In the vehicle driving, the neck is always facing potential risks, may face collision, our car pillows provide support to reduce the pressure on the neck to protect the neck, so that drivers and passengers more safety and security
- Soft and Comfortable Material: The car pillows for driving are made of short plush fabric with pp cotton interior, good durability, soft and skin-friendly, with good breathability, extend the life of the seat, bring comfort to the driver and passenger
- Excellent Ergonomic Design: Our head rest pillow for car excel in neck support, based on the physiological curve of the human neck, allowing the neck to be supported in its natural state, reducing neck pressure and muscle tension to a greater extent
- Wide Range of Uses: Our car head pillow are suitable for car seats, office chairs and other seats, provide support in a variety of situations, suitable for cars, SUVs, but not suitable for one-piece seats, be sure to confirm your needs before purchasing
- Easy to Install and Use: The car neck pillows is compact and convenient, the back is designed with adjustable elastic straps, when installing, you only need to adjust the elastic straps to fit to use, and can be easily removed when not in use. Note: Once you receive, kneading it repeatedly will restore it to its original condition
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Aukee Car Headrest Pillow Memory Foam Car Neck Pillow with Adjustable Strap Soft Leather Headrest for Driving Home Office Black (1PC)
- pillow
- Aukee car headrest pillow have been improved now with double elastic straps, Double elastic straps could better fix the pillow in the place, And it comes with two spare extension straps to extend the length for a wider fitment, Maximum length of elastic strap plus spare extension strap is 17inches, Do not try to overstretch the elastic band to avoid tearing of the strap and the fabric
- Black leather cover match black leather seat or black car interior, Leather can be simply wiped clean or removable for hand washing clean, Memory foam covered with a soft cloth to protect it from dust, Note that different monitors display different color saturation, So please allow slight color differences
- This car seat neck rest pillow is designed for attaching in a suitable width, Pillow installation height depends on your seat height, The support position varies depending on the individual's height
- When the weather is cold, the memory foam will be harder than it is placed under normal temperature, so it is recommended to put it in a warm indoor environment for several days after receiving the products, If the memory foam rebounds slowly, please press or rub the memory foam firmly as the fifth picture shown to help the memory foam to rebound
Rank #3
Belmeri Car Headrest Pillow,Head, Neck Support Pillow,U Shaped Car Sleeping Pillow,180° Adjustable,Improve Head and Neck Posture and Adjust Sleep Position,Suitable for Kids and Adults (Black)
- Enjoy The Travel: Still worried about the posture of napping on a long trip? Don't look for it, our car seat pillows can well prevent the head from colliding from side to side, and at the same time, it can well correct the neck posture, which can better allow you to enjoy the journey
- Leather Material: Our car seat pillow is made with high-quality Leather and filled with thickened memory foam for maximum comfort and safety
- Enjoy Nap in Road Trip: This car seat headrest provide your kids and family a good sleeping posture in the car, no more worry about the head hitting the car door window
- 180° Adjustable: Both side headrest pillows can be rotated 180° to adjust the height. Suitable for children and adults of different heights, just lift the headrest pillows up to save space when not in use
- Easy to Install: The u shaped car headrest pillow does not require any tools. we provide clear instructions and video tutorials for your convenience. You can install it with your child in a few minutes and it will be a fun family craft activity
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