SUVs, pickups poor in whiplash test

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Most SUVs and pickup trucks fail to protect passengers from neck injuries in rear-end collisions, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said Monday.

The Arlington, Va.-based institute tested 59 SUVs and pickups on the market. Only the seats in the Ford Freestyle, Honda Pilot, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Land Rover LR3, Subaru Forester, and Volvo XC90 models earned good overall ratings.

"Manufacturer advertising often emphasizes the rugged image of SUVs and pickups," said institute President Adrian Lund. "However, the Institute's evaluations show seats and head restraints in many models wouldn't do a good job of protecting most people in a typical rear impact in everyday commuter traffic."

The institute singled out Ford for changing the head restraint for the 2006 model of the Ranger pickup. The company shortened the restraint by 3 inches, lowering its rating from "good" in 2005 to "poor" this year.