IIHS head restraint/seat tests

[Hal Whelply]

Stone Phillip's NBC Dateline show tonight featured results of recent IIHS
seatback/head restraint tests. (See http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6470994/ for
complete soundtrack text.) Only eight (8) cars got "Good" ratings overall,
including the Impreza. Forester wasn't tested, and one would think it could
be assumed it would also pass. Yet the WRX was "Marginal" on a couple of
measures. (See the IIHS site for full results:
http://www.hwysafety.org/news_releases/2004/pr111404_1.pdf.) Anyone know if
the seats in the Impreza appear to differ significantly from those in the
Forester? I'm guessing the WRX seats are lighter, probably more side
bolstering, etc. The program made clear it's the overall seat construction,
not just quality of head restraints, that counts.

 

[Hallraker]

Stone Phillip's NBC Dateline show tonight featured results of recent IIHS
seatback/head restraint tests. (See http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6470994/ for
complete soundtrack text.) Only eight (8) cars got "Good" ratings overall,
including the Impreza. Forester wasn't tested, and one would think it could
be assumed it would also pass. Yet the WRX was "Marginal" on a couple of
measures. (See the IIHS site for full results:
http://www.hwysafety.org/news_releases/2004/pr111404_1.pdf.) Anyone know if
the seats in the Impreza appear to differ significantly from those in the
Forester? I'm guessing the WRX seats are lighter, probably more side
bolstering, etc. The program made clear it's the overall seat construction,
not just quality of head restraints, that counts.

Interesting. I've always felt that the overall framework of the Subaru
seats is very robust, even if the padding is a bit weak. The seats stand up
to the relentless abuse of my so-called friends, <g> so I suppose they'll
survive a crash.

On another note, a co-worker of mine has a friend who was paralyzed in a low
speed (under 20 MPH) crash when the front passenger seat in the Kia Sportage
he was riding in snapped in half. I don't know any more details, but it
goes to show that all seats are not created equal.

-Matt