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hatchback cars / uncomfortable headrests
For my new used car, I've decided that a hatchback would be good, in terms of having a nice compact car with good cargo space.
I've been checking the specs for all the hatchback models I could find which are about 3 years old.
Regarding the 2009 Pontiac G3, yesterday I read "In other words, the G3 is an Aveo5 hatchback by another name -- and at a higher price". So I quickly knocked the G3 off my list, as the Chevrolet Aveo was also on it.
Today, I found out that the Toyota Matrix* and the Pontiac Vibe are pretty much the same, too. From Wikipedia: "Identical mechanically, and nearly as much internally, the Matrix and Vibe are clothed in different sheetmetal designed by their respective brands."
Comparing the photos from Edmunds.com, they are indeed very similar. Can you spot the differences?
The 2010 Pontiac Vibe is in the top photo of each set; the 2010 Toyota Matrix is below:
The last set of photos demonstrates an issue with the headrests (aka "head restraints") which I'm very concerned about.
For the front passenger seat, do you notice how the headrest in the bottom photo looks fairly straight & comfortable, whereas the one in the top photo looks like it would push your head slightly forward? This difference is due to the seats being leaned back a different amount in each photo.
The little cartoon on this page also demonstrates the issue.
An NHTSA regulation was passed some years ago which mandated new headrest designs for all cars manufactured after 2008. It details the maximum distance that the headrest is allowed to be behind the driver's head. As (supposedly) most drivers lean their seat back, the headrests are designed with that in mind.
Personally, I like my seat to be in a fairly upright position when I drive. That's more comfortable for me, and I see better that way. So now I'm worried that I won't find any car which will feel comfortable. There are many complaints to be found on the web where other people mention these kinds of headrests being uncomfortable for them too.
The issue was even mentioned in the above regulation document: "In opposition, a majority of the manufacturers ... suggested that vehicle occupants would prefer a head restraint backset of more than 50 mm. Specifically, they maintained that smaller female occupants tend to utilize steeper seat back angles. According to these commenters, a backset of 50 mm may cause significant intrusions into the space where these occupants typically place their heads, forcing their heads into an unnatural forward-tilting position.
Based on [UMTRI's] research, a 50 mm backset would result in head restraint interference for 13 percent of the driving public. The head restraint would actually come in contact with the hair of approximately 33 percent of drivers, assuming a hair margin of 25 mm. ... the individuals who preferred seat back angles more upright than 25 degrees (usually small stature people) were most likely to be subject to the head restraint interference. UMTRI estimated that with current seat designs, a backset of 91 mm would accommodate the preferred head positions of 99 percent of the population and a 70 mm maximum backset would accommodate all but a small percentage of the population.
But then the document goes on to state:
We concluded that comfort-related issues are not insurmountable in front seats because front seat backs can be adjusted to alleviate discomfort.
...we have decided to increase the maximum allowable backset to 55 mm, with the seat back positioned at an angle that gives the HRMD a torso reference line angle of 25 degrees.
Sigh.
Some cars have headrests which can be tilted forward and back. But from what I've read, those don't necessarily help, as they are mainly designed to tilt *even more* forward, rather than to give your head more space behind it.
*Just in case anyone wonders, I did hear the news that Toyota has issued a recall of Matrix vehicles due to an airbag issue - but that's only for older models.
I've been checking the specs for all the hatchback models I could find which are about 3 years old.
Regarding the 2009 Pontiac G3, yesterday I read "In other words, the G3 is an Aveo5 hatchback by another name -- and at a higher price". So I quickly knocked the G3 off my list, as the Chevrolet Aveo was also on it.
Today, I found out that the Toyota Matrix* and the Pontiac Vibe are pretty much the same, too. From Wikipedia: "Identical mechanically, and nearly as much internally, the Matrix and Vibe are clothed in different sheetmetal designed by their respective brands."
Comparing the photos from Edmunds.com, they are indeed very similar. Can you spot the differences?
The 2010 Pontiac Vibe is in the top photo of each set; the 2010 Toyota Matrix is below:
The last set of photos demonstrates an issue with the headrests (aka "head restraints") which I'm very concerned about.
For the front passenger seat, do you notice how the headrest in the bottom photo looks fairly straight & comfortable, whereas the one in the top photo looks like it would push your head slightly forward? This difference is due to the seats being leaned back a different amount in each photo.
The little cartoon on this page also demonstrates the issue.
An NHTSA regulation was passed some years ago which mandated new headrest designs for all cars manufactured after 2008. It details the maximum distance that the headrest is allowed to be behind the driver's head. As (supposedly) most drivers lean their seat back, the headrests are designed with that in mind.
Personally, I like my seat to be in a fairly upright position when I drive. That's more comfortable for me, and I see better that way. So now I'm worried that I won't find any car which will feel comfortable. There are many complaints to be found on the web where other people mention these kinds of headrests being uncomfortable for them too.
The issue was even mentioned in the above regulation document: "In opposition, a majority of the manufacturers ... suggested that vehicle occupants would prefer a head restraint backset of more than 50 mm. Specifically, they maintained that smaller female occupants tend to utilize steeper seat back angles. According to these commenters, a backset of 50 mm may cause significant intrusions into the space where these occupants typically place their heads, forcing their heads into an unnatural forward-tilting position.
Based on [UMTRI's] research, a 50 mm backset would result in head restraint interference for 13 percent of the driving public. The head restraint would actually come in contact with the hair of approximately 33 percent of drivers, assuming a hair margin of 25 mm. ... the individuals who preferred seat back angles more upright than 25 degrees (usually small stature people) were most likely to be subject to the head restraint interference. UMTRI estimated that with current seat designs, a backset of 91 mm would accommodate the preferred head positions of 99 percent of the population and a 70 mm maximum backset would accommodate all but a small percentage of the population.
But then the document goes on to state:
We concluded that comfort-related issues are not insurmountable in front seats because front seat backs can be adjusted to alleviate discomfort.
...we have decided to increase the maximum allowable backset to 55 mm, with the seat back positioned at an angle that gives the HRMD a torso reference line angle of 25 degrees.
Sigh.
Some cars have headrests which can be tilted forward and back. But from what I've read, those don't necessarily help, as they are mainly designed to tilt *even more* forward, rather than to give your head more space behind it.
*Just in case anyone wonders, I did hear the news that Toyota has issued a recall of Matrix vehicles due to an airbag issue - but that's only for older models.
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