Munich - Many car seats including headrests do not offer maximum protection against whiplash in the event of an accident, a test conducted by Germany's automobile association ADAC found.

In a rear collision test conducted on 25 car models, only five seats were described as "good" while eight were given a poor rating by the testers.

Top marks were given to the new Volvo XC 60 with its "whips" system which has an inbuilt deformation element in the headrest and backrest that reduces impact force. The seats of the Audi A4, the Opel Insignia, the new Golf and the new Alfa Mito were also described as "good."

Most of the car seats were equipped with standard headrests which often cause whiplash injury to the neck with a sudden extension of the spine in a rear end accident, according to the ADAC.

Despite complicated systems including sensors in the BMW X3 and Mercedes M-Class seats the result was disappointing, the testers said. (dpa)