What’s the deal with the rear headrests?

[Solmanic]

OK. I’ve seen photos of delivered vehicles posted as well as actual production series vehicles with two different types of rear headrests…


I must be missing something but I cannot for the life of me work out why there are two different designs?

 

[Eric]

OK. I’ve seen photos of delivered vehicles posted as well as actual production series vehicles with two different types of rear headrests…
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I must be missing something but I cannot for the life of me work out why there are two different designs?

Aren't they the same but folding?

 

[Solmanic]

Just to clarify, both vehicles shown in the photos above are Australian deliveries, full leather trim non-utility spec.

One design they sit fully above the seat back and on the other they recess over the seat back when pushed all the way down. I couldn’t find a front photo of the first type.

 

[Solmanic]

Aren't they the same but folding?

You can clearly see the difference in the first photo where the centre headrest only is the recessed type.

 

[bemax]

I would say the lower one is the one for the middle seat to get the view back through the mirror. Could be that they accidentally (or because they had nothing else on stock) mounted this one to all seats.

 

[rovie]

OK. I’ve seen photos of delivered vehicles posted as well as actual production series vehicles with two different types of rear headrests…
View attachment 7824852
View attachment 7824853
I must be missing something but I cannot for the life of me work out why there are two different designs?

Hi @Solmanic, in my Trialmaster the recessed headrests are fitted as shown in the picture below.

 

[Solmanic]

Hi @Solmanic, in my Trialmaster the recessed headrests are fitted as shown in the picture below.

What challenges that idea is the fact that the online configurator shows all three as the recessed type too.

 

[Overland Journeyman]

Ive got the non-leather trim with heavy duty covers. Tall/short/tall is the set up.

 

[Tom D]

Might be to do with Aussie crash testing regs. To stop whiplash in taller rear seat passengers... Headrests should always be adjusted up to the back of the head so it can’t fly backwards. Maybe they are taking this decision away from the consumer?

 

[Mussels]

OK. I’ve seen photos of delivered vehicles posted as well as actual production series vehicles with two different types of rear headrests…
View attachment 7824852
View attachment 7824853
I must be missing something but I cannot for the life of me work out why there are two different designs?

My pennyworth is that the PDI person has temporarily got the front headrests in the wrong position. The nearside front seat in the top photo may not have a headrest located, the photo showing something else.

 

[Solmanic]

Might be to do with Aussie crash testing regs. To stop whiplash in taller rear seat passengers... Headrests should always be adjusted up to the back of the head so it can’t fly backwards. Maybe they are taking this decision away from the consumer?

I thought that too but I looked at a production series vehicle a couple of weeks ago with all recessed headrests. Also plenty of other cars here have the same style.

 

[Solmanic]

Ive got the non-leather trim with heavy duty covers. Tall/short/tall is the set up.

Yeah, I suspected it might be the trim however all the non-leather test drive vehicles I’ve driven were all recessed. And like I said above, the configuration website shows the same regardless of trim.

The logic has got me stumped.

 

[AnD3rew]

Australian, Trialmaster, leather seats

 

[emax]

Mine (all three) are like the one in the middle - which I like more. You cann pull them up as needed.

The other ones always stay in your field of view.

I have a utility.

PS: I've just seen that the front head rests are like the two ones above on the left and right side. To me, this looks like they haven't had enough of the shallower ones and have just taken the front seat versions.

 

[anand]

Mine (all three) are like the one in the middle - which I like more. You cann pull them up as needed.

I have a utility.

I think that may be the defining characteristic, the utility, in addition to getting the more upright rear seats and less leg room, gets the smaller headrests; at least logically that would make sense.

Again, all speculation here

 

[Trialmaster]

I think that may be the defining characteristic, the utility, in addition to getting the more upright rear seats and less leg room, gets the smaller headrests; at least logically that would make sense.

Again, all speculation here

I have a Trialmaster with the Utility seats and have the 3 x smaller headrests.

 

[jkloy]

Bei mir auch: Trialmaster mit drei kleinen Kopfstützen hinten.

 

[Voader - Oudersopzwier]

Same here, Utility. Backbench with 3x the smaller headrests

 

[bemax]

My Fieldmaster has three small ones as well. I had to check, because I really didn’t know from memory.

 

[anand]

As an aside, in other vehicle circles, replacing the rear headrests with the small (usually center) versions was a highly sought after "modification"