How safe you are from whiplash and neck injuries in your SUV, pickup or minivan all depends on what vehicle you drive.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released its new study of rear crash protection and for many models, the news isn t great.

Of the 87 different models tested, only 21 of the current SUV s Pickups and minivans are rated good for protecting its occupants.

54 are rated marginal or poor.

12 others are rated as acceptable.

Among the best are the seat/head restraint combinations in SUV s by Subaru and Volvo as well as in new designs from Acura, Ford, Honda and Hyundai.

Three minivan models from Hyundai and Ford eared the good rating.

The Toyota Tundra is the only pickup receiving a good rating.

The Institute report shows that SUV s have improved from last year.

In 2006 only six of 44 models tested earned a good rating.

This year, that number jumped up.

17 or 59 SUV s were given a good rating.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the best seat/head restraints are ones that keep people s heads and torsos moving together during a rear-end accident.

If your head is unsupported during an accident, it will lag behind the torsos forward movement causing your neck to bend and stretch.

To find out how your vehicle fares, you can log on the Institute’s website at http://www.iihs.org.