As SUVs and MPVs increasingly position their third row as the “family C-seat,” automotive thermal comfort manikins are now taking on the challenge of large body types to push automakers to optimize heat management in the “last meter” of the cabin.
These manikins represent the global 90th percentile large-body profile—height 185–195 cm, weight 90–110 kg, shoulder width over 50 cm, and leg length exceeding 110 cm—acting as the ultimate heat management verifier.
The thermal comfort challenges of large-body users lie in “area” and “distance”:
Wider shoulders: Standard AC vents (~15 cm wide) cover only 70% of the shoulder area, leaving temperature blind spots at the sides.
Longer legs: Knee-to-front-seat distance can be as short as 30 cm in some MPV third rows, causing winter heating efficiency to drop by 30% as warm air must bypass the front seats.
Higher body fat: Average body fat 5–8% higher than standard profiles, denser subcutaneous vascular distribution, resulting in 20% greater sensitivity to temperature changes.
Ordinary manikins cannot expose these “big issues.” Thermal comfort manikins, however, are equipped with:
Adjustable torso modules (shoulder width and chest circumference ±5 cm)
High-precision thermal resistance sensors (simulating insulation effects of fat layers)
These features accurately replicate the thermal perception of large-body users.
Case Examples:
In a U.S.-market MPV, the manikin detected a 4°C temperature drop at the shoulder sides compared to the center of the third row. In response, engineers widened the AC vent from 15 cm to 20 cm and introduced a wide-angle airflow mode.
During a luxury SUV second-row independent seat test, the manikin revealed that tight seat side bolsters, designed for standard body types, increased the contact area with the back by 25%, reducing ventilation efficiency by 35%. Automakers subsequently adjusted the seat foam hardness to balance support and heat dissipation.
Transforming “Spacious” into “Truly Comfortable”
A new-energy MPV brand previously faced complaints about third-row thermal discomfort—“hot in summer, cold in winter.” By integrating manikin testing under full-load long-distance conditions (35°C, six passengers), engineers discovered that rear AC vents were positioned too high, aligning with standard-body head height, leaving the shoulders of large-body users insufficiently cooled. After lowering vent height by 10 cm and adding downward air guide fins, and converting seat ventilation holes from circular to elongated shapes for better shoulder-back coverage, third-row thermal comfort satisfaction jumped from 62% to 89%.
