An energy-absorbing vehicle hood includes outer and inner layers defining a cavity filled with foam material. The outer layer fractures when subjected to a crush load to thereby transmit the load to the foam material where it is absorbed, and both layers are continuously and directly bonded to the foam material. A vehicle includes a vehicle hood assembly having outer and inner layers defining a cavity, with foam material filling the cavity. The outer layer fractures when subjected to a crush load to transmit the load to the foam material for uniformly absorption of the crush load. A hood panel is also provided for use with a vehicle, including an energy-absorbing polymer foam material entrapped between an outer and inner polymer membrane. The membranes have a crush strength, and the foam material is characterized by an absence of a reinforcing structure.