Bumper Performance Improves on Four of Six Midsize Sedans, IIHS
Reports
August 6, 2009
Bumpers on 2009 models of the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda
6, and Nissan Maxima performed better than their 2007 predecessors
in low-speed crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety (IIHS), according to a study released by the institute
this week. Bumpers on the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu and 2010 Ford Fusion,
however, did worse than earlier models.
None of the six midsize sedans earns the top rating of good in a
recent series of tests designed to assess and compare how well bumpers
resist damage in everyday fender-benders, according to IIHS. The
Mazda 6 improved to acceptable from marginal, with an average repair
cost of less than $900 after four tests at 3 and 6 mph. The Accord
and Sonata improved to marginal from poor. The Fusion slipped to
poor from marginal, and the Maxima and Malibu remained poor, IIHS
reports.
"Consumers buy midsize cars for practical reasons. There's
nothing practical about a $1,000-plus repair bill after a minor
bump in commuter traffic," says Joe Nolan, Institute senior
vice president.
This is the second group of vehicles the Institute has evaluated
under a new bumper ratings protocol based on repair costs averaged
and weighted to reflect real-world damage patterns and insurance
claims frequency (CLICK
HERE for related story).
The Institute rates bumpers good, acceptable, marginal, or poor
based on performance in four tests-front and rear full-width impacts
at 6 mph and front and rear corner impacts at 3 mph. Each vehicle
is run into a steel barrier designed to mimic the design of a car
bumper, with the barrier's plastic absorber and flexible cover simulating
typical cars' energy absorbers and plastic bumper covers. These
tests are designed to drive bumper improvements that lead to better
damage resistance in a range of real-world crashes.
"Although midsize car bumpers still allow way too much damage
in minor impacts, it's encouraging that some manufacturers are designing
better ones," Nolan adds. He points out that the front and
rear bumpers of the 2009 Mazda 6 are wider, taller and higher off
the ground than the 2007 model. The Mazda 6 is only the fourth car
tested under the new protocol to earn an acceptable rating for its
bumpers. The others are the Ford Focus, Scion xB, and Smart Fortwo.
"Mazda is trying to protect buyers' pocketbooks while many
other carmakers are letting them take a big hit in low-speed crashes,"
Nolan says.
Mazda, Honda, Nissan, and Hyundai improved the bumpers on their
2009 midsize cars so the bumpers would better resist front underride,
which exacerbates collision damage. Bumpers have to be tall enough
to engage, and to stay engaged, with the bumpers on other vehicles
in collisions, even during emergency braking, or they'll bypass
each other when the vehicles collide, according to IIHS.
Midsize Car
Ratings and Repair Costs for Bumper Performance
|
Rating |
Front Full |
Front Corner |
Rear Full |
Rear Corner |
Weighted Average |
Mazda 6 |
Acceptable
|
$742
|
$1,437
|
$768
|
$767
|
$871
|
Honda Accord |
Marginal
|
$941
|
$1,461
|
$974
|
$1,507
|
$1,133
|
Hyundai Sonata |
Marginal
|
$1,791
|
$1,019
|
$1,131
|
$729
|
$1,265
|
Nissan Maxima |
Poor
|
$997
|
$1,787
|
$2,494
|
$1,352
|
$1,687
|
Ford Fusion |
Poor
|
$2,529
|
$1,889
|
$2,610
|
$1,073
|
$2,207
|
Chevrolet Malibu |
Poor
|
$2,092
|
$1,685
|
$3,494
|
$1,116
|
$2,329
|
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