NRMA Insurance testing has revealed some car bumpers aren’t doing their job, with many actually contributing to higher smash repair costs.
The NRMA Insurance testing program, the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere, put the spotlight on how well a bumper bumped in a simulated 10km/h collision - the most common type of bingle.
The test was used on nine of Australia’s top selling small vehicles and revealed inconsistent repair costs ranging from around $1000 to more than $7000.
NRMA Insurance Queensland State Manager Brett Robinson said the tests revealed a car’s bumper design had a big impact on the amount of damage caused in low speed collisions, including most rear-enders.
“A poorly designed bumper can slide under other bumpers on impact, causing more damage to both cars,” he said.
“We’d encourage consumers to consider smash repair costs when shopping for a new car as they can have a significant impact on the insurance premium they’ll pay. A bargain in the showroom may not be such a good deal when you take insurance and repair costs into account,” he said.
Of the small car’s tested, the Honda Civic was the most expensive to repair, costing an estimated $7,386 or 31.4 per cent of its purchase price.
“The Suzuki Swift also registered a disappointing result, with low-speed crash damage costing $5,547.15 or more than a third of its purchase price,” Mr Robinson said.
“We are, however, really pleased with the performance of the Toyota Corolla. The repair cost after a low speed collision, was just $1,019 or 4.4 per cent of its purchase price.”
Mr Robinson said a bumper’s position, size and shape all affected the protection it provided and the damage it caused.
This year’s results also demonstrated manufacturers can design cars that perform well in both pedestrian safety and vehicle protection, although some better than others.
“Both the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic scored similar leg protection results in the EURO NCAP pedestrian safety program, yet the repair costs of these vehicles differ dramatically,” Mr Robinson said.
“The first round of testing has initially looked at some of the best selling small cars in Australia. We will be working with car manufacturers over the next 12 months to expand the program.”
For the full report, visit www.nrmaqld.com.au/lowspeed
| Vehicle | Average Repair Cost | Repair cost as a % of the Purchase price |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla (5 Door Hatch) | $1,018.71 | 4.4% |
| Ford Focus (Sedan) | $2,357.83 | 10.7% |
| Holden Astra (5 Door Hatch) | $2,626.71 | 10.9% |
| Mazda 3 (5 Door Hatch) | $2,886.46 | 12.6% |
| Toyota Yaris (5 Door Hatch) | $4,016.03 | 22.1% |
| Hyundai Getz (5 Door Hatch) | $3,363 | 22.4% |
| Mitsubishi Lancer (Sedan) | $5,467.43 | 23.5% |
| Honda Civic (Sedan) | $7,385.53 | 31.4% |
| Suzuki Swift (5 Door Hatch) | $5,547.15 | 34.7% |
About the tests
The NRMA Insurance low speed crash test program was designed in conjunction with research centres in six other countries to help car manufacturers improve vehicle design, and to help keep the cost of collision repairs affordable.
The new crash apparatus uses a ‘roller coaster’ type device to simulate a 10km/h collision, the most common type of crash, allowing an accurate comparison of the costs of repairs.
