"IIHS Midsize Sedan Bumper Bash: None of the Six Tested Rate "Good"" Edmunds Daily

IIHS Midsize Sedan Bumper Bash: None of the Six Tested Rate "Good"

IIHS low-speed crah test Accord.jpg

Ouch, that still hurts! The 2009 Honda Accord sustains $1,507 in rear corner damage -- better than the 2007 Accord.

In new, low-speed crash test results, none of the six midsize sedans tested by the IIHS scored "Good." The 2009 Mazda 6 was judged "Acceptable," the 2009 Hyundai Sonata and 2009 Honda Accord were "Marginal." The 2009 Nissan Maxima, 2010 Ford Fusion, and 2009 Chevrolet Malibu? All rated "Poor."

The 3 and 6 mph tests were designed to see how the cars' bumpers protect fenders, headlights, trunks, grilles and other parts from costly damage. The lowest estimated repair cost from the test was $742 on the front of the Mazda 6; the highest was $3,494 on the rear of the Chevy Malibu. Repair costs are influenced by both the price of replacement parts and the complexity of repairs.

"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.

IIHS 2009 Maxima Bumper Bash.small.jpg

For example, the front corner damage on the Maxima (at left) would cost an estimated $1,787 to repair.

The Institute rates bumpers good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in 4 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.

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.

These tests are designed to drive bumper improvements that lead to better damage resistance in a range of real-world crashes.

To view all the details, see the IIHS news release.