Flimsy bumpers faulted in SUV crash tests

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, funded by the insurance industry, crash-tested SUVs at 5 mph to measure bumper performance

In this story: Worst and best Why SUVs don't crash test well RELATED STORIES, SITES

ARLINGTON, Virginia (CNN) -- Although sport utility vehicles are advertised as rugged, four midsize SUVs averaged more than $1,000 in damage in each of a series of low-speed crash tests, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said Wednesday.

A fifth vehicle tested, the 2001 BMW X5, "is the only SUV in this group with halfway decent bumpers," says Institute president Brian O'Neill.

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The Institute, funded by the insurance industry, crash tested each of the SUVs at 5 mph to measure bumper performance in four categories:

  • Front into flat barrier

  • Front into an angled barrier

  • Rear into an angled barrier

  • Rear into a pole. (See results)

With the results announced Wednesday, the Institute has now crash tested more than a dozen midsize SUVs dating back to 1996 models (See results).

The "worst performer" -- not just in the latest findings but among all midsize SUVs tested over the years -- is the 2000 model Isuzu Trooper. It sustained total damage of $11,158 in the four tests, or $2,790 in average damage per crash.

Other SUVs rated as "poor performers" in the latest low-speed tests are:

  • 2001 Mitsubishi Montero ($9,061 total damage/$2,265 average damage per crash)

  • 2000 Isuzu Rodeo ($5,177 total damage/$1,294 average damage per crash)

  • 2000 Nissan Xterra ($4,446 total damage/ $1,112 average damage per crash)

"Consumers can expect big repair bills if they're unlucky enough to bump these so-called rugged vehicles into something at slow speeds," O'Neill said.

By comparison, the Institute says the BMW X5 is the best performer it has tested over the years. Even so, it sustained $2,187 in total damage, averaging $547 per crash.

The 2000 model Isuzu Trooper was the poorest performer among all the midsize SUVs that the Insurance Institute has ever tested for bumper performance, says Brian O'Neill, Institute president

"The rear bumper is good," said O'Neill. "It allowed only about $200 damage in the pole impact, which usually is the toughest of our four bumper tests. The X5 also performed well in the rear-into-flat-barrier test, but there was too much damage in the front-flat and front-angle barrier tests."

The Institute said one reason SUVs perform so poorly in bumper tests is that they aren't subject to any requirements to prevent damage in low-speed impacts.

Automobile bumpers have to meet federal standards in 2.5 mph impacts, and most of the bumper systems on cars include foam or other material to absorb crash energy. "But the bumpers on most SUVs -- including both Isuzu models, the Montero, and the Xterra -- don't have anything effective to absorb energy," O'Neill said.

But "the BMW X5 does," he added. "It has energy absorbers on the back, which is one reason it performed so well in the rear impacts."

Detroit Bureau Chief Ed Garsten and CNN.com Senior Writer Jim Morris contributed to this report.

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Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
  • IIHS Crashworthiness Evaluations: Small utility vehicles
  • IIHS Crashworthiness Evaluations: Midsize utility vehicles
BMW of North America, Inc.
Isuzu 2000 - SUV & Pickup Trucks

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