Why are car bumpers vulnerable in slow-speed collisions?

Many people think that slow-speed collisions don't have as much damage as fast-speed collisions. This isn't necessarily true. Slow-speed collisions happen all the time - in traffic, in parking lots and in public areas. Perhaps they don't cause as much damage, but they do cause damage to your bumpers.

As a matter of fact, 5mph crashes can hit your wallet hard. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) evaluated a number of cars that are vulnerable in slow-speed collisions. According to the evaluation, the cars that were tested turned in "mostly disappointing results".

IIHS President Brain O'Neill says, "When you spend more than $30,000 for a new car, you ought to get bumpers that prevent damage in low-speed impacts like our tests." This is a pretty reasonable evaluation. As a matter of fact, five of the cars that were tested cost more than $30,000.

Car: Saturn LS / bumper damage: $623 / bumper rating: Good

Car: Audi A6 / bumper damage: $2,029 / bumper rating: Acceptable

Car: Ford Taurus / bumper damage: $1,535 / bumper rating: Acceptable

Car: Mazda 626 / bumper damage: $1,771 / bumper rating: Acceptable

Car: Nissan Altima / bumper damage: $1,364 / bumper rating: Acceptable

Car: Subaru Legacy / bumper damage: $1,490 / bumper rating: Acceptable

Car: Toyota Avalon / bumper damage: $1,931 / bumper rating: Acceptable

Car: BMW 328i / bumper damage: $2,430 / bumper rating: Marginal

Car: Chevrolet Malibu / bumper damage: $2,232 / bumper rating: Marginal

Car: Daewoo Leganza / bumper damage: $2,574 / bumper rating: Marginal

Car: Mazda Portege / bumper damage: $2,058 / bumper rating: Marginal

Car: Nissan Maxima / bumper damage: $2,538 / bumper rating: Marginal

Car: Pontiac Grand Am/ bumper damage: $2,465 / bumper rating: Marginal

Car: Saab 9-5 / bumper damage: $2,098 / bumper rating: Marginal

Car: Cadillac Catera / bumper damage: $3,762 / bumper rating: Poor

Car: Mazda MPV / bumper damage: $5,669 / bumper rating: Poor

Car: Volvo S80 / bumper damage: $8,062 / bumper rating: Poor