Bumpers that don't bump mean 'bumper bills'

New research by the Thatcham insurer research centre revealed that a minor impact at only 6mph could effectively "write off" some cars. Its study revealed the "best" and "worst" performers of a selection of cars currently available in the UK.

Ten top selling brand new cars were crash tested at the front and rear to assess their bumper performance. Overall, Thatcham described the results as "disappointing" with only one of the 20 bumpers tested deemed to be "good", one "acceptable", seven rated as "marginal" and eleven as "poor".

The researchers claimed the tests provided "conclusive proof" that a seemingly inconsequential impact, which on the best performers would cost only a few hundred pounds to repair, were in the worst performers costing over £2,500 in an identical crash test.

Only the rear bumper of the Ford S-Max was rated as "good", while the front end of a Toyota Auris (pictured) managed to achieve an "acceptable" rating.

According to Thatcham, the worst performers in the tests were a Honda CR-V, a Citroen C4 Picasso, a Landrover Freelander 2, and a Suzuki Swift - all rated "poor" for both front and rear bumpers.

Thatcham claimed that on the Suzuki Swift, a 6mph crash led to combined front and rear repair costs of £4,600, which it said would have "written the car off."

Pedestrian safety?

Matthew Avery, research manager at Thatcham said: "This is a ridiculous state of affairs. If only motorists could see for themselves the limited protection that some bumper systems are giving their vehicles, they might not buy them in the first place.

"Some designs don't have a bumper beam at all – just a flimsy plastic covering that looks like a bumper!"

He claimed that the lack of agreed international design and production protocols meant that bumpers were set at different heights and widths, causing chronic override and underride - where one bumper goes over or under the other car's bumper in a collision.

"It is time manufacturers addressed this issue and fitted vehicles with bumpers that bump," added Matthew.

Thatcham said concerns that strong bumpers could increase the risk to pedestrians did not stack up. The Toyota Auris, as well as providing the best frontal protection in the Thatcham study, had also achieved high scores in Euro NCAP pedestrian safety tests.

The new tests were conducted under a new international protocol design by RCAR - the Research Council For Automobile Repairs.

According to Thatcham, slow speed collisions account for 85% of all motor insurance claims.