NRMA Insurance has put nine of Australia’s top-selling small cars to the test, and found that even slow collisions – those everyday carpark bumps and scrapes – can cost dearly. The insurance giant tested the bumpers on the cars in a 10km/h identical crash test, and then compared repair costs.
NRMA Insurance Head of Research Robert McDonald says the test reveals a vast difference in repair costs across the range of top-selling small vehicles. “Of the vehicles tested, repair costs for a rear collision range from around $1,200 on one car to more than $7,600 on another,” he says.
When that repair bill is increased with damage to both bumpers, it can wipe out a great deal of the car’s value. NRMA cited the front and rear bumper damage on a $18,990 Toyota Yaris YRS as costing $13,440 combined to repair -- a whopping 70.8 per cent of the purchase price.
At the best end of the scale, the $17,990 automatic Holden Barina front and rear bumper came in at $2,574 or 14.3% of the purchase price. “A low speed crash is the most common type of crash on our roads,” McDonald says. “Even travelling at only 10 km/h, we found many of the cars had poor-performing bumper design which resulted in high collision repair costs.”
And even a five-star official ANCAP crash safety rating doesn’t always point to good results in the collision repair cost test. Except for the Nissan Micra ST-L, all cars tested have been awarded a five star ANCAP rating – yet the four-star Micra is the second-best performer with repair costs of $6,056, or 35.6% of purchase price.
McDonald claims the variance in damage is due to the bumpers’ effectiveness in protecting more expensive parts such as headlights and radiator. NRMA says the collision repair cost program aims to urge manufacturers to improve their designs and help make repairs more affordable.
Small car front and rear bumper collision tests results
| Type of vehicle | Front and rear bumper repair costs | Repair costs as percentage of purchase price | Vehicle recommended retail price |
| Holden Barina 5 door hatch - automatic | $2,574 | 14.3% | From $17,990 |
| Nissan Micra ST-L 5 door hatch - automatic | $6,056 | 35.6% | From $16,990 |
| Ford Fiesta LX 5 door hatch - automatic | $8,850 | 42.2% | From $20,990 |
| Suzuki Swift GL 5 door hatch - automatic | $8,929 | 48.6% | From $18,390 |
| VW Polo 77TSI Comfortline 5 door hatch - automatic | $11,037 | 51.4% | From $21,490 |
| Hyundai i20 Active 3 door hatch - automatic | $9,031 | 53.2% | From $16,990 |
| Mazda2 Maxx 5 door hatch - automatic | $11,320 | 58.5% | From $19,340 |
| Honda Jazz VTi 5 door hatch - automatic | $13,754 | 69.5% | From $19,790 |
| Toyota Yaris YRS 5 door hatch - automatic | $13,440 | 70.8% | From $17,990 |
* Purchase price based on recommended retail price including GST as quoted from Glass’s Guide July 2012 publication
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