IIHS Low-Speed Crash Results:Luxury Cars

Bumpers should protect car bodies from damage in low-speed collisions, the kind that frequently occur in congested urban traffic. But many don't. The Institute conducts four 5 mph crash tests to assess bumper performance: front-into-flat-barrier, rear-into-flat-barrier, front-into-angle-barrier, and rear-into-pole. Vehicles are listed in alphabetical order by manufacturer.

NOTE: Repair costs are as of November 2001.

	Front into flat barrier	Rear into flat barrier	Front into angle barrier	Rear into pole	All four tests	Average damage per test
BMW 5 SERIES
1997 models	$498	$431	$1,712	$1,212	$3,853	$963
BUICK PARK AVENUE
1999 models	$207	$261	$608	$883	$1,959	$490
CADILLAC SEVILLE
2000 models	$617	$177	$1,236	$996	$3,026	$757
1997 models	$328	$216	$628	$974	$2,146	$537
INFINITI Q45
1997 models	$375	$611	$1,658	$1,296	$3,940	$985
LEXUS GS
1998 models	$259	$283	$1,950	$422	$2,914	$729
LEXUS LS
2001 LS 430 models	$96	$434	$1,684	$802	$3,016	$754
1998 LS 400 models	*$736	$432	*$2,240	$544	*$3,952	$988
LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
1997 models	$0	$19	$897	$343	$1,259	$315
LINCOLN LS
2000 models	$0	$549	$1,196	$1,406	$3,151	$788
MERCEDES E CLASS
1997 models	$442	$1,224	$2,278	$2,808	$6,752	$1,688

* Front end of the 1998 LS 400 not tested. Because no significant changes to the front bumper system were made between the 1997 and 1998 models, it was assumed that the 1997 front-into-flat-barrier and front-into-angle-barrier damage results are also applicable to the 1998 model.