IIHS Releases Low-Speed Crash Tests for Nine 2002 Midsize Vehicles; Video on Progressive.com
Progressive Wants Consumers to Be Savvy Car Shoppers; Latest Bumper Tests Show Expensive Cars Need Expensive Repairs
MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio — May 24, 2002 —When shopping for a new car, consumers who typically drive in bumper-to-bumper traffic may want to consider how a car performs in low-speed crash tests. Knowing that bumper performance in these tests can vary across makes and models, and that cars that perform well in crash tests can be safer and cost less to repair and insure, can help consumers make more informed new car purchase decisions. That's why the Progressive group of companies (NYSE: PGR), which comprise one of the largest auto insurance groups in the country, makes full-motion video of the latest five mile per hour, low-speed front and rear bumper crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) available on its Web site, progressive.com. All tests conducted by IIHS since November 2000 are also archived on the site.
The Institute's bumper crashworthiness evaluations ranging from good to poor are based on results from a series of four five-mph crash tests conducted to assess how well bumpers resist costly damage in the kinds of impacts that frequently occur in commuter traffic and parking lots.
The videos released today include the tests of nine 2002 midsize cars, including five luxury vehicles, the Lexus ES 300 and IS 300, Volvo S60, Saab 9-5 and Jaguar X-Type. Also tested were the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Nissan Altima and Hyundai XG350. None of the vehicles tested earned "good" ratings. All of the luxury vehicles, except the Lexus ES 300, earned "poor" ratings, as did the Hyundai XG350. The Nissan Altima and Acura TL earned only "marginal" ratings while the Toyota Camry and Lexus ES 300 earned "acceptable" ratings. The average damage per test ranged from less than $500 to nearly $1,700 for the worst performer, the Jaguar X-Type. In fact, the Jaguar sustained more than $1,000 in damage in the simplest of the four tests, the front-into-flat-barrier. By contrast, the Toyota Camry, one of the least expensive vehicles tested, suffered only $243 damage in the flat-barrier impact.
"A car really shouldn't sustain any damage at all in the flat-barrier impact," said Adrian Lund, IIHS chief operating officer. "It's a very minor impact, and the energy of the impact is spread across the whole front of the car. It should be routine to go through this test unscathed."
"Consumers have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to buying a new car and the insurance to cover it. We want to help make that process a little easier by giving them access to the latest crash test videos on progressive.com," said Toby Alfred, site manager, progressive.com.
Progressive.com is the only site where consumers can view vehicle crash test results and then check out the insurance rates for the vehicle from Progressive and other leading companies. And it's the only site that allows consumers to see the comparison rates offered to other visitors. To highlight the spread that exists in rates available to consumers from different companies this unique "rate ticker" feature displays an up-to-the-minute sampling of comparison rates provided to consumers across the country who used Progressive's online service.
Visitors to progressive.com can also find an agent in their neighborhood, get a quote on motorcycle, boat and RV insurance and purchase a policy instantaneously online. Other site features include a repair facility-locator service, shopping tools that help consumers calculate vehicle-related costs, a vehicle recall search link, and online resources that define terms and provide the latest information and tips on driving-related issues.
Most recently, progressive.com was named the top insurance carrier Web site by Gomez, a leading e-commerce authority, for the sixth consecutive time. Gomez also ranked progressive.com number one in "Relationship Services." This, according to Gomez, is functionality that creates and maintains valuable interaction with customers such as Progressive's online customer service center, personal.progressive.com.
The Progressive group of insurance companies, in business since 1937, ranks fourth in the nation for auto insurance and provides drivers with competitive rates and 24/7 service. The companies offer insurance by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE SM, online at progressive.com and through more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies. The Progressive Corporation, the holding company, has headquarters in Mayfield Village, Ohio and is publicly traded at NYSE: PGR. More information can be found at progressive.com.
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