What Car? Q&A - Are old-style bumpers better?

Q: I'm looking to replace my 13-year-old Volvo, and have noticed that on today's cars, the bumpers have been absorbed into the car so that nothing protrudes from the bodywork. They also tend to be painted the same colour as the bodywork, with the result that scratches are more easily noticed.

I think old-style bumpers often prevented any significant damage to a car in low-speed collisions, such as bumping into another car or reversing into a tree. Now there seems no way to avoid expensive damage to the car's body from the smallest incident. Why is this?
Giuseppe Bignardi

A: The disappearance of bumpers is mainly due to the cosmetic styling of modern cars. Through advances in material technology, they can be integrated into the overall shape of the vehicle and paint technology has been improved, allowing more moulded plastic components to be colour-coded.

Bumpers have also become part of the crumple zone on a modern car, which is designed to absorb the energy of a crash. Modern, streamlined bumpers are safer for pedestrians in the event of a collision. By being integrated into the front of the car, the victim is less likely to suffer serious injuries. Integrated bumpers also produce less aerodynamic drag, and so increase a car’ fuel economy.

While modern bumpers may look more attractive and safer, they do have their drawbacks. Research by Thatcham, the British motor insurers' research centre, has found that many vehicles have little protection in a small crash, leading to high amounts of damage.

Thatcham believes that even a minor crash at 10mph could cost over £4000 to fix. They blame the design of some bumpers, which offer no protection for low-speed incidents. It is calling for deep energy-absorbing bumpers to be incorporated into car design.

These would be cheap to replace or repair after a small accident, without leading to uglier vehicles. This would save owners, as well as insurance companies, paying excessive amounts to repair low-speed damage.

The best advice is to be careful when manoeuvring and try and avoid low-speed accidents. Choosing a car with sensors in the bumpers could help in situations where your visibility is restricted.

Body-coloured bumpers can easily get chipped or scuffed, and taking the car to a body shop can prove expensive. A cheaper alternative is to try one of the many mobile repair companies who can visit your car, and fix minor damage. Try Dentdevils.co.uk, Chipsaway.co.uk, Smartrepair.com or Dentwizard.com.