The Toyota Sienna sustained the least amount of damage in the front corner test. But if the crash configuration had differed slightly, the outcome could have been very different because there’s little underneath the Sienna’s bumper cover to absorb crash energy. The Sienna and Chevrolet Uplander were the only minivans to withstand the front corner test without headlight damage.

“There are good examples in these results,” Nolan says. “Although neither the Odyssey nor the Grand Caravan performed particularly well in the frontal tests and the Sienna didn’t do particularly well in the rear tests, all three of these vehicles did turn in good performances in one or two tests apiece.

What we want is for all passenger vehicles to perform as well or better than the best minivan examples in each test.”

All parts don’t cost the same
Besides the amount of damage sustained in a low-speed impact, repair costs are influenced by both the price of replacement parts and the complexity of the necessary repairs.

For example, the one-piece plastic radiator supports on both the Quest and the Grand Caravan had to be replaced after the front corner impact. Although the repairs were essentially the same, the price of the jobs differed a lot — $347 for the Grand Caravan compared with almost twice as much ($674) for the Quest.

“Because minivans and other passenger vehicles allow so much damage in low-speed collisions, we have to pay attention to comparative repair and replacement costs,” Nolan concludes.

“The best way to avoid these costs is for automakers to equip their vehicles with bumper systems that resist damage in the first place. Until manufacturers do this, consumers will have to study our crash test results and shop accordingly.”