Allstate Releases 1998 Auto Make & Model Ratings
30 April 1998
Allstate Releases 1998 Auto Make & Model RatingsDomestics Fare Better Than Imports NORTHBROOK, Ill., April 30 -- Allstate Insurance Company announced today the results of their 1998 Make and Model Ratings Program. The annual study examines the design, reparability, and theft resistance of automobiles in various price ranges to determine which autos will cost more or less to insure. As they have in the past, domestic models generally fared better than imported vehicles in the Allstate ratings. Among the models rating "much better than average" for insurability were the Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Safari Van, Infiniti Q45, Lincoln Continental, and Oldsmobile Aurora. Among those vehicles rating "much worse than average" for insurability were the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang GT, Nissan 240SX, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Volkswagen GTI. Because of the lack of claims experience, all models that are new in 1998 were rated "average." The annual study is one outward sign of the company's commitment to making auto insurance more affordable by working to improve the safety and reparability of cars. "Insurance accounts for more than one-fifth of an average automobile's operating expenses," said Milke LaMonica, Vice President for Auto Pricing for Allstate. "This data helps new car buyers make informed purchasing decisions and helps Allstate fulfill its commitment to help hold down insurance costs for our customers." The 1998 ratings are based on 1997 actual claims experience of Allstate and evaluations by the company's Tech-Cor auto research facility. For more than 20 years, Allstate has provided manufacturers and auto repair shops with information from its Tech-Cor research to improve vehicle safety and lower repair costs. Liability -- or the amount of damage absorbed by the other party in an accident -- is not factored into these ratings. The ratings divide 221 models sold in the U.S. into five groups ranging from "much better than average" to "much worse than average." The ratings examine the cost to insure a given model compared to other vehicles in the same price bracket. Consumers can save money on their auto insurance by purchasing cars that are equipped with safety features and are favorably rated based on their accident experience and reparability. When shopping for a new car, Allstate recommends that consumers check into insurance prices and factor in the cost of insurance as part of the car's total operating cost. The 1998 Make & Model Rating Program Update is available immediately on the Allstate web site at http://www.Allstate.com or by calling 1-888-ALLSFTY. Consumers also can order the brochure through any of the company's 15,000 agents. To find the nearest agent, consumers should look in the Yellow Pages or access the Allstate site on the World Wide Web. The Allstate Corporation , parent of the Allstate Insurance Company, is the largest publicly held personal lines insurance company in the U.S., and the nation's second-largest personal lines insurance company, insuring one of every eight homes and automobiles in the country. The company provides insurance for more than 20 million customers and has approximately 15,000 full-time agents in the U.S. and Canada. ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY VOLUNTARY PRIVATE PASSENGER AUTOMOBILE MAKE AND MODEL EXPERIENCE RATING PROGRAM Make and 1998 Insurance 1997 Insurance Antilock Air Running Model Value(A) Value(A) Brakes Bags(B) Lights(C) Acura 2.3CL average average standard dsps no 2.5TL average average standard dsps no 3.0CL average average standard dsps no 3.2TL average average standard dsps no 3.5RL average average standard dsps no Integra much worse worse than than average average optional dsps no NSX average average standard dsps no SLX average average standard dsps no Audi A4 average average standard dsps yes A4 Quattro average average standard dsps yes A6 better than average average standard dsps yes A6 Quattro better than average average standard dsps yes A8 average average standard dsps yes A8 Quattro average average standard dsps yes Cabriolet average average standard dsps yes BMW 318 Series average average standard dsps no 323 Series average standard dsps no 328 Series average worse than average standard dsps no 528 Series average average standard dsps no 540 Series average average standard dsps no 740 Series better than better than average average standard dsps no 750 Series average average standard dsps no M3 Series average average standard dsps no Z3 Series better than average average standard dsps no Buick Century better than better than average average standard dsps yes LeSabre better than better than average average standard dsps yes Park Avenue better than better than average average standard dsps yes Regal better than better than average average standard dsps yes Riviera average average standard dsps yes Skylark better than better than average average standard dsps no Cadillac Catera average average standard dsps yes Deville better than better than average average standard dsps yes Eldorado better than better than average average standard dsps yes Seville better than better than average average standard dsps yes Chevrolet Astro Van better than better than average average standard dsps yes Blazer average average standard dsps yes C&K 1500 Series Pickups average average standard dsps yes C&K 2500 Series Pickups average average standard dsps yes C&K 3500 Series Pickups average average standard dsps yes Camaro much worse much worse than average than average standard dsps yes Camaro Z28 much worse much worse than average than average standard dsps yes Cavalier worse than average average standard dsps yes Chevy G Series Van average average standard dsps yes Corvette average average standard dsps yes Express Van average average standard dsps yes Lumina better than better than average average optional dsps yes Malibu average average standard dsps yes Metro much worse much worse than average than average optional dsps yes Monte Carlo average average standard dsps yes Prizm worse than worse than average average optional dsps yes S10 2WD Pickups worse than worse than average average standard dsps yes S10 4WD Pickups average average standard dsps yes Suburban much better much better than average than average standard dsps yes Tahoe better than better than average average standard dsps yes Tracker worse than worse than average average optional dsps yes Venture average average standard dsps yes Chrysler Cirrus average average standard dsps no Concorde better than better than average average optional dsps yes Sebring average average optional dsps no Town and Country better than better than Van average average standard dsps no Dodge Avenger average average optional dsps no Caravan, Grand better than better than Caravan average average optional dsps yes Dakota Pickups average average optional dsps no Durango average optional dsps no Intrepid better than better than average average optional dsps no Neon worse than worse than average average optional dsps no Ram Pickups average average optional dsps no Ram Vans and Wagons better than better than average average optional dsps no Stratus average average optional dsps no Viper average average no dsps no Eagle Talon worse than worse than average average optional dsps no Ford Club Wagon better than better than average average standard dsps no Contour average average optional dsps no Crown Victoria better than better than average average optional dsps no Econoline Van better than better than average average optional dsps no Escort ZX2 average optional dsps no Escort LX, SE worse than worse than average average optional dsps no Expedition average average standard dsps no Explorer better than better than average average standard dsps no F150 Series Pickups average average optional dsps no F250 Series Pickups average average optional dsps no Mustang Cobra average much worse than average standard dsps no Mustang Convertible worse than much worse average than average optional dsps no Mustang GT much worse much worse than average than average optional dsps no Mustang Excl. Cobra, Conv. worse than much worse average than average optional dsps no Ranger average average optional dsps no Taurus average average optional dsps yes Taurus SHO average average standard dsps yes Winstar Van average average standard dsps yes GMC Jimmy average average standard dsps yes Safari Van much better much better than average than average standard dsps yes Savana Van average average standard dsps yes Sierra Pickups average average standard dsps yes Sonoma 2WD Pickups worse than worse than average average standard dsps yes Sonoma 4WD Pickups average average standard dsps yes Suburban much better much better than than average(a) average standard dsps yes Yukon much better much better than than average average standard dsps yes Honda Accord average average optional dsps no Civic worse than worse than average average optional dsps no CR-V average optional dsps no Odyssey better better than than average average standard dsps no Passport average average standard dsps no Prelude much worse much worse than than average average standard dsps no Hyundai Accent much worse much worse than than average(b) average optional dsps no Elantra much worse much worse than average than average optional dsps no Sonata worse than worse than average average optional dsps no Tiburon average average optional dsps no Infiniti I30 average average standard dsps no Q45 much better than average average standard dsps no QX4 average average standard dsps no Isuzu Amigo average standard dsps no Hombre average average standard dsps yes Oasis average average standard dsps no Rodeo average average standard dsps no Trooper much better much better than average than average standard dsps no Jaguar All Models average average standard dsps no Jeep Cherokee average average optional dsps no Grand Cherokee average average standard dsps no Wrangler average average optional dsps no Kia Sephia average average optional dsps no Sportage average average optional dsps no Land Rover Discovery worse than average average standard dsps no Range Rover worse than average average standard dsps no Lexus ES300 worse worse than average than average standard dsps no GS300 worse worse than average than average standard dsps no GS400 worse worse than average than average standard dsps no LS400 worse worse than average than average standard dsps no LX470 average standard dsps yes SC300 worse worse than average than average standard dsps no SC400 worse worse than average than average standard dsps no Lincoln Continental much better much better than than average(a) average standard dsps yes Mark VIII average average standard dsps no Navigator average standard dsps no Town Car average average standard dsps no Mazda 626 average average optional dsps no B2500 Pickups average average optional dspo no B3000 Pickups average average standard dspo no B4000 Pickups average average standard dspo no Millenia worse than average average standard dsps no MPV average average standard dsps no Protege worse worse than average than average optional dsps no Mercedes 200 Series average average standard dsps no 300 Series better than better than average average standard dsps no 400 Series average average standard dsps no 500 Series worse than worse than average average standard dsps no 600 Series average average standard dsps no Mercury Grand better than better than Marquis average average optional dsps no Mountaineer average average standard dsps no Mystique average average optional dsps no Sable better than better than average average optional dsps yes Tracer worse than average average optional dsps no Villager better than better than average average optional dsps no Mitsubishi 3000 GT worse than worse than average average optional dsps no Diamante average average optional dsps no Eclipse worse than worse than average average optional dsps no Galant average average optional dsps no Mirage much worse much worse optional dsps no than average than average Montero much worse much worse optional dsps no than than average(b) average(b) Nissan 200SX average average optional dsps no 240SX much worse much worse than than average(b) average(b) optional dsps no Altima average average optional dsps no Frontier Pickups average optional dsps yes Maxima worse than average average optional dsps no Pathfinder average average standard dsps no Quest better than better than average average optional dsps no Sentra worse than worse than average average optional dsps no Oldsmobile 88 better than better than average average standard dsps yes Achieva average average standard dsps yes Aurora much better better than than average average standard dsps yes Bravada better than average average standard dsps yes Cutlass average average standard dsps yes Intrigue average standard dsps yes LSS better than better than average average standard dsps yes Regency better than better than average average standard dsps yes Silhouette better than better than average average standard dsps yes Plymouth Breeze average average optional dsps no Neon worse than average average optional dsps no Voyager, Grand Voyager better than better than average average optional dsps no Pontiac Bonneville better than better than average average standard dsps yes Firebird worse than worse than average average standard dsps yes Firebird Trans Am much worse worse than than average average standard dsps yes Grand Am average average standard dsps yes Grand Prix better than better than average average standard dsps yes Sunfire worse than worse than average average standard dsps yes Trans Sport better than better than average average standard dsps yes Porsche 911 worse than much worse average than average standard dsps no Boxster average average standard dsps no Saab 900 Series average average standard dsps yes 9000 Series average average standard dsps yes Saturn All Models average average optional dsps yes Subaru Forester average optional dsps no Impreza average average optional dsps no Legacy average average optional dsps no Suzuki Esteem average average optional dsps yes Sidekick average average optional dsps yes Swift worse than worse than average average optional dsps yes X-90 average average optional dsps yes Toyota 4 Runner average average optional dsps no Avalon average average standard dsps no Camry average average optional dsps no Celica worse than worse than average average optional dsps no Corolla worse than worse than average average optional dsps yes Land Cruiser much worse much worse than than average(b) average(b) standard dsps no RAV4 average average optional dsps no Sienna Van average standard dsps no Supra worse than worse than average average standard dsps no T100 2WD Pickups worse than worse than average average optional dspn no T100 4WD Pickups average average optional dspn no Tacoma Pickups worse than worse than average average optional dsps no Tercel much worse much worse than average than average optional dsps no Volkswagen Cabrio worse than average average optional dsps yes Golf worse than worse than average average optional dsps yes GTI much worse than average average standard dsps yes Jetta worse than worse than average average optional dsps yes Passat average average standard dsps yes Volvo C70 average standard dsps yes S70 better than better than average average standard dsps yes S90 average average standard dsps yes V70 better than better than average average standard dsps yes V90 average average standard dsps yes (a) Significantly better than other models in the "much better" category. (b) Significantly worse than other models in the "much worse" category. (A) "Insurance Value" is defined as the sticker price of the car, average cost to repair and likelihood of being stolen. (B) dsps = driver standard/passenger standard dspo = driver standard/passenger optional dspn = driver standard/passenger not available (C) Daytime running lights standard or optional on some of all model series. SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company