Yep, bumper mismatches are huge factor in crash safety. However that also slightly correlates with newer cars being safer as well. Reason being that cars are trending towards being bigger and bigger, and taller. Many people are buying CUVs, SUVs, and trucks, without actually needing the bigger capacity. And passenger cars are getting bigger too. Where before you'd see many cars in the low-mid 2500lbs range, nowadays 3000lbs is the norm. A Corolla from 1995 has a curb weight of 2300lbs, while a Corolla from 2019 has a curb weight of 2800lbs. Same story with the Civic; 250-500lbs heavier.