The initial sentence seems to compare an automobile company to the research conducted by an insurance company. This makes no sense. Surely we want to compare the research conducted by the automobile company to the research conducted by the insurance company. Accordingly, choices (A), (B), and (C) are out.

Generally speaking, when confronted with two answers that have the same meaning, the shorter of the two should be preferred. Accordingly, (E) is our leading candidate. The extra words in (D) do not enhance the meaning in any fundamental way. Accordingly, the best answer is: Unlike the automobile company's research on crashes involving sport utility vehicles, the research conducted by the insurance company took into account such factors as a driver'a age, GMAT, and previous driving record.

choice d suffer 2 mistake
first, "having been based..." refer to previous clause or following clause? be careful with middle modifier.

second, "having been based..." shows that this action happen before the action in the main clause. this is wrong." the research is based" should happen at the same time as the main action.

third, "having done" can not modify a preceding noun. this modification dose not exist in english. it seems that this modification happen in classic novel. but we dont care.
Having done... can modify the main clause, following or preceding. this means in choice d, "having been based..." modifies "research took...", and so, this modification is not logic.

in fact, there are 3 errors in choice d