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.
Elias Latour
Verbal Specialist @ ApexGMAT
blog.apexgmat.com
+1 (646) 736-7622