The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has long been synonymous with luxury and safety, and the 2015 model year continues this tradition. Built upon the foundation of models redesigned in 2010, the 2015 Mercedes E-Class offers a robust suite of safety features and impressive crash test performance, particularly for models manufactured after April 2010. This analysis delves into the safety ratings of the 2015 Mercedes E-Class, providing a detailed look at its performance in side impact crash tests.
The safety evaluation detailed here applies to Mercedes-Benz E-Class models from 2010 to 2016, specifically those manufactured after April 2010. A crucial design modification was implemented in models built post-April 2010, involving changes to the front and rear door trim. These enhancements were specifically aimed at bolstering occupant protection during side impact collisions. It’s important for owners and prospective buyers to verify the manufacturing date of their vehicle, typically found on the certification label located on the driver’s side door or the adjacent B-pillar, to ascertain if these safety improvements are incorporated.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rigorously tested a 2010 Mercedes-Benz E 350 4-door model, equipped with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags, to assess its side impact safety. The 2015 Mercedes E-Class, being part of the same generation with these crucial safety enhancements, benefits from this evaluation. The vehicle underwent a comprehensive side impact crash test, and the results are summarized below:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
The table above clearly indicates a “Good” (G) rating across all evaluated criteria for the 2015 Mercedes E-Class. This “Good” rating, the highest possible, reflects the vehicle’s ability to maintain its structural integrity during a side impact and effectively protect both driver and rear passengers. Key aspects contributing to this rating include the robust structure and safety cage of the 2015 Mercedes E-Class, which held up well during the crash. Furthermore, the driver and rear passenger injury measures, encompassing head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg protection, all received a “Good” rating. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the airbag system and the vehicle’s overall design in minimizing potential injuries in a side collision. Crucially, both driver and rear passenger head protection were also rated as “Good,” highlighting the effectiveness of the side airbags in preventing head injuries.
The image above illustrates the immediate aftermath of the side impact crash test. It provides a visual representation of the forces involved and how the 2015 Mercedes E-Class interacted with the barrier during the test.
This image shows the vehicle after the crash test, with the doors removed to reveal the deployment of the side airbags and the integrity of the occupant compartment. The minimal intrusion into the occupant space is a testament to the strong safety cage design of the 2015 Mercedes E-Class.
The greasepaint markings on the driver and rear passenger dummies’ heads, as seen in these images, vividly demonstrate the crucial role of the side airbags. These markings confirm that the airbags effectively protected the heads of both occupants from impacting hard structures within the vehicle during the side impact.
Technical measurements from the side impact test provide a deeper understanding of the 2015 Mercedes E-Class’s performance:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | CES1002 |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -24.0 |
| Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline. |
This measurement indicates the extent of occupant compartment intrusion on the driver’s side. A negative value signifies that the structural deformation stopped short of the driver’s seat centerline, demonstrating good resistance to intrusion and maintaining crucial space for occupant survival.
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CES1002 |
| Head HIC-15 | 177 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.4 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 37 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.6 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 38 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 32 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 2.85 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.51 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 1.9 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 2.0 |
| Combined force (kN) | 3.7 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.1 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 80 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 36 |
These detailed driver injury measurements provide quantitative data on potential injury risks to the driver in a side impact. Lower values generally indicate better performance. The Head Injury Criterion (HIC), neck forces, shoulder deflection and forces, torso deflections and viscous criterion, and pelvis and femur forces and moments are all within acceptable limits, reinforcing the “Good” rating.
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CES1002 |
| Head HIC-15 | 82 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.4 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.3 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 17 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.3 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 28 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 20 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 2.79 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.31 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.6 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 1.8 |
| Combined force (kN) | 2.3 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.3 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 40 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | -38 |
Similarly, the passenger injury measurements detail the potential injury risks for rear occupants. Again, the low values across head, neck, shoulder, torso, pelvis, and femur measurements align with the “Good” rating, confirming effective protection for rear passengers in side impact collisions.
In conclusion, the 2015 Mercedes E-Class demonstrates excellent side impact safety performance. The “Good” ratings across all categories, supported by detailed technical measurements, highlight the vehicle’s robust structure, effective airbag system, and overall design that prioritizes occupant safety in side collisions. For those considering a luxury vehicle with a strong emphasis on safety, the 2015 Mercedes E-Class remains a compelling option.
