The Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV, particularly the 2018 model, is a popular choice for families and individuals seeking a luxury SUV that blends performance with safety. Understanding the safety ratings of a vehicle is crucial, especially in terms of side-impact protection. This analysis delves into the side-impact safety performance of the Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV, drawing upon rigorous testing and evaluations to provide a clear picture of its capabilities in protecting occupants during side collisions. It’s important to note that these ratings are applicable to Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV models from 2016 to 2019, which are based on the design and safety features initially introduced with the redesigned M-Class and carried over to the GLE-Class.
The safety assessment is based on tests conducted on the predecessor model, the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class, including a 2014 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 Bluetec 4-door 4wd. These tests, conducted by Mercedes-Benz and evaluated by safety institutes, provide valuable insights into the GLE SUV’s structural integrity and occupant protection. It’s noted that while rear side torso airbags became optional starting in 2014 models (and were standard in 2012-2013 ML-Class models), the presence or absence of these airbags had minimal impact on the overall side-impact safety rating for rear occupants. This is largely attributed to the vehicle’s design and the effectiveness of the standard side curtain airbags in large vehicles with a long wheelbase.
Detailed Side Impact Evaluation of the Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV
The Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV earned a “Good” overall rating in side-impact evaluations. This top rating signifies robust protection for occupants in the event of a side collision. The evaluation encompasses several key aspects, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of safety performance.
Structural Integrity and Safety Cage
The structural performance of the vehicle’s safety cage is paramount in side-impact crashes. The Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV demonstrated “Good” performance in this critical area. This rating indicates that the vehicle’s structure effectively resists intrusion during a side impact, maintaining the occupant space and reducing the risk of injury.
Driver and Rear Passenger Injury Measures
The side-impact test evaluates injury measures for both the driver and rear passenger, focusing on key body regions: head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg. For the Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV, all injury measures for both driver and rear passenger received a “Good” rating. This consistent “Good” performance across all body regions for both front and rear occupants underscores the vehicle’s comprehensive side-impact protection. Specifically, head protection for both driver and rear passenger was also rated as “Good”, indicating effective protection from head injuries in side collisions, largely due to the standard side curtain airbags.
Technical Insights from Side Impact Testing
To provide a deeper understanding of the Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV’s side-impact performance, technical measurements from the crash tests offer granular data. These measurements quantify occupant compartment intrusion and potential injury levels.
Occupant Compartment Intrusion
Measurements of occupant compartment intrusion on the driver’s side indicate minimal intrusion into the occupant space during the side-impact test. The B-pillar intrusion relative to the driver’s seat centerline was measured at approximately -20 cm in one test and -19 cm in another. Negative values indicate that the crush stopped short of the driver’s seat centerline, demonstrating the structural strength in resisting intrusion and maintaining space for the occupant.
Driver and Passenger Injury Metrics
Detailed injury measures for both the driver and rear passenger are recorded during the side-impact tests. These metrics include Head Injury Criterion (HIC), neck tension and compression forces, shoulder deflection and force, torso deflection and viscous criterion, pelvis forces, and femur forces and moments. The measurements for the Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV show relatively low injury measures across all categories for both driver and passenger, further supporting the “Good” ratings and demonstrating effective protection mechanisms in place. For instance, Head HIC-15 values were recorded in the range of 64-52 for the driver and 81-104 for the rear passenger in different tests, all within acceptable safety limits.
Conclusion: Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV 2018 – A Safe Choice for Side Impact Protection
In conclusion, the Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV 2018, and models within the 2016-2019 range, offers a high level of side-impact safety, earning a “Good” overall rating. This assessment, based on rigorous testing and detailed measurements, confirms the vehicle’s robust structural design and effective occupant protection systems. For those prioritizing safety in a luxury SUV, the Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV 2018 stands out as a strong contender, providing peace of mind in terms of side collision protection for both drivers and passengers. The consistent “Good” ratings across all injury metrics and structural evaluations highlight Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to safety in their SUV lineup.
