The 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class marked a significant redesign, with models manufactured after December 2002 incorporating structural enhancements aimed at bolstering occupant protection in frontal offset crashes. To evaluate the effectiveness of these improvements, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted a rigorous 40 mph frontal offset crash test on a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E 500 4-door model. This assessment provides critical insights into the vehicle’s safety performance and its ability to protect occupants in a severe frontal impact scenario.
The IIHS frontal offset crash test is designed to simulate a real-world collision where a vehicle’s front corner impacts another vehicle or a fixed object. This type of crash is particularly challenging due to the concentrated forces on a smaller portion of the vehicle’s structure. The test evaluates various aspects of vehicle safety, including the structural integrity of the occupant compartment, the effectiveness of restraint systems, and the potential for injuries to different body regions.
The results for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class were highly encouraging, demonstrating a robust safety design.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/foot, left | G |
| Leg/foot, right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics Dummy movement was reasonably well controlled. During rebound, the dummy’s head moved partway out the open window and hit the B-pillar and window frame. | A |
The 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class achieved a “Good” overall rating, the highest possible, indicating excellent performance in this demanding crash test. This rating reflects the vehicle’s ability to provide a high level of protection for its occupants in a frontal offset crash.
A crucial aspect of crashworthiness is the structural performance of the vehicle. The evaluation of “Structure and safety cage” also earned a “Good” rating. This signifies that the structural changes implemented in the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class effectively maintained the integrity of the occupant compartment during the crash. A strong safety cage is essential to prevent intrusion into the passenger space, thus minimizing the risk of serious injuries.
Regarding driver injury measures, the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class demonstrated “Good” protection for all critical body regions. The ratings for “Head/neck,” “Chest,” “Leg/foot, left,” and “Leg/foot, right” were all “Good.” This consistent performance across different injury metrics highlights the comprehensive safety design of the vehicle in mitigating potential harm to the driver in a frontal crash.
The assessment of “Driver restraints and dummy kinematics” received an “Acceptable” rating. This evaluation considers how well the seatbelts and airbags control the movement of the crash test dummy during the impact and rebound phases of the crash. While the dummy’s movement was generally well-controlled, the dummy’s head contacted the B-pillar and window frame during rebound after moving partway out of the open window. Despite this contact, head acceleration was low, suggesting a minimal risk of significant head injury.
The technical measurements provide a deeper understanding of the structural performance and injury risk.
Technical measurements for this test
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CEF0308 |
| Footwell intrusion | |
| Footrest (cm) | 3 |
| Left (cm) | 7 |
| Center (cm) | 9 |
| Right (cm) | 4 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 5 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | |
| Left (cm) | 0 |
| Right (cm) | 0 |
| Steering column movement | |
| Upward (cm) | 1 |
| Rearward (cm) | -2 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 1 |
The measurements of occupant compartment intrusion reveal the extent to which the vehicle structure deformed in critical areas. Footwell intrusion measurements, including footrest, left, center, right, and brake pedal, indicate the degree of deformation in the driver’s footwell area. Instrument panel and steering column movement measurements show how much these components moved rearward or upward during the crash. A-pillar rearward movement is another key indicator of structural integrity. Lower intrusion measurements generally correlate with better occupant protection.
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CEF0308 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 230 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | 40 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.4 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 24 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.30 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 35 |
| Legs | |
| Femur force – left (kN) | 2.8 |
| Femur force – right (kN) | 2.4 |
| Knee displacement – left (mm) | 0 |
| Knee displacement – right (mm) | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index – left | 0.45 |
| Maximum tibia index – right | 0.71 |
| Tibia axial force – left (kN) | 1.7 |
| Tibia axial force – right (kN) | 3.8 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 48 |
| Right | 60 |
The driver injury measures provide quantitative data on the forces and accelerations experienced by the crash test dummy in various body regions. Head Injury Criterion (HIC) and peak head acceleration (gs) are indicators of potential head injury. Neck tension, extension bending moment, and Nij (Neck Injury Criterion) relate to neck injury risk. Chest compression measures the level of chest protection. Femur force, knee displacement, tibia index, tibia axial force, and foot acceleration are used to assess leg and foot injury potential. Lower values in these measurements generally indicate a lower risk of injury.
In conclusion, the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class demonstrated a commendable level of safety performance in the IIHS frontal offset crash test. Achieving a “Good” overall rating, along with “Good” ratings for structure and safety cage and driver injury measures, underscores the effectiveness of the structural enhancements implemented in models manufactured after December 2002. While the driver restraints and dummy kinematics received an “Acceptable” rating due to head contact with the B-pillar during rebound, the low head acceleration suggests that the risk of serious head injury remained minimal. The technical measurements further support these findings, indicating good structural integrity and low injury measures across critical body regions. This report affirms the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class as a safe vehicle choice within its class, particularly regarding frontal crash protection.
