The 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, part of the W212 generation, is renowned for its luxury and performance, but how does it fare in terms of safety? This analysis delves into the side impact crash test results for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, providing a detailed breakdown of its safety performance. It’s important to note that these ratings are specifically applicable to models manufactured after April 2010, due to design enhancements aimed at improving occupant protection in side collisions. These modifications involved changes to the front and rear door trim, underscoring Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to continuous safety improvement. To verify the manufacturing date of a specific vehicle, you can refer to the certification label typically located on the driver’s side door or the adjacent B-pillar.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted rigorous side impact testing on a 2010 Mercedes-Benz E 350 4-door model, equipped with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags. The results offer valuable insights into the vehicle’s structural integrity and occupant protection capabilities during side impact scenarios.
| 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 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class achieved a “Good” overall rating in the side impact test, the highest rating possible. This “Good” rating extends to critical aspects of the test, including the structural integrity and safety cage of the vehicle, which maintained its form well during the crash. Furthermore, both driver and rear passenger injury measures were rated as “Good” across all categories: head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg. This consistent “Good” performance indicates a high level of protection for occupants in side impact collisions. The effectiveness of both driver and rear passenger head protection systems also received a “Good” rating, highlighting the efficacy of the airbag systems in mitigating head injuries.
The image above illustrates the moment of impact during the side crash test. It provides a visual representation of the forces exerted on the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the initial deformation of the vehicle’s structure upon contact with the barrier.
Post-test analysis, as shown in the image above, reveals the deployment of the side airbags and the extent of damage to the occupant compartment. The structural integrity of the passenger cabin is crucial in protecting occupants, and this image provides visual evidence of how the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class performed in maintaining survival space.
Greasepaint applied to the crash test dummy’s head serves to demonstrate contact points during the collision. As seen above, the smeared greasepaint on the driver dummy’s head confirms that the side airbags effectively prevented the head from hitting hard structures, contributing to the “Good” rating for driver head protection in the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Similarly, the greasepaint on the rear passenger dummy’s head, illustrated above, confirms the side airbag’s role in protecting rear occupants. This visual evidence supports the “Good” rating for rear passenger head protection in the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, demonstrating comprehensive safety for all occupants.
Technical measurements from the test provide a more granular understanding of the crash dynamics and injury metrics.
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. |
The occupant compartment intrusion measurements indicate how much the vehicle’s structure deformed inward during the crash. For the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class test, the B-pillar intrusion relative to the driver’s seat centerline was -24.0 cm. The negative value signifies that the deformation stopped short of the driver’s seat centerline, indicating effective resistance to intrusion and preservation of occupant space.
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 |
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 |
The driver and passenger injury measures provide quantifiable data on potential injury risks. Lower values generally indicate better protection. For instance, the Head Injury Criterion (HIC-15) scores for both driver (177) and passenger (82) are relatively low, suggesting a reduced risk of head injury. Similarly, neck tension and compression forces, shoulder deflections and forces, torso deflections and viscous criterion, and pelvis and femur forces are all within acceptable ranges, reinforcing the “Good” ratings observed in the qualitative evaluations.
In conclusion, the side impact crash test results for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class demonstrate a robust safety design and effective occupant protection systems. The “Good” overall rating and consistently positive performance across all measured categories affirm the vehicle’s commitment to safety in side collision scenarios. These findings are crucial for individuals considering the safety aspects of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
