The 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, part of the W211 generation, is known for its luxury and performance. But how does it fare in terms of safety? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted a frontal offset crash test on a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E 500, which is representative of the 2003-2006 models built after December 2002, to evaluate its crashworthiness. This report details the findings of this crucial safety assessment for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
The tested model, a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E 500 4-door, underwent a 40 mph frontal offset crash test into a deformable barrier. It’s important to note that Mercedes-Benz made structural enhancements to E-Class models manufactured after December 2002 to improve occupant protection in frontal offset crashes. These improvements are applicable to the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, ensuring that the test results are relevant to this model year. Vehicle manufacturing dates can be verified on the certification label located on or near the driver’s side door.
Overall Safety Performance
The 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class achieved an overall evaluation of “Good” in the IIHS frontal offset crash test, the highest rating possible. This signifies a robust level of occupant protection in this type of collision.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
The structural integrity of the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class proved to be excellent, also earning a “Good” rating for structure and safety cage. This indicates that the vehicle’s frame effectively maintained its shape during the crash, providing a strong protective shell for occupants.
Driver Injury Measures
In terms of driver injury measures, the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class demonstrated commendable performance across all critical body regions:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/foot, left | G |
| Leg/foot, right | G |
The ratings for head/neck, chest, and legs/feet were all “Good,” suggesting a low risk of significant injuries to these areas in a frontal offset crash for drivers of the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics
The evaluation of driver restraints and dummy kinematics received an “Acceptable” rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | A |
While dummy movement was generally well-controlled, during rebound, the dummy’s head moved partway out of the open window and contacted the B-pillar and window frame. Despite this contact, head acceleration from the impact was measured as low. This “Acceptable” rating indicates that while restraints were effective overall, there was a minor issue with head contact during rebound in the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Action shot during the frontal offset crash test, demonstrating the impact on a Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Post-crash dummy position in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, indicating good survival space.
Greasepaint mark showing dummy head contact with the B-pillar in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Low leg and feet forces recorded in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, indicating minimal injury risk.
Technical Measurements
Detailed technical measurements from the crash test provide further insight into the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class‘s performance.
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 |
Occupant compartment intrusion measurements were generally low, indicating that the structural design of the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class effectively resisted deformation and maintained survival space for the driver.
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 |
Driver injury measures from the technical data align with the “Good” ratings, showing low forces and accelerations recorded on the dummy, further supporting the conclusion of good occupant protection in the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Conclusion
The IIHS frontal offset crash test results demonstrate that the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class provides a high level of safety for its occupants. With a “Good” overall rating, excellent structural performance, and “Good” ratings for driver injury measures, the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class stands out as a safe vehicle in this category. While the driver restraints received an “Acceptable” rating due to minor head contact, the overall safety performance of the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is reassuring for potential buyers and owners.
