The 2017 Mercedes Gle stands as a testament to Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to safety, continuing the legacy of its predecessor, the M-Class. For those in the automotive repair field and vehicle owners alike, understanding the safety performance of vehicles is paramount. This analysis delves into the side impact safety ratings of the 2017 Mercedes GLE, drawing from rigorous testing and expert evaluation to provide a clear and informative overview.
The safety assessment detailed here is applicable to Mercedes-Benz GLE models from 2016 to 2019. It’s important to note that while the GLE nameplate began in 2016, the tests incorporated data from the earlier Mercedes-Benz M-Class, specifically a 2014 ML 350 Bluetec. This model, equipped with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags, served as a critical test subject. The integration of M-Class data is relevant because the fundamental vehicle structure and safety features pertinent to side impact protection remained consistent in the transition to the GLE.
Side Impact Evaluation and Overall Rating
The side impact rating for the Mercedes-Benz GLE is derived from tests conducted by Mercedes-Benz and evaluated by independent safety organizations. These evaluations consider various factors to determine an overall safety rating.
| 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 |
As shown in the table, the 2017 Mercedes GLE achieves a “Good” (G) overall evaluation for side impact safety. This top rating signifies robust protection for occupants in the event of a side collision. The evaluation breaks down further into structural integrity and injury measures for both driver and rear passengers.
Structural Performance and Occupant Injury Measures
A “Good” rating for “Structure and safety cage” indicates that the GLE’s structural design effectively resists intrusion during a side impact, maintaining the occupant compartment space. This is crucial in minimizing injuries.
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For driver and rear passenger injury measures, the “Good” ratings across head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg regions indicate a low risk of significant injuries to these body areas in a similar side impact scenario. Furthermore, both driver and rear passenger head protection are also rated “Good,” reflecting the effectiveness of the head curtain airbags in preventing head injuries.
Technical Measurements and Data Insights
While the “Good” ratings provide an overall assessment, technical measurements offer a deeper dive into the vehicle’s performance during the side impact tests. These measurements quantify occupant compartment intrusion and injury metrics.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | VTS1115 | VTS1313 |
|---|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -20.0 | -19.0 |
| Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline. |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS1115 |
| Head HIC-15 | 64 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.3 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 26 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.2 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 31 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 28 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 2.47 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.32 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 1.2 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 1.7 |
| Combined force (kN) | 2.9 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.8 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 16 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 125 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS1115 |
| Head HIC-15 | 81 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.3 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.3 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 5 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 0.4 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 28 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 20 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 2.61 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.26 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.2 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 0.7 |
| Combined force (kN) | 0.9 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.4 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 31 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 59 |
The tables above present detailed measurements from two tests (VTS1115 and VTS1313). These include intrusion measurements indicating minimal cabin deformation and various injury measures like Head Injury Criterion (HIC), neck forces, shoulder deflection, torso deflection, pelvic forces, and femur forces/moments. Lower values in these measurements generally correlate with better protection. For instance, the Head HIC-15 scores are well below the threshold for concern, reinforcing the “Good” head protection rating.
It’s worth noting the tests were conducted on both models with and without optional rear side torso airbags. The data reveals that the presence of rear side torso airbags had a negligible impact on rear occupant protection in these specific tests. This is attributed to the vehicle’s long wheelbase and the impact location being relatively far from the rear seat, with standard side curtain airbags providing sufficient protection.
Conclusion: 2017 Mercedes GLE Side Impact Performance
In conclusion, the 2017 Mercedes GLE demonstrates robust side impact safety performance, earning a “Good” overall rating. This assessment, backed by detailed tests and measurements, underscores the vehicle’s strong structural design and effective safety features in protecting occupants during side collision scenarios. For those considering a 2017 Mercedes GLE, these safety ratings offer valuable insights and contribute to an informed vehicle assessment.
