Mercedes-Benz E-Class: Five Stars in European NCAP Test

M-Class and Vaneo awarded four stars

Stuttgart, Germany, November 26, 2002

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class came through the European NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) standard crash tests with flying colours.

The saloon has therefore been awarded five stars by the Euro NCAP organisation - the highest mark that can be given in this test and one which only very few cars in the world have achieved until now.

The Mercedes strategy of "Integrated Safety" has reached new heights of perfection in the E-Class. This concept has been based on the analysis of real-life accidents and defines vehicle safety as a holistic process covering everything from the use of electronic assistance systems to avoid accidents, occupant protection systems that recognise the severity of an accident, and the consideration of ways of rescuing occupants as fast as possible after a collision.

The car's standard safety equipment, the outcome of such practical experience, includes, amongst other things, adaptive airbags for driver and front-seat passenger that deploy in two stages depending upon the severity of the accident, side and windowbags, belt pretensioners, two-stage belt force limiters and automatic child seat recognition. In addition to the E-Class, two further Mercedes models came in for praise from the Euro NCAP organisation for their good occupant protection: the M-Class Offroader and the Vaneo compact van. Both were awarded four stars, representing a very good result in these vehicle classes.